Stress Center Peer Support

I have started the program again, because somewhere along the way when things were looking better, I stopped the program. Then life and all it's glory started to be a little much to handle with our the proper tools. I am agoraphobic. Today my worry is facing a psyciatry appointment that I have dreaded for weeks now.I do not like my doctor and I've tried mnay times to get another or find somewhere closer but it's just not possible right now. I can deal with the panic attacks it's the anticipatory anxiety that drives me nuts!!!!!! The fear is not the drive the fear is sitting in the waiting room, my doctor is never on time and the place isn't very friendly. I have not felt like this at other places just this one. Once I had a panic attack in his office and he told me to just breathe and continued talking. It was not an okay experience. Any advice any help. I've worked myself and my body into a tizzy over this one.

Yes, Lauren. Go to your appointment feeling all the feelings that you have. Breathe into them and consider this good exposure for you. If you want to heal from this you are going to need to do things that are uncomfortable for you (but good for you to do). It's the feelings you are trying to avoid. Allow them. Make them ok to be there and stop resisting how you feel.

Repeat over and over - slowly - This is good for me and will help me to overcome the fear of these feelings. I must feel them to heal.

Look forward to this appointment each week. Welcome it.

I too started the program and stopped because I started feeling great, and now the panic is back. I am also agoraphobic, but I have decided to go through the program in its entirety because I know it works and if I can feel good once I can do it again. I will say prayer for you for your doctors appointment, try not to picture senerios of what you think will happen. My therapist recently told me to start playing computer or video games to take my mind off of worrying or pondering on future events and it does help. You will do fine

d-day is fast approaching and I'm actually more calm then I thought. I have accepted that I will probably be anxious and it's okay. and before I know it the appointment will be over and I will be home. Thanks for the words of advice, prayers and understanding. -Lauren

I found resistance to these feelings only makes them more solid, more real. They are only thoughts and concerns. I agree, breathe into them and know that they are only thoughts, not the truth. You can do this, I am practicing this everyday and it is working. Take care.

Lauren I hope you get this before your appointment. I hate waiting rooms too, especially when some doctors make you wait for over 15 minutes, I think it's quite rude, do we ever make them wait? No - and they'd never wait, they'd just charge us.

Try listening to session 2 again, how to overcome a panic attack.

I was in Church yesterday and started to have an out-of-body feeling like I was in a dream and wasn't there.

I started to get scared but then I started doing the steps to overcome a panic attack.

At one point I even asked the anxiety to come back, the more I recognized it for what it was, and the more I told myself that I was just having this silly panic attack and almost mocking the attack, the more it went away!

It's kind of cool to be in control like that.

So if you start getting that feeling like it's coming on, just talk to it, tell it you know what it is and wait it out. Do the breathing and the other steps that session 2 goes over.

Can't wait to hear the report!

I did listen to my lesson two tape before I left. It was a horrific day and a horrible experience. I dreaded this for so long that I blew it into this huge dramatic event. I took my fiance and I 3 hours to get to a appt. 20 min away. screaming and crying and freaking out. I felt like I was out of body. The doctor was an hour behind and he finally met me in the parking lot becauseI just could not go in. I', dreading the next appointment, and I really really want to switch doctors because I cannot open up to this person.

Lauren, I'm going to be honest about this.

First off you did great. You did go to the appointment, you did not blow it off, even if it took you 3 hours to do it, that is still a huge accomplishment!

Your doctor is ridiculous. It is *wrong* to have patients waiting for over an hour like that. If you were on time for your appointment, and I'm sure you were, and he has you wait over an hour to see him, that is plain WRONG.

Please switch doctors, and when you do, ask the receptionist how long people generally wait for their appointment in the waiting room.

You should *not* be required to wait over 15 minutes, that is absurd. You are paying for his time.

Please, take control of this!

And before your next appointment, put yourself in mild waiting situations so you can get used to waiting and get a handle on your anxiety.

Go sit in a waiting room with someone else during their appointment. See how long you can wait in the waiting room, and if you start to get anxious and the anxiety goes overboard, go outside, then come back in again. Keep working with it, and keep practicing those 6 steps to get over th anxiety. Be in control of it.

I know you can do this! This is mind over matter and it just takes practice, tell yourself it's okay to be anxious and freaked out, don't fight those feelings, just allow them.

I have decided to write him a letter, even if I don't send It I was too upset not to get all that out. practicing waiting is such a good idea, I never thought of that. Thanks so much for the advice. I truly appreciate all of it.

I think writing him a letter is a great idea. One thing I remember Lucinda saying when confronting people is using I messages more than you messages, for instance.

"I feel very upset when I have to wait for over an hour for my appointment with you."

instead of

"You make me upset when you're late for our appointments."

or...

"I'm very confused as to why I have to wait over an hour in the waiting room for our appointment, after arriving on time."

instead of

"You make me wait for over an hour in the waiting room, what is wrong with you?"