How has anxiety limited your life?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:19 pm

Yes, it has really hit home for me too. I feel as if I have stated avoiding more places in the last year due to dizziness/off balance feelings.

I was wondering for those of you who avoid going out............ are you symptomatic at home too or only when you go out? I am symptomatic at home as well as in the mall, stores, school functions, parties, restaurants etc... however I feel SAFER at home. It is hard to have a conversation with someone or enjoy myself when I am feeling so bad I cannot even concentrate and all I want to do is FLEE!!!!!!

I would love to hear others thoughts.

Thanks

Coco

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:20 pm

I totally relate and sympathize? with you. I know exactly how you feel and have difficulty doing those same activities, stores, banks, my kids school, work, restaurants, etc. I have now gotten jelly legs when I get anxious and feel like I will faint so it is extremely difficult to function on a normal daily basis. We just have to keep pushing I guess. I have been dealing with anxiety my whole life but started panic attacks 8 yrs. ago and have also had them on/off in intensity since, although always there. I am also trying this program with great hopes to put an end to them once and for all and move on to a happier life. Good Luck, I feel for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:36 pm

I didn't read all of the responses but wanted to share my story. I have had anxiety in one form or another off and on for as long as I can remember (I'll be 30 in exactly 3 months). At any rate...at my worst, this horrible disease took a lot away from my life...or rather I took a lot away from my life. I could drive...but only to my safe places...work, home, and my parents. I couldn't go anywhere else by myself, I would make up excuses for someone to go with me. I couldn't even pump my own gas...I'd make excuses for my fiance to take my car and fill it up while we were out. Interacting with people was horrible...even if I knew them. I was always self conscious about saying the wrong thing or what they were thinking. I couldn't eat in front of new people for fear of spilling or the like. I didn't go out after work unless I really had to...social anxiety kept me home, which made me furious with my fiance out of jealousy. If I did go out, I didn't have a good time at all as I was always wondering what people were thinking. Having to call people or talking on the phone in general was something I always avoided (Still working on that one). I missed out on parties, holidays, get togethers, anything that got me out of the house outside of my safe places. Things I really wanted to do, if no one would go with me, I just wouldn't do.

That was 5 years ago...at my worst. Because of the program I do all those things I couldn't now. I still see improvements every day even after graduating from the program that long ago. My point isn't to sell the program...it is that I have been where you have been...we all have. Don't give up hope sweety!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:39 pm

Coco...

I was symptomatic everywhere. Being out made me anxious and full of panic. Being home made me depressed and frustrated, which in turn made me feel anxious...but like you, I just felt safter at home. Unless I was with someone then I would feel safe enough to go out as long as I wasn't by myself. Make sense?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:45 pm

Originally posted by fear not:
Hello!I was just wandering how having anxiety disorder has or did limit your life?...I have so much more to offer but this disorder has me trapped!

Thanks for sharing. I recently went through a bout of severe anxiety and self-doubts. This caused me to miss out on a great opportunity to contribute to something I felt would have a positive impact on our country and the world. I did manage to do a few small things but I felt I could have done much more. I quit most of the socializing I did do. I honor where I was at the time even though I regret it. However, I realize that the best thing I can do is move on and look at what I can do today.
You must encourage yourself; yes you CAN get out there and do things. Take a deep breath and a baby step every day. Think of how rewarding it will be. You do have lots to offer!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:07 pm

Hello guys!I'm so glad that I started this post.Not only was I able to get all my what I thought crazy feelings out but I see that it has opened the door for so many of you to also release your feelings.Yeah!I think that's a huge step towards our recovery because now we know that we're not crazy and alone in this.I love how many of you put God into the picture.Apart from Him we can do nothing.Oh but with Him we can do anything!We all will keep pushing forward.This anxiety will Not rob us of our precious lives anymore.We are strong!Just think about how awesome it's going to feel when we're free from this and there is no more limits!God Bless all of you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:21 pm

Anxiety and depression have limited my success by way of the complete "beaten down" feeling resulting from the smallest setback.
In addition, I keep finding jobs with domineering micromanagers that make my life impossible, because I have STILL not yet developed the skill to "shake things off". I AM at the point however that I don't cry at my desk, but I'm always frustrated because I got slapped on the wrist after I forgot a date-stamp or some insignificant detail like that... despite the fact that my accounting is always perfect.
Perhaps it's not just me...I'm still miserable though. Friday night and i'm still thinking about what happened M-F, 8-5
it's pure B.S.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:36 am

fear not,
thanks for starting this thread.we need to look at where we are at times and not loose sight of where we are going,I have had panic and phobias most of my life they started in first grade my older sister said she thought the claustraphobia may have been a results of being in the house and my sisters out side playing and I could not go out.even if we know why it does not heal us.I am now 53 and half way funcinting.I still have the claustrophobia and a lot more places I can't go then I can,agrophobia has robed me of a lot in my life.my daughters cheerleading comptions I tried to make it up to her tried hard to not let her life be limited had family that took her places and they all knew about my fears.I did go to her high school and colledge gradatation and her wedding so I didn't miss out on everything.I thought at one time I was well because I had took medication for 20 years but had some set backs and with my mom breaking a hip and having surgery in an area where I could not go to that was hard.then my husband last Jan had to have heart catheration and a stent and it was in louisville ky and I could not go.stayed home 2 days by myself even at night a time I am very afraid of.have had the program for 4 years bought it for my husband he has OCD then fell flat back at almost my worst my husband had guit a bad job and I thought he would get another one he is afraid of change and thinks he can't do a new job.now 4 years later he still not working.I have been at the job where I am for 8 years this may.I feel like I am out on a limb and it is being sawed off.I can't quit my job we need health insurance and with my husbands heath I could not get it anywhere else.My mom is in the nursing home and she is not happy,she does not want to do the exercises and she has refused the medicine.I wonder if they can make her do the exercises are does she have a right to refuse treatment.
I shure have a lot going on I am trying to stay positive I can't allow my self to get any worse.I can drive myself to work and thats about it new areas and interstates make me anxious how can you do an interstate in baby steps? I know I need to reach out to others more but it is hard.Tues night I got to thinking about my mom and feeling sorry for here she is so helpless and some workers in the nursing home are not very compasant.I cried my self to sleep I am feeling so helpless.I was doing okay but this is a very hard time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:38 am

And I thought I was the only one who HAD (I sold it) a brand new 350z and hardly drove it. Also, ordering online, staying in pj's, not going out to get mail...our disorder probably dresses alike

Just had to post. Thanks

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:35 pm

Originally posted by hairtrigger:
Anxiety and depression have limited my success by way of the complete "beaten down" feeling resulting from the smallest setback.
In addition, I keep finding jobs with domineering micromanagers that make my life impossible, because I have STILL not yet developed the skill to "shake things off". I AM at the point however that I don't cry at my desk, but I'm always frustrated because I got slapped on the wrist after I forgot a date-stamp or some insignificant detail like that... despite the fact that my accounting is always perfect.
Perhaps it's not just me...I'm still miserable though. Friday night and i'm still thinking about what happened M-F, 8-5
it's pure B.S.

I can relate to this 100%. While I work in a different field (pathology) I am always somewhere between a low level of feeling like a stupid inadequate failure to overt panic that I'm about to be fired and escorted out by security despite the fact that my work is highly regarded by all around me. Any minor setback, criticism, or conflict stays with me for days, even weeks. It's hard to let go. We need more practice!