Stress Center Peer Support

Hello -I am going through the program for the second time (first time was 7 years ago and it helped me tremendously). Anyway, I won't go into a long story about why I'm doing it again - stress, circumstances and I had been just fine for so many years, that when I started to go downhill, I didn't recognize it and if I started to use some of the skills a lot sooner, I probably wouldn't have gotten so bad.

Anyway, my question is about agoraphobia. Lately I've had a lot of panic attacks when I have to go far from home (say further than 10 miles) and in public places. I haven't been avoiding - I go out anyway - but when I do go out I am very anxious and sometimes have full blown panic attacks.

I am on Session 2 and using relaxation techniques, self talk, breathing. I keep telling myself in my head - it's just anxiety, it's just anxiety. But my body just feels soooo sensitized right now. I was in the grocery store yesterday and I really thought I was fine and I wasn't thinking about anxiety, but I started to sweat and then felt the rush of adrenaline and that I was going to pass out.

My question is - does it take time for your body to catch up with your brain? I read Claire Weekes book Hope and Help for Your Nerves, and she touches on this. Just wondering if anyone else experienced this and does it go away eventually? Is my body just so wrought and beat down from adrenaline that even though I am having positive dialogue and trying to breathe, etc. that it will still take some time?

I know we're supposed to feel the fear and do it anyway, but it's very difficult when you're standing in a store and you literally feel like you will physically pass out.

Thanks so much.

Melanie C-
I know exactly how you feel. The last few months were rough for me. I have had panic attacks, depression etc. I do know that you can get physically drained from all the adrenaline. When I have all the anxiety and panic attacks, I noticed that I am so drained that I feel that I could possibly faint. I hear my doctor tell me that I should push myself and go to the gym and workout anyway, or that I should exercise by taking a walk etc, but the adrenaline causes me to feel so drained until I am physically weak that I just can't push myself to do anything! I wonder if it takes awhile for the body to catch up with the brain also??

By no means do I feel I am past my issues, but I have found that the reason my body still responds is due to the fact that I really am afriad that the panic attack might hurt me. Until I really believed that it would not hurt me or that I would not pass out and actually wished it would hurry up and happen so I could move on, my body still reacted with adrenaline.

It is still hard for me at times when I need to be still and be professional..... but the same tools work then to.

God Bless You.