lonely and struggling

[milkandfoursugars]

my anixey and ptsd has been extreme for the past 3-4 years, I haven't left my house. it made me drop out of school when I was 13 at the start of 2014. I'm trying to branch out to leaving my house, anyone have any advice on how I can ease myself into daily life? I stood on my drive today for the first time and I panic after seeing a neighbour come out the house so had to run back inside . I really want to make friends so I need to get out, I'm just not sure how to .

[LibertyB]

Firstly well done on taking that first step and going out onto your drive! You should be super proud of yourself. It’s all about the small steps you take that will amount to a big one. Do you have a garden? Have you thought about going out into your garden for 5/10 minutes to help you build it up?

Have you been to the doctors about how your feeling? Is anyone else aware of how you’re feeling?

[milkandfoursugars in reply to LibertyB]

thank you so much,, yes I do. I will try that tomorrow thank you & yes I've been to the doctors / had call out doctors come to my home. tomorrow I am meant to be having my first counselling session , but even getting out the house to my parents car and stomaching the journey is hard. I find myself having to hide under a coat until I am near the doctors so its really hard to cope with

[lil-rose]

Oh dear, I'm so sorry you are going through this! Do you know what triggered it? So glad you are getting to a counselor, let us know how it goes! Great job getting out on your driveway, and I hope the car ride goes well. I try and remind myself it's ok to feel anxious and tell myself I'm ok, I will be ok, everything is fine, etc. like reassuring yourself or talking to yourself in your head as if you are reassuring a friend going through the same thing.

lil-rose

[Hidden]

Hello & Welcome milkandfoursugars

I am so sorry any of us ever have to suffer with anxiety but when I see someone so young suffering it feels so sad and reminds me this anxiety does not care who it targets or what age it can happen to anyone but the good news is that there are ways to get through it and you will get through this and because you are young you will then have years to live you life to the full

You have made a start by coming on here and posting and I hope you will find that with people listening and understanding is a help even if in a small way

Like has already been mentioned stepping out on your drive is a massive start and well done you , it does not matter when you saw the neighbour you went back in , you went onto the drive that is the main point and as time goes by and if you keep setting these little challenges for yourself and do the daily then eventually you will get to the stage where you will be saying hello to the neighbour

Maybe for every week , set yourself little goals that you want to achieve and see how many you can do , with each one it is a step leaving this anxiety behind you , can take time but you will get there

I hope you manage to make that appointment today , this will be a huge step , it does not matter if you have to hide in the car , if you feel anxious remember that is ok to and it won't harm you even though unpleasant , maybe take some music anything that will help distract you on the journey

I really hope you might come back and let us know how you get on and maybe tell us you managed to get to your appointment and how it went but if not just come and let us know how you are doing

Take Care x