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Agoraphobia pretty bad!

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Posted 4/11/2012 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently on a new medication and waiting for it to start working, if it does.  My doctor said I should notice in a couple weeks and to check back with her in 2-4 weeks and seeing how I only have a months worth of medication, I will need to go back to see her.

But in the meantime, I've become more and more agoraphobic.  When I experience panic at a certain place I become afraid to go there.  I'm fortunate that I live in town and things are close to my home.  I can go to a few places and feel ok.  But there are several stores, including my bank, and my pharmacist that are about 2 miles away and I find I can't even make it out there unless I'm having a really good day and have had a lot of xanax, and it still might be hard.  There's a grocery store near my home where I do most of my shopping but I recently had a panic attack as I was pulling in the parking lot and turned around and went home.  So, now I'm afraid to go there.  I've been going there and just picking up a few things then leaving.

But honestly, this kind of life is so depressing.  It's lonely.  The garden centers will be open soon where I live and I can't even enjoy going to them cause they feel too far away. 

Does anyone else feel limited by agoraphobia and how do they deal with it?

I've been having other people do things for me like picking up my scripts, depositing money, etc.  I hate the loss of freedom!!

Posted 4/11/2012 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Orchid,

I found this for you on a medical site...I hope that it helps to give you some hope. I am sorry that this is happening...hang in there!

SSRIs can cause worsening of anxiety right at the start of treatment, even though they are prescribed to treat anxiety.

This only lasts for a brief period and usually settles down. The anxiety then starts to improve. If anxiety does briefly get worse at the start of treatment with an SSRI, this can be a good sign that the depression and anxiety will ultimately respond well to the treatment.

This side-effect can be reduced by starting the SSRI at a lower dose than would normally be used and building it up slowly.

S.C.

p.s. How is you stomach doing?  Better I hope:)

Posted 4/11/2012 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Orchid221

You have been on the medication for just one week and I understand how you feel but patience is a huge part of giving these meds the chance to work.  Meanwhile I would suggest talking to your Dr. about going to therapy.  If you cannot get out of the house than this idea surely will scare you right now but give the medication some time and when your feeling better add a therapist  to your arsenal to learn how to deal with your feelings. 

Meanwhile, consider the things you fear the most. How do you feel when the fear takes control? What do you do? Write out your direct feelings, thoughts, behaviors, physiological reactions and so forth.

There are several free online sites for CBT therapy that you can work on right from home.  Please check them out and work on one of them at your own speed. 

Free on-line CBT programs

http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

http://ecouch.anu.edu.au/welcome


 

Posted 4/11/2012 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Orchid! I started an ssri back in the middle of February. It was brutal the first few weeks. I Just kelt trying to remember that my doctor and lots of people on this site told me that I would feel worse before I felt better. They were totally right!! After I'd say about 2 weeks of being on only (I was on effexor, then titrated off while taking small doses of zoloft, then zoloft only), I felt amazing. I totally noticed I was coming alive again.

I completely understand how you feel with being afraid to return to places that have been a place where I panicked. For me, it's mostly with driving. It was (and still is) hard for me to return to those areas without feeling dread...but once I felt more regulated, I can now return to those places. I still get a little panic before going, and maybe even while there, but NOTHING compared to how it was.

You will feel better soon!!! Hang in there!!
Posted 4/11/2012 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have had many panic attacks. mostly in stores like Walmart or grocery stores. The worst thing to do is to avoid them, I know it is difficult but just because it happened there once does not mean it will happen again. It requires plenty of patience and telling yourself that you will be fine, you won't die and it will pass. Easier said than done I know but I think that is how I eventually calmed my panic attacks down. I still have frequent anxiety but the panic has subsided, especially after going to the ER and from doctor to doctor and being told that it is a "panic attack". Once you know that you are ok, have had all of the tests to confirm this, you should be relieved to know that you will be ok and make it through this.
Posted 4/11/2012 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the support, it means a lot!

I will check out those links.

I have felt pretty miserable. Not any bad nausea but I feel really depressed, like a zombie. The pharmacist said my body should get used to the medication by 5 days but I'm afraid to go off my anti-nausea pills. I'm weaning myself off them. I just hate the thought of being on this medication, something you can't just stop taking, you have to wean off of it. Mentally, it feels like I'm taking poison.

But, I have to stick it out to see if it helps me. I'm not sure what else to do right now.

Thanks again for all your support!
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