Hi, I'm new here, and looking forward to getting to know you all! Here's my question .... I have social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia (the usual laundry list). I have gotten much better by the practice of taking my medication of choice (Xanax) and then MAKING myself get out and experience the world a little bit. At least now I can go to the grocery store without medication and without panic (or even thinking about it!) which is something I could not say two years ago.

BUT ... I have one phobia that I just cannot figure out how to lick. I am just terrified of riding in a car with anyone but my husband. Needless to say, this has really been a problem for me, and my husband is getting a bit tired of it all. (The man is a saint -- he has put up with 15 years of all this! but everyone has limits.) The thing is, I can't figure out how to find someone to go ride around with me. I know, that sounds easy, but ... we just moved to this area a year or so ago, and I am just now making some friends. I do NOT want to start out my friendship with them by saying gee, I have this little problem, could you come ride around with me while I sweat and have a panic attack and feel nauseated just because someone else is in the car? It'll just be tons of fun .....

I guess the person of choice would be a therapist, but from what I have read, and therapists I have talked to, they are in general really not insterested in real situational therapy like this. They mostly want to sit around in their offices and get big bucks, as far as I can tell. (Okay, I'm a little bitter about therapists!! Long story there.) Anyway ... anyone have any ideas on this?

Thanks!!

~ A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.... Emerson