Stress Center Peer Support

I just started the program this week. I have been having a tremendous amount of anxiety recently (in the last few days) and I can't explain why. I am afraid to leave my house. That's very frustrating for me because I am the type of person that hates to be cooped up inside all day. I need to get out. I know that I will feel better if I do, but I'm just so nervous about walking out the door. It's mainly because I have social phobia I think. I live in an apartment complex and have neighbors hanging out outside all the time. They are very nice people, but I just get so anxious. I'm afraid that if I leave my house, then they will see that I look very anxious or they might think that I'm being rude by not talking to them (because I'm afraid of talking to people). I know that these thoughts and fears are irrational. I wish that I didn't feel this way. How can I get myself to leave the house when my anxiety is so high that my heart beats really fast and my thoughts are racing with worries and fears?

Can you start small....going out to your car and back?

The truth is no one can see what is going on inside your head. The other truth is if you go out you will not die...you will live.

I had to force myself and it gets easier...trust me...I still have moments but I refuse to live this lie anxiety and panic tell me.

Moving along in the program will help as well...keep posting here there are a lot of good people with a lot of great advice and experience. Also, do you have any good friends or family near you that will walk through this with you without judgement but will hold you accountable....we all really need that too.

If I can do it you can also....start looking forward to the new life YOOU are going to chose to have...because that is what it takes.Best of luck.

Michelle Holly,

Agoraphobia is a real issue, even for people with social phobia. I suffered with agoraphobia and it can be incredibly difficult to leave the house. I had days when I didn't want to go to the mailbox. I literally forced myself to go for walks. I would walk down the street and then turn around. I would feel anxious, surreal, dizzy and I would just make myself do it because I knew it was the only way I would get better. I too worried about other people..if they would talk to me, what they would think , etc.. Try to remember that your only job is to be yourself. People are going to think what they want anyways and without your permission. What matters is what you think about yourself.

<A HREF="http://sound-mind.org/overcome-agoraphobia.html" TARGET=_blank>Overcome Agoraphobia</A> is a place where I share the things that helped me.
My favorite site is also on there and I think you will really benefit from it.

I know you can do it. Remind yourself the these are "thoughts only thoughts". Once you do it... you will be SOOOOO proud of yourself. Dont listen to the voice in your head... you can do it. Im sure the people you see in the halls think youre terrific. You have the lock and you have the key.... I know you can do it and EVERYONE is supporting you Love Kathy

thank you everyone for your advice. I feel comforted and assured now knowing that I can get over these anxious feelings I have about leaving my house. I went for a walk early this morning and I survived, so that makes me feel like I can do it again. And I think it will help to just force myself to go out, even if I feel anxious because then I will feel so much better about myself. I am going to continue to force myself to go outside no matter how anxious I feel. It might be hard at first, but then I will feel so much better about myself afterwards.

Remember that good, proud feeling you have after the walk...that will encourage you next time...I am proud of you...we all know it is a big step...Keep up the good work.

I haven't been on the site in quite some time, but continue utilizing the skills of my program...which has been life saving for me. I also was cooped up in the house and had a HUGE challenge even going out to the store. This all came on due to hormonal changes approximately 5 years ago. I'm near the end of my change of life and have quite a story to tell. Have been into natural healing for 27 years and NEVER experienced this kind of anxiety nor of this magnitude. I have been a more timid shy person in the past, but overcame that and ended up owning my own fitness business and natural healing business also. (I retired from teaching fitness but still do on-line consulting with natural healing). When I got shut in my house and wouldn't drive or socialize, I knew something was very wrong. I did pursue medical testing and had ever test imaginable run and they found nothing wrong. BUT there WAS a lot wrong and it involved my progesterone level. When I sought out an M.D. / N.D. (he's both medical and natural) he was able to order specific blood work that found the biggest portion of my problem. I have come a LONG ways and I'm here to tell you there is hope. I'm driving again, and can go into grocery stores and restaurants, and can talk with people one-on-one again without being anxious. I also sing on our praise team at church and boy did I go through a TON of anxiety being up on that platform, but I pushed through it and wouldn't allow this fear from hell control over me. NOW I'm actually leading Praise and Worship occasionally and did pretty well. Yes, I had symptoms but I now know they can't hurt me. I do positive self-talk and think about the times I have been successful. One thing I do know....if I hadn't started on bio-identical hormones I know I wouldn't be where I'm at today. Lucinda's program HAS been a life saver for me, but I've also had to be proactive as to why the fear and anxiety was gripping me so heavily...being I've studied natural healing so many years I knew there was a root underneath it all. Once it was found, my progress became much more evident and the struggle lessened. Currently I'm working my way through the emotional trauma of it all - and triggers still occur off and on. Mainly in placed I've had panic attacks before. As I continue to be successful time after time, the fear of the fear lessens more and more. It's pretty empowering to walk out of a restaurant and have had FUN rather than sitting there thinking about my symptoms continually. One week I led Worship and did so well I amazed myself. When church was over I left there feeling so charged and excited - KNOWING that this beast can be gone!!!!!! I believe I've been knocked down with fear/anxiety more severely than anyone could - honest - and I do believe it. It was raging through me so intensely I could feel my inner body shaking...and you read a list of symptoms....well I had ALL of them. Felt like I was going crazy. I know the day is coming that I'll be completely free from this, and I've come a LONG LONG ways. Like I said I still have triggers here and there, but use the tools from the program to work my way through them. My greatest fear was that others will think I'm a looney bin and see how anxious I am. I can honestly tell you.....there have been a few times I was leading Worship and on my monthly cycle with a bunch of symptoms raging through me....and nobody knew I was anxious. In fact, I actually was able to fool my husband one week, which is amazing!! After the service he said "Wow you did a great job and weren't even nervous." HAHAHAHAHA I was more nervous that week because of my monthly....and if my husband doesn't even know I'm nervous - I know the rest of the congregation didn't know what was up. We place too much thought into what others will think. I say get out and talk to people and overcome the fear. Feel the fear but do it anyway. That's the only way I've progressed. Fear wants to trap you and will if you let it. One training I took on Performance Anxiety was very helpful....being I'm a singer/musician. The tools I learned there have also been helpful, and are very similiar to Lucinda's program. One cartoon in our book shows this woman opening a big door and literally slamming it OPEN and the caption says "To Hell with Fear"...and it's so true because that's where it originated from. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." God Bless you and hope I've helped!!

michiganmom,

Thanks for sharing your story here! It's so good to know that you are doing so well.
Fear is not the problem, it is what we do with it that matters most.

So glad you found recovery - feels good doesn't it?