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Posted 9/13/2007 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, everyone there are two things I want to ask & hope someone can help me, I would love to go for a walk everyday but I cannot bring myself to go out, I think everyone is looking at me & talking about me, so I stay in the house & do the same things everyday. My other problem is compulsive cleaning I have to clean everyday & sometimes go over everything more than once,I do not want to be this way,apparently the meds I am taking are not doing their job. I think it is time to switch, even to a new therapist everytime I ask her for something else she just keeps on pushing the old stuff at me.  Thanks for listening.
Posted 9/13/2007 4:11 AM (GMT 0)

Good Evening Pacots,

Are you able to just go outside and walk around your yard or sit on the steps?  Start with just a few minutes out. It you have a head set use that and listen to your favorite music.

You may need a change in meds and I believe you started your meds back in June so your plan to check with your physician about your meds is wise.  Also, if you do not have a good relationship built on trust with your therapist, ask your physician for a referal to a different therapist.

We are here for you so keep posting and you will find the members will extend support to you. :)

Posted 9/13/2007 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
hey there_

Sorry you feel that way. I had some problems like that a while back ( well, let's not call these things problems, but a symptoms), and what i did was put on headphones and relaxing music and went for walks. I also focused my attention on certain things like how the air smelled, how the clouds looked, and how the ground 10 feet in front of me looked. I just tuned out the rest of the stuff, and it actually seemed to work for me. There were a few times i didnt feel comfortable, but usually turning down the music a little helped.

Anyways, just some ideas.

Also, recently i had a bump in my recovery and had extreme anxiety and some panic. I FORCED myself to go out. It was soooo hard to do, but I was just frozen inside like a deer in headlights. The movement helped and i felt better once i was out. If you want to give it a shot, here is another suggestion. Tell yourself a few things, like this. "Ok, I'm going to go for a walk. No one is talking about me, it just feels that way to me. Its ok to have these feelings, and I'm going to try and walk." Ok, so if you make it out the door, you can then repeat to yourself something along these lines " Ok, i'm now walking and I can turn around at any time. Its ok to feel how i feel right now, and its ok to turn around and go back inside.". If you continue to walk, just simply remind yourself that you can always turn around, or maybe even set a small goal "I'm going to walk to the corner and back, if i dont make it all the way there its ok to turn around, and its ok to feel this way. I'm am trying, and it is hard. I will try again soon".

I dont know if this helpful at all.

hope you start to feel better. a good friend of mine is going through the same thing right now, so i'm trying to help him through it. Take care, and be kind to yourself.
Dan
Posted 9/13/2007 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had this happen to me about 4 months ago---and what I did was force myself to go outside. Not to walk, but just for a change of scene. First, I went out and sat on my back patio. I actually found it very relaxing to take binoculars and watch the birds! Then, I went out and would get the mail (then-right back into the house), then I walked around my yard. Then, I started to go further and further! I agree with Dan, walk (or do) a little at a time----you can always turn around---and it IS OK to turn around!

What it ended up being for me (according to my MD and therapist)---was the meds I was taking! They brought out this fear of going out---which is not like me AT ALL---so, I hope you can talk to your MD about this and see if your meds can be doing this for you......

I don't know if this helps, but know that there are others pullin' for ya'!
Posted 9/15/2007 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Wow I am so glad you posted this. I am so scared of my own thoughts and one of the thoughts I am scared of is thinking others are looking at me or talking about me. Now that I know I'm not the only one feeling like this, the thoughts will probably come less and less lol.

Here is a good article about this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5126208.stm

It seems that most people think like us on a regular basis, I think the only problem we have though is that it scares us so it repeats in our mind. I wish it was easier to control thoughts and emotions to thoughts. :(
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