Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Hi Ulf, I’m agoraphobic. I can’t seem to leave the region (not housebound) without experiencing tons of anticipitory anxiety. I have a comfortable 1/2 hour driving radius after which I get extremely anxious and have panic attacks. As for what I’m doing about it, well: a) I’m on this newsgroup b) I took an anxiety workshop last spring which helped a bit. c) I’m trying to change my lifestyle. Relax more. Worry less. That’s about it. They say that it’s good to leave your comfortable zone a lot and get used to it. It’s so very hard though. I occaisionally (once every 3 months or so) drive further than an hour and so far I’ve had mixed results. Let’s talk Matt – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi all! Are there many people suffering from Agoraphobic? Please tell me about it and what you are doing to get rid of it. Thanks //Ulf

Response:

Hi all! Are there many people suffering from Agoraphobic? Please tell me about it and what you are doing to get rid of it. Thanks //Ulf

Ulf,      I’ve been dealing with Agoraphobia for some time now.  I suppose, now that I think about it, I was house bound for a  few months. Fortunatly I could accept that and fought through it.   At that point I figured I’d rather passout, or faint or whatever …  than be limited to my house. So, the first few times I had a *SAFE*  person take walks with me (My sister in this case, understanding and logical).   After a while I was running to and from work every day (4 miles total, I was  in great shape then   Now I have a great job, I get around (to a point) and live fairly normally.   I have over come the actual PA’s I’m not positive exactly how I did this  except to say, that I totally changed my thinking and habits.   Now I have Agoraphobia still (beyond 45 min drive), that is really a matter  of not working at resolving it (avoidance). I’ve done it before, I can do it again.   So far everything I’ve tried to overcome has happened with hard work and  being willing to take a little risk. So there’s no reason not overcome this.   My wife travels every week, so she can’t relate, but is very supportive.   She’s Aquaphobic (hates water, I have her Windsurfing now!!!).              SB

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m agoraphobic. I can’t seem to leave the region (not housebound) without experiencing tons of anticipitory anxiety. I have a comfortable 1/2 hour driving radius after which I get extremely anxious and have panic attacks. As for what I’m doing about it, well: a) I’m on this newsgroup b) I took an anxiety workshop last spring which helped a bit. c) I’m trying to change my lifestyle. Relax more. Worry less. That’s about it. They say that it’s good to leave your comfortable zone a lot and get used to it. It’s so very hard though. I occaisionally (once every 3 months or so) drive further than an hour and so far I’ve had mixed results. Let’s talk Matt

Hi Matt Instead of extending from 1/2 hour to over 1 hour every three months, try 35 minutes every day. Then when you’re comfortable with that extend that to 40 minutes and so on. Don’t rush it but try extending that range just a little at a time over a long period. Also spend a while parked up at the boundary of your radius. Get out and walk around if you feel up to it. Never push yourself too hard, and don’t be down on yourself over this. Good luck — ROB…  "high mileage but reliable!"

Response:

One thing my shrink encourages me to do when it comes to agoraphobia is tell myself "screw the consequences and just do it."    …And he’s right: whats the absolute worse thing that can happen?  OK,

Hi, The only thing I can say is that your shrink is right. Absolutely right, BUT: the thing is that you will have to find out yourself. All the theories people handed to me were true, but I started to use them when I was ready for it. (years later) You know you can’t rationalise fear. It is in your system. Every step is the biggest struggle. What can happen? You can force yourself so much that you get even more afraid. A panic attack (to me personally) can be a traumatic experience. So take your time for everything. Now and then you have to kick yourself under the bottom but let your body and mind decide when it is time to take steps. Good luck to you. Hilde

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One thing my shrink encourages me to do when it comes to agoraphobia is tell myself "screw the consequences and just do it."         …And he’s right: whats the absolute worse thing that can happen?  OK, fine you might have a PA.  If this happens, pull over until it’s died down a bit, and then keep on driving.         Another cool thing he taught me is rather than looking at the situation at present, concentrate on the feeling you get after you beat something that agoraphobia was stopping you from doing.  i.e., the feeling you get after yu’ve driven that 45 min+ successfully and DESTROYED all agoraphobic obstacles.         I find it works.         Good luck and PEACE,         Harold

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi Ulf, I’m agoraphobic. I can’t seem to leave the region (not housebound) without experiencing tons of anticipitory anxiety. I have a comfortable 1/2 hour driving radius after which I get extremely anxious and have panic attacks. As for what I’m doing about it, well: a) I’m on this newsgroup b) I took an anxiety workshop last spring which helped a bit. c) I’m trying to change my lifestyle. Relax more. Worry less. That’s about it. They say that it’s good to leave your comfortable zone a lot and get used to it. It’s so very hard though. I occaisionally (once every 3 months or so) drive further than an hour and so far I’ve had mixed results. Let’s talk Matt

  Looks like we’re in about the same boat on this one.   I’m looking forward to seeing the progress reports (from all of us)  We’ll get through this together.                    Scott B.

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<snip  At that point I figured I’d rather passout, or faint or whatever … than be limited to my house. So, the first few times I had a *SAFE* person take walks with me (My sister in this case, understanding and logical).  After a while I was running to and from work every day (4 miles total, I was in great shape then  Now I have a great job, I get around (to a point) and live fairly normally.  I have over come the actual PA’s I’m not positive exactly how I did this except to say, that I totally changed my thinking and habits.  Now I have Agoraphobia still (beyond 45 min drive), that is really a matter of not working at resolving it (avoidance). I’ve done it before, I can do it again.  So far everything I’ve tried to overcome has happened with hard work and being willing to take a little risk. So there’s no reason not overcome this.  My wife travels every week, so she can’t relate, but is very supportive.  She’s Aquaphobic (hates water, I have her Windsurfing now!!!).             SB

Hello Scott That’s excellent and congratulations. It’s not easy to get as far as you have and it’s really good to hear of your successes. Now work steadily on that 45 mins, but take your time over it. Don’t push yourself, but gently pull in the right direction. Good luck — ROB…  "high mileage but reliable!"

Response:

Hi all! Are there many people suffering from Agoraphobic? Please tell me about it and what you are doing to get rid of it. Thanks //Ulf

Response:

Hi Ulf, This is Kate.  I don’t suffer from agoraphobia in terms of being housebound, but when I began to see the possibility of that happening to me as my panic attacks were increasing in more and different places – I sought medical help for my panic disorder for the first time in my life.   My PAs began in childhood (I’m 30 now – aaahhh!). I’ve also heard agoraphobia referred to as "the fear of open places" – I’m not sure I understand that one.  A psychiatrist told me that I have panic disorder and agoraphobia because I was avoiding all the places where I would have panic attacks (restaurants, the mall, grocery stores, church, staff meetings at work, etc.).  Those were places that I felt like I could not escape from without causing a huge commotion or worse, not make it out of there before my panic attack was full blown. It’s been almost 2 years since I opened up to my husband and parents about my having this disorder (I’ve not yet found the courage to tell but one friend).  I’m now on medications which quell the panic attacks but not all of the general anxiety – I still have the ability to drum up some AMAZINGLY catastrophic thoughts in this overactive imagination of mine!  I can now go to all of the places I mentioned above and more – I even went to several of the summer Olympics events this year – WOW!   If your question was, are you agoraphobic?  I would say yes IF: – you avoid all places where you have had a PA or where you think you may   have a PA – you’re turning down social invitations in order to avoid a possible PA,   with the notion that you’ll be "safe" within the confines of your own     home. – if you’re having PAs at home, you now find yourself staying at home more   because you feel sure you’ll have one where ever you decide to go. I’ve been told that agoraphobia results from the "fear of the fear" of having another panic attack.  I believe my PAs were causing me to be a borderline agoraphobic.  My medications help immensely, I have not had a full-blown PA since I’ve been on them, but you can be sure that I am still quite adept at scouting out all my escape routes as I enter certain uneasy situations. I’m sorry this has been such a long post.  I hope my insight has helped you.  If you have been positively diagnosed as being agoraphobic, there are certainly some very understanding and supportive people here at ASAP who are going through what you are right now.  Perhaps those people will be better able to advise you on the treatments that have best suited them. Please don’t wait long to get help if you have not already.  I know that you will find this newsgroup to be very supportive and a positive force in your recovery.   I hope that you will keep posting to us. Thanks, Kate

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