Anxiety and Phobia?? New here...

[DVigil88]

I'm new here...So I suffer from a few things...a specific phobia being one of them. I have a terrible, debilitating fear that I'm going to die in a car accident soon...it's been this way since I lost my baby in pregnancy (NOT due to a car accident) back in 2012....I've already been diagnosed but I still can't help but feel the anxiety and phobia are not correlating...like, I get a weird fluttering heartbeat, my chest becomes hollow feeling, my mind races that I am gonna die in an accident, the dread feeling...but I don't feel like I'm dying in the moment...does that make sense?? Can some help...? Are anxiety and phobia connected?? I'm wracking my brain and I feel like it does correlate yet I feel like I'm just telling myself that to feel better...help me...

[Goldfish_]

Sounds like an obsession.

Challenge your thoughts you know there is no logic to them and drive safely

[Bobtheturtle]

I think they are related. Just logically speaking, one tends to feed off of the other.

[Jeff1943]

Yes, DVigil88, I don't think there's any doubt that your phobia about dying prematurely is closely tied up with your anxiety disorder and those other symptoms you mention. Losing a baby in pregnancy is a great trauma for any woman and in your case you perhaps feel it more than most.

One thing is for certain, DVigil88, you are NOT going to die in a car accident, that is not going to happen. This strange feeling is part of the after effects of losing the baby. But we are allowed to have strange feelings, they are natural sometimes, and instead of letting them inflict more fear on your already over sensitive nerves you should simply accept the strange fears for the time being. In fact you should Accept all the symptoms if anxiety that you mention: the hollow feeling in your chest and the palpatations. The more you can Accept all these things without fear (because you know very well they cannot harm you) the sooner your sensitised nervous system will recover and when that happens, believe me, all the strange feelings and ideas will disperse and you will return to your normal self.

So when you next feel the fear of dying in a car crash say to yourself: this thought is just a figment of imagination of my over tired mind, no more, no less than that, and it cannot hurt me so I will Accept it and in so doing hasten its departure.

[DVigil88 in reply to Jeff1943]

This eased my mind so much. Thank you Jeff1943....the rational and irrational parts of my mind are constantly at war...I just needed to know they did go hand in hand...I need to see a doctor..I can't take this anymore...thank you, again, so very much...

[Jeff1943 in reply to DVigil88]

One last thing, DVigil88, the Acceptance method of dealing with anxiety and depression is set out in a book written many years ago by Dr Claire Weekes titled "Self help for your nerves" still available new or used from Amazon. I do recommend it as that book has been lifechanging for so many of us and shows a clear path to recovery. It will bring reassurance, understanding and an end to bewilderment and you will soon recognise yourself in its pages. It is a fairly short book and easy for tired minds to read. Anyway, I wish you God's speed along your road to recovery.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Jeff1943]

P.S. in the U.S. that same book is titled 'Hope and help with your nerves'.

[DVigil88 in reply to Jeff1943]

I'll look it up! Thank you!!!! I could use any sort of help..and I love to read anyway so I'm going find it today.