Panic and anxiety keeps me home

[Bikegal]

I used to travel everywhere. It's what I loved. Until 10 yrs ago when a panic attacks hit me in the car. Now I can hardly go to Dr appointment. I've been reduced to working from home and still have to take meds just to make it thru the day. I have to get better for my family. I need joy back in my life. My husband is fed up and will leave me if I don't start traveling. I need to get better for my kids. I want to take them to Disney. Or anywhere out of town

[Hidden]

It’s so hard but you can get your life back! Listen to Claire Weekes on YouTube, she was an expert in agoraphobia and panic in general, she also suffered from it. It took me baby steps to driving on the freeway again and even now I don’t like going far from home but it’s much improved from when I wouldn’t even go outside my neighborhood without a panic attack. I also have to say that taking Lexapro has helped me, as well as therapy and my focus on spiritual growth.

[Hidden]

hi bikegal,i went the same as you,but I liveng in England as I got older could not keep up with volume of traffic.every trip I made I ended up phisicly egsorsted.you in the states might be more used to it all and used to such distences,than here,wish I can help sorry

[Hidden]

Yes, panic attacks can really ruin your daily routines as your enjoyments. With you knowing you need to get better for your kids already shows you wanting to change and be in a better state. Your husband should be a bit more supportive towards you and encourage you to get more assistance you need rather then travel. Health always comes first. If your health is not in a stable state it is much wiser to stabilize it before heading out.

Try to work out a system which you can take one step at a time. Whenever you feel it is going to fast, slow down or take a step back. Control your breathing and even meditate. You want to balance your mind, body, and spirit. For the moment your mind is sending false signals throughout your body. Unbalancing the body and spirit.

Focus on bringing your mental state to a state where you have more control over it. We each understand our bodies in our own specific ways. As to have the capability in balancing and bringing back ourselves to a much better healthy state of mind.

Believe in yourself and all is possible.

[likachika]

Me too, honey. I’m 18 and should be living my best life, but I went to a doctor today and had a huge panic attack, thinking I was dying of a heart condition (didn’t help that the doctor was a super young and hot guy.) He had to calm me down with water and had to wait for my sinus tachycardia to go down to do an ekg.

I have extreme difficulty also going to psychiatrists and counselors now. Anywhere outside home makes me panic, and sometimes it happens at home too. It’s awful. I wish you all the best.

I also recommend meditation, reading, and drawing. Panic attacks typically occur when thinking of the “What ifs” of life. “What if I’m dying? What if I embarrass myself? What if I panic?” We need to live in the moment and not think ahead during these times. I recommend a book called ‘When Panic Attacks’ by David D. Burns. Two separate psychologists recommended it to me, and I hear it does wonders.

[Gymnast3130]

I have the same issue....

[Jeff1943]

Bikegal, Ten years ago your anxiety started, only you know the cause. But too much stress, worry, overwork, loss or grief are the usual suspects.

Your mind sensed your anxiety and is trying to protect you from the "threat" it supposes you face if you leave the 'protection' of your home/cave.

Your mind is trying to help you by giving you agoraphobia but it' s the type of 'help' you could well do without.

So if you didn't know before then you know now why you experience agoraphobia: your mind's attempt to be helpful is in fact the cause of your distress.

After 10 years maybe it's time for you to reclaim the great outdoors, for your sake and your family's sake.

In her post here llynalice recommends listening to Claire Weekes on YouTube and it is Weekes' method I will describe to you now.

To recover from your fear of going outdoors you must go outside and accept (for the time being) the bad feelings of anxiety. Don't hope that the bad feelings will not come, that won't cure you, know that they will come and be prepared to accept it. You must pass through your panic, don't try to avoid it or side step it. You should head straight through it.

Despite the bad feeling you will experience you know very well this is just a mind game: it cannot kill you, disable you or send you gaga. Agoraphobia does not have the power to do that, constantly remind yourself of that fact.

Step outside and start walking, let the bad feelings come, embrace them, you will carry on regardless because your mind is now made up to accept them (for the moment). Do what you fear and the death of fear is assured.

Eventually you will get so used to accepting the bad feeling that you will begin to lose your fear of it. But you must be prepared to accept it time and again: hoping it's going to stop or constantly testing to see if it's still there are not helpful.

Quite quickly you will learn to co-exist with the anxiety despite its unpleasantness. As this process continues you will no longer flood your nervous system with the hormones of fear. These hormones are what have been keeping your nerves in a highly sensitised state. As the fear hormone ceases your nervous system recovers and your fear of going outside yields.

This will take longer than a few days to achieve but the prize is so great it's well worth it. Beside the YouTubes on Claire Weekes that llynalice already recommended you will benefit greatly by reading Weekes' short book on anxiety and agoraphobia which is available new or second hand from Amazon. The book is titled 'Release from nervous suffering'.

Bikegal, the book will give you confidence and reassurance and lead you through the steps needed to live a complete life. The book was written many years ago but it has withstood the test of time. It has allowed many thousands to escape from the confinement of agoraphobia - and there is no reason why you should not be the next.

[beth9184]

I am in same boat. How do you work from home? I was just looking jobs up this am. Only one I’m qualified for is dog walker 😞. Working from home would really help me right now. I wish you the best. Maybe start taking baby steps? I hate to see families break up. That should be great motivation for you to get well. I’m sorry if I am no help.

My insurance company is setting me up to see a counselor online through them. She’s coming over to apt tomorrow to help me set up and see what else I need.

Please contact your dr. If no help. Contact another dr. Same as therapists. You’ve gotta get your life back. You’re a very lucky woman. I envy you. You have a family who loves you and wants to spend time with you! What a blessing 🙏🏻

[Txaps]

My panic attack not me in the car too and I cant drive in places that make me feel uncomfortable. I am the same way with traveling I used to love it but now I dread it. I have a cruise scheduled for my thirtieth birthday next year and I'm praying that I can make it through.

[Sabio77]

hi bikegal. how are you doing tonight? I understand that anxiety can regulate our daily activities and make it difficult. Im sorry that you are going thru this difficult season. You made the right choice by reaching out on this support group. we truly care and like to be the ear to listen and offer some help. All of us have some sort of anxiety. Good news my friend, you can overcome this and become the YOU again. I'm working thru my anxiety and I have recognized my triggers. once, they try to start, I stop it and focus on something different. Also, certain foods can help you. Believe in yourself my new friend. I do. Another thing, just came to mind, what was it that was the trigger that caused this 10 years ago. please keep us posted. I would like to hear how you are doing. Support is very important. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. hugs to you.