it staretd about two years ago when i had a panic attack in wal-mart. i had this "need to escape" feeling... now i realize that it was my body going through "fight or flight". for a long time i totally avoided malls, grocery stores, target, wal-mart. etc. i've started venturing back into those places but i still can't seem to get to the back of a large store or get out of the department store of a mall. i go to the grocery store only when i HAVE to and i wont go after 7:30 pm b/c the side entrance is closed and i have to be further from the exit. i always feel like to need to be near a door or an exit. i will not even attempt a second floor of a building.
i think i feel this way because when i'm far from an exit i feel kind of claustraphobic, dizzy and my legs feel like they are going to give out. i feel like if i don't get out im just trapped or i might faint.
this is totally frustrating. i told my husband i want to travel but i can't fly. oldly enough it's not even the plane that scares me. it's the airport. they're so big! this is really starting to effect me. i have to find a dr. that has a small office and i am currently looking for a job and i don't even dare apply somewhere in a large building. has anyone else experienced these feelings? sooooooo frustrated....
Terrified of large buildings
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Guest
Lacey,
I can totally sympathize with you. I can go into tall buildings if there are two or three floors but have trouble with very large buildings. I remember I went to see my old doctor and it was my first time going and I found out she was on the 7th floor! Of course I couldn't take the elevator because I was afraid of being stuck in there so I walked up 7 flights of stairs. I also feel anxious when I'm in a store and away from the exit. When I go to the mall I park in the entrance closest to the store I need to go in. I was getting better about not doing that but have recently regressed. I'm o.k. in stores I have been in before since I know the layout but sometimes have trouble. We just need to remember positive thoughts and know that we can always get out of the building. I know it's tough but the more practice the better it will be.
I can totally sympathize with you. I can go into tall buildings if there are two or three floors but have trouble with very large buildings. I remember I went to see my old doctor and it was my first time going and I found out she was on the 7th floor! Of course I couldn't take the elevator because I was afraid of being stuck in there so I walked up 7 flights of stairs. I also feel anxious when I'm in a store and away from the exit. When I go to the mall I park in the entrance closest to the store I need to go in. I was getting better about not doing that but have recently regressed. I'm o.k. in stores I have been in before since I know the layout but sometimes have trouble. We just need to remember positive thoughts and know that we can always get out of the building. I know it's tough but the more practice the better it will be.
Lacey,
I have the same exact problem. I cannot go into large stores or buildings either without panicking. As long as I stay close to the front, I'm good but the further I move away from the door, the stronger the panic feelings get. I went to Sam's Club on Wednesday. I wanted to use it as a practice opportunity. OMG.. I was good at first. Once we moved to the back of the store I had a full blown panic attack and I couldn't calm myself with self talk. Breathing was out of the question. But I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep trying.
I have my annual exam coming up in October. I'm scared to death. I want to find a smaller doctor's office, but want to go somewhere familiar as well.
I don't fly either. You're absolutely right. It has nothing to do with the plane. It's the airport itself.
I have the same exact problem. I cannot go into large stores or buildings either without panicking. As long as I stay close to the front, I'm good but the further I move away from the door, the stronger the panic feelings get. I went to Sam's Club on Wednesday. I wanted to use it as a practice opportunity. OMG.. I was good at first. Once we moved to the back of the store I had a full blown panic attack and I couldn't calm myself with self talk. Breathing was out of the question. But I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep trying.
I have my annual exam coming up in October. I'm scared to death. I want to find a smaller doctor's office, but want to go somewhere familiar as well.
I don't fly either. You're absolutely right. It has nothing to do with the plane. It's the airport itself.
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves...
who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are we not to be? --Unknown
*****************************************
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves...
who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are we not to be? --Unknown
*****************************************
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/TheOneAndOnlyDerfy/sigsAvatarsEtc/loveyouguysWave.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/TheOneAndOnlyDerfy/sigsAvatarsEtc/ValHeartsSmiHug.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/TheOneAndOnlyDerfy/SigTags/LynneCocoaMo-1-1.jpg[/IMG]
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Guest
Wal-mart always gives me panic attacks. Even my husband who doesn't have anxiety get anxiety in Wal-mart. I have come a long way though. Before the program I had the same issue with stores and malls. But I really faced my fears with the help of the program. Lesson 8 changed my life. I did just like she said, small steps and it worked. Now I can go anywhere. Sometimes I have anxiety and other time not. And if I do, I'm able to float with it and not run out. Bringing a list at the grocery store or Wal-mart relly helps. But I was actually having to just take such small steps that I'd go and sit in the car in the parking lot and work through the panic attack, then go home. Next time go into the front of the store and then leave and next time stay longer, etc. Baby steps.
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Guest
I will honestly tell you, you are not alone in this. Buildings that are large really frighten me. This is actually a recent thing for me. I understand that trapped feeling. A few weeks ago my sister had a baby, and I went to the hospital at least 5 times to see her. My parents were out of town and I was the only family she had here, so I wanted to be there for her. She was on the third floor, deep in the hospital. This bothered me so much. I avoid elevators like the plague, so I take the stairs. I got this scary feeling that once I went up the stairs, I wasn't going to be able to get back down. I got dizzy and off balance. So I can totally relate to you, 100%. I don't like the whole "this is going to take time to get to the door" concept and I think it's because we feel like we need to get out NOW and we're not going to be able to make it the 5 minutes it would take to get to the door, like something is going to stop us. It is horrible and I wish I had some better advice, but know you're definitely not alone in this.
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Guest
Lacy,
I have had this problem as well. Went through this program 8 years ago and was extremely agoraphobic with panic disorder. (I wouldn't even leave my house.) I had to get comfortable going outside and then up and down my street....finally I got to the mall. I can tell you I never thought I could possibly do those things without anxiety. I recovered 100%, to the point where I didn't even THINK about anxiety when doing those things and was great for several years. I recently had a setback due to some stressful events in my life. I got the program again and am confident in it. The main hurdle to get over is the fear of the feelings of the attack itself or that you will die from the attack. Once you are no longer afraid of the feelings or dying (or whatever it is for you), then everywhere that you get anxiety will become easier and the less and less anxiety you will have. I know it can be absolutely exhausting to constantly combat all the negative scary thoughts that flood into your mind...and exhausting to constantly practice getting out there. The anxiety you deal with when doing these exercises can physically exhaust you. Trust me though, the more and more you do it...the easier it is. Then it becomes less and less of who you are. More of your day is focused on other things and then you are less and less obsessed with the anxiety. You stop looking for the bathroom, exits, fastest way out of traffic, nearest hospitals etc. I am not happy about having to go through this again, but am not afraid because I know I totally recovered before. As I said, would never even think about it anymore and it was no longer a factor in any of my daily life decisions. You will get through it. You just have to hang in there and don't be discouraged when you have bad days. That's part of the process. You will have progress and then some days where you don't complete an exercise the way you wanted or possibly couldn't even start it at all. That is okay. I did that to. God bless.
I have had this problem as well. Went through this program 8 years ago and was extremely agoraphobic with panic disorder. (I wouldn't even leave my house.) I had to get comfortable going outside and then up and down my street....finally I got to the mall. I can tell you I never thought I could possibly do those things without anxiety. I recovered 100%, to the point where I didn't even THINK about anxiety when doing those things and was great for several years. I recently had a setback due to some stressful events in my life. I got the program again and am confident in it. The main hurdle to get over is the fear of the feelings of the attack itself or that you will die from the attack. Once you are no longer afraid of the feelings or dying (or whatever it is for you), then everywhere that you get anxiety will become easier and the less and less anxiety you will have. I know it can be absolutely exhausting to constantly combat all the negative scary thoughts that flood into your mind...and exhausting to constantly practice getting out there. The anxiety you deal with when doing these exercises can physically exhaust you. Trust me though, the more and more you do it...the easier it is. Then it becomes less and less of who you are. More of your day is focused on other things and then you are less and less obsessed with the anxiety. You stop looking for the bathroom, exits, fastest way out of traffic, nearest hospitals etc. I am not happy about having to go through this again, but am not afraid because I know I totally recovered before. As I said, would never even think about it anymore and it was no longer a factor in any of my daily life decisions. You will get through it. You just have to hang in there and don't be discouraged when you have bad days. That's part of the process. You will have progress and then some days where you don't complete an exercise the way you wanted or possibly couldn't even start it at all. That is okay. I did that to. God bless.