Hello! I am a newbie here but I want to try and be a bit involved. I joined this place to find chat rooms and possible zooms to not feel so isolated in my fears. I have yet to figure out how things go, but I love seeing the positive responses so far when people are reaching out on the forums.
I'm on a different medicine right now and my anxiety is so bad that I am back to being homebound for the most part. The last few times I ventured the courage to go out, I had someone who was with me and driving (I used to be able to go to local stores and places by myself only a couple weeks ago).
My support system of friends and family are trying to be understanding and reminding me that this won't last forever but I'm petrified that the agoraphobia will get so bad I'll be stuck at home, trapped in these 4 walls for the rest of my life.
It feels like I'm fighting for dear life. On a positive note, I AM fighting. I don't want to just lie down and accept this fate. Even on really bad days, I am trying to fight so hard.
Thank you for listening! Positive vibes to all who can relate, even slightly, because anxiety/panic is a freaking nightmare.
Maybe try to nip it in the bud by just taking one or two steps from your front door today, and for the next several days until you feel a bit stronger.
Thank you for replying. I am all about the baby steps. I did throw away garbage yesterday that got me out of the house and over to the side by the cans. I was advised by my primary (who doesn't prescribe my psych meds) to go to the ER last night. I take it as a win that I didn't have to go yet!
Hi! Thank you for being brave and opening up to us about your anxiety. I want you to know you’re not alone, I feel in the same boat at you, and i want you to know you’re in this fight alone. I keep telling myself it will get better, and i promise it will for you too. The hardest battles are given to their hardest warriors, always remember that. I feel alone too sometimes, that i have no one or relate to, that i am the only one who experiences this anxiety that makes me not want to leave the house but i promise, you’re not alone, i feel this to, and we will get through this both of us. Be proud of yourself or fighting. You can do it!
Thank you for your kind words. I know anxiety is very common and I'm not alone in that, but a lot of people who discuss their anxiety with me are still leading productive lives and holding down jobs, relationships, children, schooling, etc. Meeting people who have anxiety that gets so debilitating that they are holed up in their homes for days, weeks, months at a time is a bit less common.
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Full disclosure, I've not had it impact me to the point that I'm stuck in the house for months. I have been stuck for days and weeks though. My fear is that it will just go on forever. That's probably relatable to many though for any anxious feelings and thoughts.
Hi Loud, sorry you are dealing with this, I know it's not fun. You might check out the DARE Anxiety book and website for a good way to deal with anxiety/panic, it has helped me. it takes courage to commit to healing but understanding what is really going on helps and it is possible to overcome it.
Thank you very much for this resource! I went on Youtube and watched a couple videos. I really like how he explained anxiety and how to do self talk to help overcome it. I'll be looking into this more...
Sorry you are dealing with this. You might check out the DARE Anxiety book and website for how to really deal with and heal anxiety/panic so you no longer have to fight with it but understand and accept it to heal it. Hope it helps you.
Thank you. I am getting some good advice and also trying not to beat myself up over this as much. It's difficult to not get down on myself when it's my own mind causing the panic attacks and getting triggered by things in the first place...
I’m in the uk and the waiting list for a mental health professional is 3 months on the national health service, we have a real problem with supply and demand . I listen to podcasts and take my medication while waiting to be seen .
I feel for you on that waiting list. Unfortunately, I'm hearing the same stories about getting a psychiatrist or therapist in the USA as well. I am very fortunate that I have one. We're basically told to either wait for something to open up or if it gets that bad, go to the hospital. That's not usually the best solution. I know the hospital is there if we need it, but we have a shortage of health care workers let alone a shortage of mental health care workers. There's also a shortage at times of decent people who are able to just be there and understand what's going on. Ignorance really can be bliss. It's hard not to envy the person that just picks up and takes off doing things I would be petrified to do as if anxiety doesn't exist for them at all. But I cannot let myself feel jaded and be fooled. They may not suffer from anxiety and agoraphobia like me, but they usually have something going on. It helps to try and remind myself that the grass is not always greener on the other side, as desperate as I may seem to claw my way to that side...The grass is greener where it is watered.
I have a way which works for me, and I've told a couple of the folks here. It worked for me, so I hope it might work for you.
After my husband suicided, I went right down, with two small kids to bring up , and the doctors weren't helping much.
One day I just got so angry at myself, because I suddenly realised that the little voice telling me I was a waste of oxygen was talking in the words of my late and unlamented. I had allowed him to dominate my thinking from beyond for more than 10 years!
So I got angry, I cussed him out and told him to get out of my head and never darken my mind again; and it worked for about a week. As it started to try to creep back in I got angry and cussed it out again, and it left for a bit longer this time.
Each time I got rid of it I could congratulate myself on an achievement, and my confidence started returning. Eventually it gave up and sulked off. Great relief. Just in time for Teenage angsts!
I'm a lot better now, I have discovered an odd sense of humour, which people seem to like.
I truly understand what you are going through. If I may suggest that instead of the idea to fight, use the word accept and breathe. Anxiety is not your enemy. It’s a human response trying to protect you. It’s just over reacting when it’s not needed. I know this mindset will be hard to understand but is essential to healing. Google Claire Weeks, and try the app Insight Timer. These and many more tools are a huge help to understanding and working on finding calm inside of you.
I have had anxiety and panic all my life and it was crippling at various times throughout. I am in my 60’s now and I’m always learning something new. I push myself to do the things that are hard and am self compassionate with myself when I am having a difficult day. It’s okay. Let time pass. Accept. You will heal. 🕊️❤️
Thank you, Hope, for trying to to bring some hope to me! I am slowly transitioning from "get this away from me!" to "I can fight this" so I think I am on the right track. Obviously it's a lot harder to fight off the feelings when you reach a 10 out of 10 in panic, but I have been wrestling with trying to calm myself before it has a chance to rise that high if I can catch it. I'm trying my best to be gentle with myself but this is so fresh of a setback and so much of a regression that I can be difficult. A lot of the self talk and other non medicinal treatments can be a lot easier said than done...
I understand completely what you’re saying. I know, I’ve been there and still have set backs, too. In times of level 10 it’s difficult to have rational thought. Hang in there; it has been my experience that the level of anxiety/panic naturally reduces with time. A lot of chemistry going on in the body. I wish and pray the best for you L.💕
Thank you. I am trying to see it as amazing too and not focus everything on how much of a set back this has been to my life. I've always been my biggest critic so I DO need to take the time to recognize the good that I can do instead of focusing on the negatives of what I am not doing right now. It's discouraging in my mind so the struggle is real to be gentle with myself.
You have gotten some good advice from others on the forum. You also seem to be motivated to deal with his problem, which is certainly a good sign.
I will agree with the post that stated you should start going out gradually and in small steps. First set a goal to walk to the end of the driveway and back. Next set a goal to walk a little farther, and so forth. It is always helpful to approach these things in a gradual manner rather than jumping into the deep end of the pool if you don't know how to swim.
Common techniques to deal with anxiety such as meditation, mindfulness and deep breathing can be helpful if you are persistent and using them. You may want to use them briefly several times a day rather than having one long session once a day.
I would not recommend going to the emergency room since you will have to sit there for five or six hours before they even call your name and then they will probably refer you to a psychiatrist or give you some medication and send you on your way. That sounds like a pretty good way to increase your anxiety level.
I would also recommend reading any books that you can find that are helpful and well written to deal with anxiety. There are also tons of things on YouTube and probably hundreds of applications for your smartphone which you may find useful and reassuring.
Perseverance is important and take things in small steps.
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Hello and thank you. I HAVE gotten some great advice on the forum and I am so grateful to everyone that has taken the time out to contribute. The last thing I want is to end up in the ER for anxiety, so that's part of my winning battle right there by staying out. Last time I was there with akathisia, I got to pace for four hours before finally being taken back and given a shot of Benadryl and told to follow up with the person who prescribes my meds. I have other medical conditions that have caused me to need emergency services and it drives me nuts that there's always a nurse who wants to push Ativan thinking I am dealing with anxiety and not the real medical issue at hand.
Youtube has been working better for me than being able to sit down and read a book right now. I have a few that I have bought over the years though since I've been dealing my panic and agora for over 20 years now. I have been going slow and trying to get out little by little. I am not the kind to make major jumps; I'm all about the baby steps.
I wish I could respond as calmly with myself and follow my own advice that I seem to be able to give out freely on the forum. "Those who can't do, teach"...
You’ve received many great words of encouragement and advice. I don’t have any sage words of wisdom but I really hope and pray you will improve little by little.
Thank you! I hope you are feeling better from this morning. All though I do appreciate all the advice and words of wisdom, sometimes I also crave the feeling of connections to others who understand. That's something I have found on these forums and that helps me feel stronger as well. Sometimes all I need is just that reminder of someone letting me know they are there.
I totally understand and agree with these comments, baby steps is key. I just started this group not long ago and there is so much great advise here to help with what we are going through, I hit the point where I can’t make a phone call even to family let alone go out anymore. Joining this was a step for me as with social anxiety disorder you always feel judged and inferior to everyone else which makes it near impossible to seek help. I’m praying you fight the good fight and remember this place is safe and a great place if you need advise or positive reinforcement, and as so many have said, you’re definitely not in this alone.
Thank you, Duke. That phone call comment hit home with me because I have recently been getting triggered by things that I liked before. I am a social person and I enjoyed talking with people but now when I get notified that I have messages from people on certain social media sites, I get very scared and don't want to respond. It's difficult to explain to people "please, I still want to engage with you but when you message me, I am getting freaked out." It's more of an "it's not you, it's me" situation and a lot of people have a hard time understanding that. But then again, a lot of people are showing their true colors and some of them are not meant to be in my life as it is, so they are very free to leave.
Hi LoudButScared. Thank you for sharing your story. I am also new to posting on here. I've never tried group support before and it has been very encouraging seeing the responses. I'm surprised how many posts like yours hit such a cord it's like reading my own bio. And to think I've been stubbornly going it alone for so long. We are in this fight together and I'm proud of you for taking this step🙂
This is my first time in "group support" online. I keep seeing people say there are Zooms or chats on Nami but I joined and could not find the Zooms. I see lists of local chapters and ones that do virtual but I can't seem to find ones to just pop in to when I need it. I'm sorry you've been going at it alone, but now that you're here there are apparently a bunch of people who can relate and deal with what we are going through. I think most of us on the forums are ready to fight on our good days or we probably wouldn't be reaching out for that extra support. We're headed in the right direction...
Hi loud, I've just recently as well started to be homebound and relapse in anxiety/depression. You're not alone, always feel free to message me to talk, I'm an insomniac too so even better if you're up all night. Message me!
Hello there! I feel for you since I can relate all too well on that. And this episode I'm having is a relapse too. I'm actually not a night owl like I used to be. This new medicine is causing sedation and I have found myself fighting to keep my eyes open no matter the time. I tend to start winding down and take my night meds around 11:30PM CT and then get into bed closer to midnight when I feel them kicking. Otherwise I toss and turn with anxiety about not being able to fall asleep.
Try to venture out by yourself. Buy a coffee or Coke at the mall, sit down and watch people walk by. Try to block out all your worries and fears by just thinking about nothing at all.
Right now I am slowly getting out with other people as the driver. I feel the next step is to get in my car and drive around a little before coming back home. Then after that probably trying to stop off at a small store that's local and see if I can get out of the vehicle and actually go inside. It's a process and the anticipatory anxiety is totally there. That's usually the kicker. That fear of confronting the fear...
Thank you for your response. That is so wonderful that you were able to overcome the agoraphobia part and get out! It's funny you said Dollar Tree because that and the Walgreens are the two "smaller" stores that I try to do by myself when things get out of hand like this. I also resonate with having a cart in my hands. There's something about the shopping cart that's more comforting mentally for me to be able to hold on to it. Cheers to going into Dollar Tree for a couple items and coming out spending as much as a Walmart trip! lol
I may seem down and out about this, and I am, but I am NOT going to give up. I don't want a life that has me stuck in these 4 walls. I want to be able to go out and have experiences again. I'm afraid of the fight but I know I must to survive this.
A new medication can take up to six weeks before you really feel a difference, try not to worry and your confidence should come back. Try to get out of the house if you can, because you need the vitaminD the sun can give you.
This medicine might not actually be the best fit for me. I am having a flare up of IBS-D which may or may not be related to it. I was also told after the first week, the sedation shouldn't be so bad. Well it was not that bad and NOW it is kicking up. There's times where I've only been up for an hour or two and I can feel my eyes closing on me and my body shutting down. I try not to nap much because I fear I will not sleep at night with daytime naps but I also realize this is not my usual, and it's okay to take some naps if my body is not really giving me a choice in the matter.
I tend to hibernate in the winter as it is, so I do need to mention Vit D pills to my doctor to help offset the lack of sunlight I get from staying away from the cold and also not being able to get out there much.
Everybody is different in the way medication acts, but if it is something new, give it a chance. your doctor should be able to prescribe something for the IBS which hopefully will stop the problem.
I actually got permission today to STOP the medicine from NP's nurse after calling again to let them know I am not okay. It really did not seem to be agreeing with me. My primary's office (who does not prescribe my psych meds) wanted me to go to ER for how bad my anxiety got on it. My GI wanted me to go to the ER yesterday after I explained to his nurse how bad things were tearing up my stomach and that I am not keeping things in for long so my weight started dropping too low. My appointment with my NP who does prescribe my psych meds is tomorrow and I am clinging to dear life for this appointment. My IBS-D is something that had me in the ER 5 times since July, twice hospitalized. They don't know what's going on even with an endoscopy and colonoscopy. I've had a diagnosis of IBS-D for 20 years now so we've exhausted a lot of the meds and ideas.
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Looking for advice on dealing with a spouse who doesn't understand anxiety with OCD and depression. 
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