Panicking when I go shopping
Panicking when I go shopping
Hi! I am looking for some advice. It seems that whenever I have to leave the house to go shopping, I end up having a massive panic attack while in the checkout line at the store. I think I have figured out that my trigger is spending money - we are having a bit of financial difficulty lately and even though I am only buying necessities (food, formula and diapers for the baby, toiletries, etc.), every single time I start loading up my shopping cart, I get anxious. By the time I get to the checkout, I feel like my head is going to blow up, I feel dizzy and I feel like I'm going to pass out. I need these things. I am not spending money foolishly and I keep trying to tell myself that. I just doesn't seem to work. Using the steps to put a stop to panic attacks, as discussed in this program, doesn't work for me either. I didn't have this problem before - it just started about 6 months ago. I used to LOVE shopping and would do it to de-stress, whether I bought something or not. Now, I can't enjoy what used to be my favorite thing to do. I usually have my kids with me, which isn't usually a problem. They are pretty well behaved, but I worry that I will pass out and leave them there alone. Somebody please tell me....what am I doing wrong?
Re: Panicking when I go shopping
Shopping used to be my favorite thing to do also. Not anymore! In fact just thinking about going to the store makes me anxious. I start to feel dazed and like I'm going to faint too. If I do make it to the checkout and have to stand in line the feelings intensify. By the time I get out of the store I'm exhausted. I am feeling these same things and I don't believe it is totally related to money. I do believe it is anxiety leading to panic. I often feel trapped in the line which causes me to move to the panic stage much faster. I am not sure yet how to work through this--but know that you are not alone!!
Jen
Jen
Re: Panicking when I go shopping
Hi Jen,
It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has this problem! I thought I was a freak, lol! It happened again tonight. I went grocery shopping with my daughter and by the time we got to our 3rd store of the night, I was a mess - I was shaking, could barely stand up, was getting tunnel vision and my vision was blurry. The vision problem is what really scares me. I had to take my full .5mg xanax, which I hardly ever do, and sit in the bathroom until I could calm myself down. My poor 5 year old daughter was coaching me through it, saying "it's OK mommy, there's nothing wrong with you. you're just panicking". While it was so cute and sweet, it made me feel worse because I put this burden on my child. And of course, once the xanax kicked in, all of those symptoms went away and my vision is clear as bell - so clear, that I wonder if I really even need to wear my contact lenses, lol.
This really sucks. I need to figure out how to work through this. I HAVE to go shopping. My husband works 2 jobs and I have no choice but to do the shopping. I never thought about the trapped feeling while in line, because that's when my panice hits an all time high. The cashier must have though I was on drugs with the way I was fidgeting. Ugh. So frustrating.
It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has this problem! I thought I was a freak, lol! It happened again tonight. I went grocery shopping with my daughter and by the time we got to our 3rd store of the night, I was a mess - I was shaking, could barely stand up, was getting tunnel vision and my vision was blurry. The vision problem is what really scares me. I had to take my full .5mg xanax, which I hardly ever do, and sit in the bathroom until I could calm myself down. My poor 5 year old daughter was coaching me through it, saying "it's OK mommy, there's nothing wrong with you. you're just panicking". While it was so cute and sweet, it made me feel worse because I put this burden on my child. And of course, once the xanax kicked in, all of those symptoms went away and my vision is clear as bell - so clear, that I wonder if I really even need to wear my contact lenses, lol.
This really sucks. I need to figure out how to work through this. I HAVE to go shopping. My husband works 2 jobs and I have no choice but to do the shopping. I never thought about the trapped feeling while in line, because that's when my panice hits an all time high. The cashier must have though I was on drugs with the way I was fidgeting. Ugh. So frustrating.