I think sometimes we don't know why debilitating anxiety becomes a problem. I hope your new therapist can help.
The only advice I can give is to try as hard as you can not to give in and become homebound. The more you give up the harder it is to get it back. And giving in and avoiding becomes kind of an ingrained pattern.
It's hard sometimes to know where the fine line is between giving in too easily and pushing yourself too hard in that it becomes detrimental and causes a setback.
Oh one more thing... good friends, really good frinds, can make a world of difference.
Good luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by melstar
I am not sure what has been happening over the past two years or so that has made me so afraid to leave my house. Fear and panic set in when I am walking, especially after dark, to anywhere I have to go. During the day time the panic and fear doesn't set in quite as quickly as it does after dark, but it is still there. It makes it very difficult for me to go anywhere I need to go, because I am so hypervigilant about my surroundings. The bad thing is that this same panic and fear set in while I am driving also. Everytime I get behind the wheel of my vehicle that panic and fear sets in. I don't know what has caused it though. I have never been in an accident or had anything happen to me while walking, it is just the fear that it could happen that debilitates me.
The good thing is that I am a much safer driver (not that I wasn't before) now, I even follow the speed limits. But I am afraid that eventually this fear and panic is going to prevent me from leaving the safety of my house pretty soon.
I am going to speak to my new t about this on Thursday to see what she says (It will be the first time meeting her).
If anyone has any advice to give about this it would be much appreciated. I am stuck and don't know what to do.
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