Afraid to go to a family get together tomorrow.

I have missed out on so many get togethers that my in-laws think I'm plain snotty. My husband has explained to them that I have bad anxiety but I don't think they understand and just think I'm weird. Tomorrow is yet another get together that I'm dreading, a part of me wants to go but than again it is 6pm friday night and it will be different in the morning when I have the most anxiety symptoms. That's how it always happens, I feel up to it the night before but by morning forget it. What am I afraid of you say? I'm afraid of having a panic attack or something like it. I just want to be "normal" like I used to be.

Thanks Josh, right now I'm pretty stoked about going I just hope I can stay this way. It does help that I don't have to be there until later in the afternoon. I think its called. "anticipatory anxiety", where you worry about anxiety/panic before it happens.

I'm going to try my darndest! lol

"The first step to getting anywhere is deciding you're no longer willing to stay where you are."

I just saw that on Facebook. I loved it and hope it can help you tomorrow. Can you just take a Xanax or the like an hour or so before you go to give you some "cushion" for the get together?

I get anticipatory anxiety too. I also know I have some agoraphobia too which isn't just bein afraid of leaving your house (I've never had that kind) rather, afraid to go to uncomfortable/unfamiliar places for fear of a panic attack.

You CAN do this. You don't have to enjoy it, just make the effort. If you go, it's likely you'll actually enjoy it. Wishing you courage!! You CAN do this!

Lisa

I have been panic free for about 4 years, but still get "close calls" every once in a blue moon.

When I feel a panic attack coming on, I just tell myself "It's fine, even if I go into full blown panic, it will only last a few minutes" and that alone is usually enough to stop it from happening. Accepting that it's ok to panic, is what stops them for me. I was just like you, avoiding places just incase I might have a panic attack. That's the most debilitating part. The worst part about panic attacks is anticipating them. So if you truly believe in your head that you will be ok and it can't hurt you, you will be a lot better off. Does that make sense?

I struggled with panic attacks for a few years... And honestly, I think it would have gone away sooner had I known the right information:

Panic attacks are a natural response in the human body. We are just overly sensitive to that response. The response is called "fight or flight". When you are in danger, your body has an automatic mechanism that triggers you to do certain things to stay alive. We have let our bodies think we are in danger when we aren't. Think about if you were being attacked by someone. The response your body makes is all reasonable in the event of actual danger. Your body tenses up to take hits and increase body strength and speed. Your pupils get bigger to see better. Increased heart rate for extra energy. This link describes the exact science behind it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response#Autonomic_nervous_system

So you see, whats happening is a normal response, we just have to teach our body not to react so easily. It also helps knowing the above information, because you know that no matter how serious it might feel, the panic attack will go away, and it cannot hurt you.

I hope that helps you. It really helped me knowing these few things, and just letting go of the worry that I might have a panic attack if I do this or that. It's no way to live, and you can fix it.

Go Deb you can do this! Slow deep breath to calm yourself and you got this

You can do it! You can do it! You can do it! :)

It is after noon and I'm supposed to be there at 6pm and I'm feeling like I need a nap. I just ate because I was feeling nauseous and I get low blood sugar feeling if I don't eat evry few hrs. I'm afraid if I nap for an hour I will wake in panic like I usually do when I nap. ugh

Yes I'm on prozac. I decided not to take a nap and gave myself a facial instead.
So I'm telling myself that I'm going, usually I will have already made up my mind to stay home as soon as I wake up, so this is a plus.

Thanks Merrida.

I am excited to hear back from Deborah! I hope she is having fun!

Well it's 1am and I'm home and I did it. It was hard very hard, being the get together was at my nieces new house in the country( in the yard, hot and humid as hell) oh my god! Did I mention, hot and humid? I had to go to the house where the bathroom was where there was central air, many times to get my bearings. But darn it I did it. I thought of all of you the whole time, and you know what, I found out that my husbands girlfriend has been going thru the same thing I have for the last year, panic, anxiety,depression, stomach problems, the whole nine yards. She even said she thinks she might have fibromalgia (sic). go figure.

Way. To. Go!!!!!!!!! On a good day I can't stand to be in heat and humidity for long. I love warm weather but I'll get to feeling overheated quickly and feel anxious even on a good day. I've always been one who needs a pool/lake or central air to take shelter to lol.

Ps: pls clarify if "husbands girlfriend" was a brain fog moment or not (although we don't judge here) LOL!

I'm proud of you!

Lisa