Stress Center Peer Support

I am curious if anyone has ever dealt with a SPECIFIC phobia? Perhaps one that they have had since very young. Also, if anyone has ever overcome these after having them all their lives?

Hey Frances...thanks for your reply to my post earlier. I think it will take some time for it to sink in.
You know it's funny that you bring this up because I was watching something on T.V. this morning. It was about different mental illnesses. They were talking about Agoraphobia and I could relate to everything they were saying. My doctor has never said...this is what you have. I just know what they were talking about sounded like me. It was kinda depressing though.
I think I have had mine since I was in my teens. I fear public places. My first panic attack was at my highschool in their huge lunchroom. it was so overwhelming. I believe I could be a Hermit...literally! I stay in my house alot. I don't like crowds at all. Even writing on hear sometimes gives me anxiety because there are sooo maney people on hear.
I have not overcome mine yet. Hopefully with this program I will learn how.
Take-care and God bless!

Karen...

There are different types of anxiety.

General anxiety disorders
Specific Phobias
Agoraphobia

A specific phobia would be life a fear of spiders, flying or doctors. You would have extreme anxiety in these situations, but not nec. any other time.

Agoraphobia is not really the fear of a specific thing or place, it is the fear of the FEAR..like dreading the anxiety itself and the next time it will happen to where you start avoid doing things and going places.

Yes. I have struggled with agoraphobia, over came an extreme case of this where I couldn't even walk outside of my house, several years ago. Fighting it again, but it's not near as bad.

Anyway...was wondering if anyone had more specific phobias, other than agoraphobia and if they've had it since very young...also if they have overcome them.

As far as the agoraphobia...it can be overcome. If you need any help feel free to PM me.

I used to have a phobia over eating in front of people. AND another of throwing up. If I got sick I'd rather stay sick than throw up and feel better. I would get sick to my stomach if i had to eat in front of people. It made me nervous. I had this for years! ! ! I can say I have almost 100% recovered from this. I had this in my early teens. My mother even thought i was bulimic and anorexic because I didnt eat in front of people so she just thought i never ate. And bulimia? Give me a break, I was afraid of throwing up. . The thing that mostly cured me from the fear of throwing up was. . THROWING UP! I got food poisoning and threw up all night. It was terrible! That year for some reason I threw up a lot. I think the first couple times it was because I was truley sick with the flu and the other times were just my nerves. NOW Im like wait, throwing up is not so bad, in fact I feel better afterwards most of the time. This sounds like I make myself throw up ha ha but no i dont it was just a bad yr where i was sick and stressed a lot BUT now I dont fear it. If i feel sick I just do whatever needs to be done instead of fight it because it is much much worse fighting to not throw up. Also, I am not afraid to eat in front of people anymore. I have no idea how this fear ended either. I was 19 when it stopped. I didn't have any tools or skills to get over this either. . I think it was because I was with someone i really loved and he made me feel so comfortable and it just kind of went away. I still do get a little uncomfortable eating at a dinner table with my bf's family though. I feel like they're judging me and that makes me nervous which makes me not eat as much. . . anyway, I have gotten over these issues for the most part and if it comes up again its never as bad. . . . But now I have a handful of new phobias ha ha

frances,
yes I do I have not worked on it that much it should be worked like all the other fears I would think,I am wanting to work me fear of the interstate but am feeling worse this weekend to where I don't think I can handle it and I am feeling depressed I was wanting to make some progress this fall you say you were very agrophobic.
to the mental illness Lucinda says this is not mental illness I was glad to hear that as to I acceped it as such due to a book I had read saying it was a chemical imblance and you needed to take medicine and get the dose high enough it would prevent your panic from esscalating to a say 10 I beleived that and have been taking an anti depressant for 25 or more years I would love to get off of it as it has side effects but they have not been to bad I have lowered my dose but under very stressful times I up it.now lucinda says it is not a disease or mental illness it is taking some work to asure myself it is not a disease that we are doing this to ourself.

Holly...
LOL on the bulimic comment. That made me laugh...when you are that afraid of something you think THEY have mental issues for even suggesting it.

Forever young, has this particular fear been a deep seated one for you? Don't be so hard on yourself for having a bad weekend. You will have good days where you feel more up to it. Hang in there. I am sure you will make some progress...and fall a few months long! Even if you get out there one time I would say that is progress! You will.

yes it has been deep seated I can avoid it most of the time.I am having a lot of stress right now my mom is in the nursing home and she is having trouble getting along with everyone she is not social at all she called me 3 times yesterday and has just called I went for a ride last night and felt the anxiety I've been working the program like I should guess need to get back on board feel off need tp get ready for work

On top of my panic/agoraphobia, I also fear eating in front of people (fear of choking and throwing up and upsetting my intestinal tract as I have "issues"), but a biggie for me is driving - right now I don't drive at all! With three active kids that is a big problem! My poor husband is exhausted! I am trying to work on it, I just started new meds and just started with a new therapist and am trying to work teh program, but I have suffered with anxiety/panic for over 20 years and I just wonder will I ever get better ?!?!

Blessings to all,
Leah

My biggest phobia is fear of doctors,(illness, what if thinking, dying)!!!!!! Suzzie