Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Alison, I have panic attacks and GAD, I had agoraphobia when I was younger.I am 32. At 21 I had my first experience with all this stuff. I was afraid to leave my apt. and I wasn't real educated on what was going on with me. Years later, I know pretty much all I can find about it. I believe that agor. is when your mind tricks you into thinking that going outside your " safe zone " ( your house, work, neighborhood ect) will cause you anxiety. So your body gives you little signs that your mind doesn't feel " safe " when you're out somewhere, that's why you get sudden urges to leave or get out of a place. The best way to combat this feeling is to push yourself to go out, or into stores. In my experience if I start to get scared or nervous somewhere I just force myself to go in or stay. I know how to deal with it now. As long as you stay active you won't become house bound... Good luck- If you have any questions I'm here... -Jodi -- In Lexapro , " rosenbergalison " <alisonjoan@j...> wrote: > > good morning group. > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to panic > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing someone > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I go > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes in > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to catch > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? I do > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. Does > Lexapro help this condition ? > > thanks > alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Good morning Alison, I haven't been diagnosed as agorophobic, but think I was borderline agorophobic before taking Lexapro. I felt especially anxious in crowded places. Lex has cured this problem, because it's cured my social anxiety. Leela I am the same way Leela, how long have you been on Lex and what dosage? Any side effects in the beginning? Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Hi Alison, I started having panic attacks back in 1981 and became agoraphobic back then. I would only go to work and come home. Would not go anywhere else without someone else going along and could not stay for very long. If I had to get on an elevator, it was after everyone else had gone. Meetings at work, I had to sit right by the door in case I had to run out. Back then agoraphobia was defined as being house bound. Now there are levels of it without being completely house bound. Two years ago my panic started again. I was dx as having GAD and Panic Disorder, the later I already knew. I started going to the store by myself everyday for hours at a time to avoid getting into the situation I was in so many years before. It worked. I just recently found out I am also Bipolar. Because of my anxiety I asked to be switched from Celexa to Lexapro and it has helped me alot. I also take a mood stabilizer which also helps. The Lexapro takes away the anxiety plus the constant worry about having a panic attack which is what caused my agoraphobia to begin with. Hope you get some relief real soon. Lexapro takes a few weeks sometimes before you see a change, but hang in there as I am sure you will begin to feel better soon. Emma > > good morning group. > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to panic > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing someone > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I go > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes in > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to catch > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? I do > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. Does > Lexapro help this condition ? > > thanks > alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Hi Jodi , Alison here . thank you so much for your support . when I first started getting panic attacks I had no idea what was going on . I thought I was physically sick with something horrible for abotu 6 months. I finally figured it out myself.... I seem to get agorophobic about situations where I feel trapped or think I may feel trapped ( when I think about it before hand) . I seem to be fine in my neighborhood...but less so outside of it ( partially because I do not drive so would have to wait for a bus. And I am scared if I pani I cannot leave immediately or that I could get lost if far from home) . I just had to cancell a date due to this. I was honest and let the guy know what was going on as I did not want him to think it was him somehow. ...but I feel terrible.. Now I will be missing out on meeting someone and a great art exhibit. Very frustrating...not to mention I felt so dumb trying to explain myself on the phone message. I do make it a point to go out every day even if only for 10 minutes so I will not get too balled up in the house... How do you force yourself to stay when you are panic stricken in public? Any helpfull hints? alison On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 22:48:23 -0000 " Jodi " <missdjrane@...> writes: > > > > Alison, > I have panic attacks and GAD, I had agoraphobia when I was younger.I > > am 32. At 21 I had my first experience with all this stuff. I was > afraid to leave my apt. and I wasn't real educated on what was going > > on with me. Years later, I know pretty much all I can find about it. > > I believe that agor. is when your mind tricks you into thinking that > > going outside your " safe zone " ( your house, work, neighborhood ect) > > will cause you anxiety. So your body gives you little signs that > your > mind doesn't feel " safe " when you're out somewhere, that's why you > get sudden urges to leave or get out of a place. The best way to > combat this feeling is to push yourself to go out, or into stores. > In > my experience if I start to get scared or nervous somewhere I just > force myself to go in or stay. I know how to deal with it now. As > long as you stay active you won't become house bound... Good luck- > If > you have any questions I'm here... > > -Jodi > > > > > -- In Lexapro , " rosenbergalison " <alisonjoan@j...> > wrote: > > > > good morning group. > > > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to > panic > > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing > someone > > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I go > > > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes in > > > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to > catch > > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? I > do > > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. Does > > > Lexapro help this condition ? > > > > thanks > > alison > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Leela, thank you . How long was it before the lex made a difference for you and at what dosage? alison On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 18:14:02 -0500 " terry " <terry120953@...> writes: > > Good morning Alison, > > I haven't been diagnosed as agorophobic, but think I > was borderline agorophobic before taking Lexapro. I > felt especially anxious in crowded places. Lex has > cured this problem, because it's cured my social > anxiety. > > Leela > > I am the same way Leela, how long have you been on Lex and what > dosage? Any side effects in the beginning? Terry > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Dear Emma, thank you so much for sharing with me. I am pretty well the same way as you were I think. I mean I think this has been going on a litle longer than I realized...the agrophobia part anyway... the panic attacks were obvious. For a while now I have really only been able to go to work and come home. Now I have found myself unemployed and that is a really big problem as I am sooooooo terified of job searching and the anxiety involved in starting a new job ( not to mention interviewing) . i am not in the best of all places psychologically. I agree that going out daily is important...I am trying to do that much at least . maybe, I do not even understand agrophobia...and how it is different from social anxiety. I seem to be afraid of being around people..but at the same time people are the lights of my heart and life. I am feeling so isolated. How can I love people sp much and be so afraid at the same time? I am on lexapro almost 5 or 6 weeks now and things seem maybe even worse than they were ...but I am only on 3 mg due to side effects. What dose do you find effective for you ? Also , If it is not too personal ..how was it determined that you are bi polar? thank you for being here . alison On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 20:15:03 -0000 " Emma " <emmam77837@...> writes: > > > Hi Alison, > > I started having panic attacks back in 1981 and became agoraphobic > back then. I would only go to work and come home. Would not go > anywhere else without someone else going along and could not stay > for > very long. If I had to get on an elevator, it was after everyone > else > had gone. Meetings at work, I had to sit right by the door in case I > > had to run out. Back then agoraphobia was defined as being house > bound. Now there are levels of it without being completely house > bound. Two years ago my panic started again. I was dx as having GAD > > and Panic Disorder, the later I already knew. I started going to the > > store by myself everyday for hours at a time to avoid getting into > the situation I was in so many years before. It worked. I just > recently found out I am also Bipolar. Because of my anxiety I asked > > to be switched from Celexa to Lexapro and it has helped me alot. I > also take a mood stabilizer which also helps. The Lexapro takes away > > the anxiety plus the constant worry about having a panic attack > which > is what caused my agoraphobia to begin with. > > Hope you get some relief real soon. Lexapro takes a few weeks > sometimes before you see a change, but hang in there as I am sure > you > will begin to feel better soon. > > Emma > > > > > > > > > good morning group. > > > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to > panic > > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing > someone > > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I go > > > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes in > > > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to > catch > > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? I do > > > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. Does > > > Lexapro help this condition ? > > > > thanks > > alison > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 When I got the panicky feelings in public, I'd do deep breathing exercises. Breathe in through your nose, into your stomach, hold it in a few seconds, and breathe out through your mouth. It did help to calm me down. Kathy R. > How do you force yourself to stay when you are panic stricken in public? > Any helpfull hints? > > alison > On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 22:48:23 -0000 " Jodi " <missdjrane@h...> > writes: > > > > > > > > Alison, > > I have panic attacks and GAD, I had agoraphobia when I was younger.I > > > > am 32. At 21 I had my first experience with all this stuff. I was > > afraid to leave my apt. and I wasn't real educated on what was going > > > > on with me. Years later, I know pretty much all I can find about it. > > > > I believe that agor. is when your mind tricks you into thinking that > > > > going outside your " safe zone " ( your house, work, neighborhood ect) > > > > will cause you anxiety. So your body gives you little signs that > > your > > mind doesn't feel " safe " when you're out somewhere, that's why you > > get sudden urges to leave or get out of a place. The best way to > > combat this feeling is to push yourself to go out, or into stores. > > In > > my experience if I start to get scared or nervous somewhere I just > > force myself to go in or stay. I know how to deal with it now. As > > long as you stay active you won't become house bound... Good luck- > > If > > you have any questions I'm here... > > > > -Jodi > > > > > > > > > > -- In Lexapro , " rosenbergalison " <alisonjoan@j...> > > wrote: > > > > > > good morning group. > > > > > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to > > panic > > > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing > > someone > > > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I go > > > > > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes in > > > > > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to > > catch > > > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? I > > do > > > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. Does > > > > > Lexapro help this condition ? > > > > > > thanks > > > alison > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 I have had agrophobia since I was very little. It wasn't until I was 32 that I was diagnosed with panic w/ag. It was then that I was put on medication to help control it. So far it has been pretty successful for me. However, in times of extreme stress I will have break through panic with ag. Somethings I do: 1) I always carry my keys in my hand when I go into a store. This gives me reassurance that I can get to my car and get in my car fast in the event I have a panic attack. My purse got stolen in a grocery store and this happened before I was diagnosed and I had a major panic attack and 911 was called for me. So, I never separate myself from my keys from the moment I leave my home. That gives me some sense of security. 2) If I am in a store and have a panic attack, I usually leave the area immediately and go to a place in the store that resembles safety to me. I always know where the public restroom is, so I can get there fast. I usually go there and just by being in a stall, closed off to the public, I can concentrate on my breathing. I also practice some rhymthic movement at the same time and visualization. I also make sure that if the store has a lower level I will park my car as close as I can to the lower level and if the store has something I want to purchase on the upper level then I will go out and move my car to the upper level 3) Using your 5 senses when this happens helps too. If you can get a hot drink/or cold drink that has alot of flavor and smells good there are two senses used (taste and smell). Then I try to think what day this is and recognize where I am by looking around me, that is using another sense. Then if I can, I touch something that has testure that I can feel. I always try to sit down when I am having a panic attack because that always helps to ground me. I have left my grocery cart in the isle and flee to my car to calm down and then I can usually go back but sometimes I can't and I don't beat myself up. Or if in a department store, I know where there is displayed a chair and I got and sit down on that too. I never have any problems when shopping for a mattress, LOL. 4) Breathing is usually very shallow and rapid when this happens to me and when I get to my idea of a safe place, then I concentrate in slowing down my breathing, but I have to get to that safe place first before my breathing can be controlled. 5) I always have to drive, I can never be a passenger because that person has control over the car and once we all get out the car gets locked and I can't get back in it if I have a panic attack. Dana > > > > > > > > good morning group. > > > > > > > > yesterday my therapist said I have agorophobia in addition to > > > panic > > > > attacks and GAD. I kind of already knew this , but hearing > > > someone > > > > say it really scared me. Has anyone dealt with agorophobia . I > go > > > > > > > out of the house , but I am nervous to go too far and sometimes > in > > > > > > > public I feel like I just have to leave ASAP. Is it possible to > > > catch > > > > this condition before it gets worse and do something about it? > I > > > do > > > > not want to become house bound. I am really afraid and upset. > Does > > > > > > > Lexapro help this condition ? > > > > > > > > thanks > > > > alison > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.