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Help having some severe agoraphobia

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Posted 10/18/2014 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've had severe panic attacks in the past where the panic only stopped when I would get in my car , example I went out on a boat with my family this was 2 months ago and everytime we went on our boat I was scared of having an attack and one day I actually had one and all the whole time driving back to out boat marina I was in a full blown panic crying that my hubby would drop me off at a differnt spot so I could try to get to my car , he wasn't able to do it , and I thougy my heart would stop it was going so fast I couldn't count the pulse and at that point I called 911 and took a Xanax ( whitch I hate taking ) then the panic stopped a little with the help of the pill, so I cancelled the amublabe , and after that I have not gone back to our boat and now I don't go anywhere , recently I had a panic attack in my car abd I couldn't calm down until we got home , so now my car isn't even helping me stay calm and pretty much even going to places that are 10 min away I have severe anxiety . What do I do when I'm in my car and having a panic attack ? Im never alone driving btw and stopping the car to try to calm down I know it will only make it worse . Im in a really bad place 😞
Posted 10/18/2014 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Im not going to sugar coat this at all, but if you don't get help right away your world will only get smaller and smaller.
Posted 10/18/2014 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Sorry to hear you have been having panic attacks they really are the pits and horrible to deal with. It sounds like you need to get your anxiety under control the best way to do that is by doing some talking therapies such as CBT or Mindfulness which help you to realise your triggers and then teach you coping strategies so that you can manage your anxiety to a more manageable level.

Hibee
Posted 10/18/2014 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started having panic attacks I hid in my house. I wouldn't go anywhere that would make me have one. It hurt me by making my anxiety worse. You have to face the stuff the makes your anxiety worse and ignore it. I would def go to your doctor and talk to them about being put on medication. Also therapy helps a lot. You need help and there's nothing to be ashamed of. I've been in your place and it's hell. You have to get through this phase and move on with your life. You'll be fine with help.
Posted 10/18/2014 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with sum and deb. You have to get help right away. You have to get out right away. If you stay at home for too long, it will make it even harder to leave when you're ready. Go against everything your body is telling you and get out there. Even if you have to take a small dose of xanax to do it. Remember, this is a temporary situation. Good luck:)
Posted 10/18/2014 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Oh man thnx I just tried driving about 7 min away and I couldn't go .. I'll make an app with doctor on Monday hopefully I can make that :(
How could it get smaller if I'm at home I think this is pretty much the smallest.

Post Edited (Rn1987) : 10/18/2014 4:20:40 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/18/2014 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Every day I want you to try....even if you don't make it the first few times. Like everyone says....you have to fight this all the time even if you don't always win. You WILL win eventually. I had the same problem for about three years when I was in my twenties. But i did TRY every day at the insistence of my mother (so wise, that woman) and eventually, with small baby steps, I got out of it. But it's very hard and any of us who have suffered with it, know exactly what you're going through. Good luck and keep posting with your progress.
Posted 10/18/2014 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Andwes you stayed inside for the most part for 3 years ?
It is tough and I'm trying to push my self but it's so strong I'm hoping I'm going to be able to make it to the docs to get the meds
Posted 10/18/2014 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey RN!

It is SO TOUGH, but you are doing a good job. It will get easier for you, I just know it. But I think if you can get to the doc & get some meds it will start to help you reduce your anxiety overall.

A Christian counselor I spoke to about meds likes to consider meds her "help." Now that she has meds, she has to battle less with the anxiety / panic because they are doing some of the fighting for her.

And maybe a psalm a day keeps the panic at bay? LOL, probably not completely but it might help! :)
Posted 10/19/2014 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Rn,

I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. It is SO hard to get a handle on it, especially where driving is concerned.

I have had similar experiences, to the point that I had to leave my job as a school bus driver because I'd have a panic attack EVERY morning as I was driving. THAT was not fun at all!

I still have some issues with it to this day. When I lived farther away from my hometown, where my parents and my children live, I had to drive 40 minutes on the highway to come down to see anyone. THAT was hard, but I made myself do it. I did take a half a mg of xanax about a half hour before I left though.

BUT.... it didn't always help. So if I started to panic while I was driving, I would just do some deep breathing exercises to try and calm myself and slow my heart rate down, and keep telling myself that it is only a panic attack and it will soon be over.

And guess what? I made it to my destination every time without having to pull off the road. AND 90% of the time I was alone!

You will get through this, please don't stop driving and going out. That would be one of the worst things you could do. Just practice everything I've told you to do while you're driving and you'll get better, I promise!

Take it from someone that has Panic Disorder w/Agoraphobia (among other things).... You HAVE TO go out if you want to beat this.

Best of luck to you hun!

(((hugs))) Fox
Posted 10/19/2014 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys it is going way too far with my anxiety today after trying to get out in the morning I couldn't go and turned around and went home I was in a very bad state the whole day feeling tense out of it and super super anxious like I was going to have a panic attack evey min for 6 hours , but I called my pastor we prayed and I made my self get out i took my mom and we drove around not too far but we did then she made me go in to home depo , I stayed near the exit the whole time but I felt so much better after coming home,, the distance is only about 4 min away , we have a shopping center by our neighborhood , I'm glad I did it though .
Thank you for replying and giving device I'll keep you guys updated on timorrow . I want to go to church it's about 20 min away I hope I can make it.
Posted 10/19/2014 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
To answer your question, Rn1987....well I didn't stay inside completely for three years...there were alot of times I HAD to go out but it always made me extremely anxious and feeling like I was going to have a panic attack....I could'nt wait to get back home! But with time, and baby steps like I said above, it eventually went away. I can't pinpoint how, why or exactly when that happened but the fact remains that it DID happen, just like it will for you if you keep fighting it no matter how difficult it is.
Posted 10/19/2014 11:50 AM (GMT 0)

Rn1987 said...
Oh man thnx I just tried driving about 7 min away and I couldn't go .. I'll make an app with doctor on Monday hopefully I can make that :(
How could it get smaller if I'm at home I think this is pretty much the smallest.

Because people have been known to not be able to leave a room or even the couch.

Posted 10/19/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Ds
Wow that is scary I did not need to know that .I know it might be true but in this case it's like knowing too much can hurt you 😞
I will push my self and hope that will never EVER happen!

Post Edited (Rn1987) : 10/19/2014 9:04:14 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/19/2014 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Rn, but it's true, I got so bad I couldn't leave the small corner of my livingroom on my couch. I would huddle with my computer, wide eyed and scared. The sheer thought of leaving the house made me sick to my stomach. I had to force myself to get up and get going, small baby steps, and with the help of this forum. I still have some anxiety, especially going to family functions.
Posted 10/19/2014 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rn,

I am sorry to hear of the challenges that you are dealing with currently.

However there is hope!! You are going to see your doctor on tomorrow? Wonderful! Good move on your part.:)

Talk to your doctor about all of your concerns, and the effects the anxiety is having on you. You can together come up with a plan to work on the issues...and get you the help that you need.

Be confident, that with the right therapy and possible Rx combination...you will be able to overcome all of this.

Keep us posted, so that we can support you, okay?

S.C.
Posted 10/19/2014 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
D.s.
Thank you for sharing your story the fact that you made improvement is already incouraging , hearing that it could get worse and to get out fast it made me super scared and anxious bit hearing that you were really bad and got better is so incouraging :)


ST thnx I'm really hoping it will pass cuz literally it happened in a day like last week I was out and about and one day boom fear and can't go anywhere cuz I fear if I go too far the panic will last until I get home and my heart will just not make it ,
But today got up drive the kids to a park and then took the long way home and was anxious but I did it .
I'm really hopIng that Zoloft will help i set my mind on Zoloft after a lot of research ask the doc to get it on Monday .
Posted 10/19/2014 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Cheers to you for getting out of the house and driving, AND going to the park! So glad you went even when you didn't feel that you could handle it. This is definitely a step in the right direction for you!

How did you handle the anxiety you were feeling while driving? Just curious to see if you used my advice, and if it helped you any.

YAY YOU!!!

(((hugs))) Fox


Edited to add....

If your doc gives you the Zoloft, PLEASE tell him to give you something to help you with the start up side effects. I'm not trying to scare you away from it, because I take it, and it helps tremendously, but the side effects are sometimes harsh on people who are just starting it and they give up before it actually gets to work for them. Trust me, I'm on my fifth go round with it, it's been 12 days so far for me.
Posted 10/20/2014 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Fox7
I know the side effects could be harsh :(( I'm scared of that , how are you doing on the pill are you taking Zoloft ?
I thinking I might cut the 25 mg in half to start small small I hope you can do that , and I didn't take a Xanax but did some deep breathing and was really anxious but I needed to get out or I would have even greater fear if I wouldn't ..
How long did you panic attacks last just courios ?
Posted 10/20/2014 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
I'm back on Zoloft, and going on two weeks. 12 days to be exact, and I'm still suffering from some of the side effects, but I do take xanax 3-4 times a day. Don't get scared, I was on xanax alone for over two years, so that's why I take that much.

You can most definitely cut the pills in half and take 12.5mgs to start until your body adjusts to the medication. That's actually how I always started mine, but this time I decided to just take the 25 mg and get it over with. Boy am I regretting that, but like I said, I'm almost two weeks in now, so might as well stay here until I increase.

I have had anxiety and panic attacks since I was about 14, and I'm 42 now. So been dealing with this for 28 years. But jeez, about 4 years ago I had a nervous breakdown and I was in a constant state of panic, not anxiety, full blown panic! I mean one after the other all day long. It was so bad, I lost 30 pounds in a month!

It actually varies for me. They say that they peak within 10 minutes, but anyone who has panic disorder knows that that isn't true. They can, and do, last longer than 10 minutes!

If there's anything else I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask me.

Good luck with everything at your appointment, and if you do get the Zoloft, please don't be afraid to use the xanax to help you through it. You'll find that it helps a lot.

(((hugs))) Fox
Posted 10/20/2014 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yea I'm aftaid of the panic attacks lasting long time and hurting my heart because I have a high hr rate during the attacks 160-180 pulse so it's scary , I wish mine lasted ten min :( your lucky :))
did the Zoloft help with your anxiety did you do normal things like go out travel ?
I'm just so ready to live but at the same time so scared to take the antideprassants ,
Two questions why did you stop taking the SSRIs
And you said that you will increase the dose what if 25 mg will help you?
Posted 10/20/2014 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Rn,

I get severe panic attacks to the point I've ended up in the ER. My husband doesn't like leaving me alone when I get like that. 4 years ago I started on Zoloft 25mg I had NO side effects whatsoever. It's one of the safest mess to take. Over time I was gradually bumped up to 150mg. I still had no side effects. (And I am extremely sensitive to medications) for panic attacks the lower dosages are not very effective. The lower dosage is intended more for depression alone, the higher dosages are for panic attacks. Zoloft helped me tremendously. Please don't be scared of it. Xanax is good occasionally when you have a panic attack you can't calm yourself down from. Xanax is highly addictive so I made it a point to only take it when nessasary. It is good to have on hand when you need it. Good luck with your des appointment. It's wonderful your taking that first step.

Hugs
Posted 10/20/2014 11:00 AM (GMT 0)

Rn1987 said...
Yea I'm aftaid of the panic attacks lasting long time and hurting my heart because I have a high hr rate during the attacks 160-180 pulse so it's scary , I wish mine lasted ten min :( your lucky :))
did the Zoloft help with your anxiety did you do normal things like go out travel ?
I'm just so ready to live but at the same time so scared to take the antideprassants ,
Two questions why did you stop taking the SSRIs
And you said that you will increase the dose what if 25 mg will help you?


Oh, mine DO last longer than 10 minutes. You may have read my response wrong. Trust me, it's no walk in the park for me. I have had to drive myself to the hospital on a few occasions because I thought there was something REALLY wrong with me. It felt like I was having a heart attack or stroke or something.

The Zoloft helped greatly with my anxiety and panic attacks, that's why I chose to go back on it again. The reason I stopped taking it before was probably the same as everyone else who has stopped taking it. I either was feeling good and thought I didn't need it any more, or I was tired of having to depend on a medication to make me feel normal.

If the 25mgs would help me, that would be great, but with previous experience, I need at least 50 mgs if not more. One time I was up to 200 mgs, but that was right after my nervous breakdown. Every other time, 50 mgs worked fine.

Hope I answered all your questions...

(((hugs))) Fox
Posted 10/21/2014 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Fox7 sorry didn't mean anything I know anybody that's suffer with panic attacks is never easy .
I took my son to school and then went grocery shooing with my mom then just now decided to go for a drive and around got a panic attack then felt a strong urge to go home :((
But decided to make my self to drive to my sons school witch is 8 min away 16 min total heart was pounding cuz i was anxious and on the way there got a panic attack Again but I still went and came to the school but didn't drive in cuz my body was so weak and tired I decided to go home .
I was with my mom the whole time but I'm now tired and questioning am I going to have a panic attack after panic attack while I'm out and about ..
I got an app this wed with my family doc . Hopefully I can get something
I kinda feel proud that I was in a panic attack and was behind the wheel being as calm as could be and driving away from home .
This is going to be tough .. But I'm pushing
Posted 10/21/2014 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
You're doing awesome. You should feel proud!

I'll tell you, when I was first starting to go places after being at home most of the summer, I had my mom take me everywhere. This let me get out and about without feeling the driving pressure. Then in the evenings I would try to drive around the neighborhood for at least 5 minutes every night. I would pick my favorite channel on XM or listen to my iPod to make the drive go by faster.

Btw, my daughters school is still a tough one for me. I am working on that one very slowly. Like you, her school is about a 20 minute drive round trip. I've had many a panic attack picking her up at the end of last school year.
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