Stress Center Peer Support

Hi there, I just wondered if anyone else gets this. I have actually had this a few times since my son was born 18 months ago, it all started when i was sitting in a restaurant at night and felt really claustraphobic, it drives me mad at I NEVER had this before and I really hate it! All I can think about is I need to get outside! I have to say I never let it get the better of me. Like today same thing happened in the hairdressers and I had actually thought about it before i went in but I was like sod you anxiety I need my hair done!!! I felt a bit dodgy for about 10 mins but I did some deep breathing and then got stuck into magazines and the need was gone... so weird! I will not let this rule me!

Hi,

Many people have that feeling as a symptom of anxiety. Basically it is the feeling that you are trapped. If you are at the hairdressers, and you are getting a haircut, there's just an instant where you feel trapped. The consequences of leaving would be uneven hair, partial coloring, etc. In a restaurant, it may be the same situation. You feel trapped because you have to wait on someone to bring you your order, etc. Also you feel that you may get up suddenly in front of a lot of people and draw attention to yourself. So, it's basically feeling that you are trapped.

I just want to say that although the feeling is "weird" you handled it really well with your deep breathing and reading magazines:).

I know you hate the feeling. I used to actually get mad at myself for feeling that way, but over time, I've learned to look at it as "no big deal." I've found that that's more effective for me over the long term. It's like I'm giving myself love no matter how I feel. I also tell myself things like, "I am free to come and go as I please. If I leave the hairdresser, I will have an unfinished haircut, and so it really is my decision. It's not life and death, but I do have a choice about whether or not I want my hairstyle completed:)." The same with the restaurant. I ask myself if I really want to finish the meal, etc. Again, the consequences aren't life and death, ever. It's never a big deal, but just a personal choice I am making.

As far as having your son is concerned, it could be that post pregnancy hormones are increasing your risk for anxiety. It takes longer than we think for them to stabilize.

This program really addresses the issue that you are asking questions about:).

Take care,
luvpiggy

Take care

I've had this feeling, too, at the hairdressers. Especially when they used the razor around my ears. I had weird thoughts and felt scared. It got better over time, no problem now. I agree you handled it so well! Congratulations! The more you can stay and calm yourself in a situation, the faster you conquer that one scenario, i think.

I had this feeling too at the bone doctor.I felt sick already from just being there but then he got out his saw and started to cut my cast off and I almost passed out.

mrsworry,

What you feel is so common. By not letting it get the best of you....you are staying on top and not allowing the anxiety to win. By giving in and leaving would only encourage those feelings to come back stronger the next time.
Avoidance or running only makes it worse. Congrats for sticking to it and doing the breathing and refocusing! Good work!

One cool thing I used to do what really helped was to look at other people with compassion...wondering what their "story" was. I used to imagine that everyone else was suffering right along with me. I would look at the elderly getting their hair done, picturing them alone, lonely and afraid. I turned the focus off myself and onto others.

For me, it worked well and helped me not be so self focused. I even found myself helping people when they needed help with something.
It's amazing what you see when you are really looking around you.

One thing I struggled with was grocery shopping.
I began watching other people....old people walking around by themselves, not being able to reach something, or read a label....mothers with loud, obnoxious children..who were sweating bullets because their children were giving them anxiety....

When you look around, and I mean....deliberately look around... even with anxiety and panic, you notice that you are just like everyone else with thoughts, feelings, fears, insecurities, imperfections, etc. etc.... You realize you are never alone!

Mrsworry, I go throught the same exact thing. As a matter of fact I had not gotten my hair done for a very long time, and I absolutely needed it. After joining the community and relearning techniques from the program, I was able to go to the salon with no trouble. Going to the salon puts a lot of people in a small area, and with all the chatter and sounds it's no wonder we have a little anxiety.