[NJBlues]

How sad is that? I hope the new pdoc can help, how can I live my life like this?

[Sabrina]

Grocery shopping, though I love it, would often induce panic and anxiety in me. So I can identify. The meds I am on now help with my anxiety and I haven't had an attack for a long time. I do hope your new pdoc can help.

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by Sabrina

Grocery shopping, though I love it, would often induce panic and anxiety in me. So I can identify. The meds I am on now help with my anxiety and I haven't had an attack for a long time. I do hope your new pdoc can help.

Do you mind if I ask what meds you're taking? It sounds like they're working we'll.

Thanks!

[pbutton]

I have also had several panic attacks while grocery shopping. It's possible to beat this with therapy and meds. I never thought I would be able to feel like a normal person again. Hang in there.

[yellowfrog268]

NJ Blues,

Hopefully your new pdoc will be helpful to you.

I know I cannot deal with large department stores (think Wally World or the big red T) because of bright lights, too many choices, crowds, noises, waiting in line, etc. It just overwhelms me.

[Redsoft]

You're not alone. I can't go to grocery store by myself at all. :/
Unless it's an "emergency" (see: I'm out of my meds).

[Sabrina]

Originally Posted by NJBlues

Do you mind if I ask what meds you're taking? It sounds like they're working we'll.

Thanks!

I take Depramil (Citalopram) which is an anti-depressant but that has helped with my anxiety tremendously

My worst pa was in a grocery store. I fainted.. : ( You could try to go grocery shopping early in the morning or at night when there aren't too many people.

[winter4me]

It is very common for anxiety/panic attacks to happen in stores (& for some may lead to agoraphobia---"fear of the marketplace"---& isolating at home)---grocery, department stores etc..............you are not at all alone. (when I am having bouts of panic, stores, movie theaters and other public places will trigger me)

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by Sabrina

I take Depramil (Citalopram) which is an anti-depressant but that has helped with my anxiety tremendously

Thanks, Sabrina. New pdoc put me on Klonopin, plans to add Prozac once my body's adjusted to the first med. cross your fingers for me!

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by chocmouse

My worst pa was in a grocery store. I fainted.. : ( You could try to go grocery shopping early in the morning or at night when there aren't too many people.

I've frequently ordered online ahead of time, that way I can just pick up the groceries when they're ready. It's worth the $10 charge, in my opinion (& saves time).

That is a great thing..didn't know you coudl do that. I hope the new meds will work for you!

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by NJBlues

How sad is that? I hope the new pdoc can help, how can I live my life like this?

Have you tried to discern the reason behind your anxiety? For me, the panic about going grocery shopping has often been because I am worried I will run into someone I know and that I'll have to be fake happy or try to avoid them. That's enough to set off the panic.

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by wotchermuggle

Have you tried to discern the reason behind your anxiety? For me, the panic about going grocery shopping has often been because I am worried I will run into someone I know and that I'll have to be fake happy or try to avoid them. That's enough to set off the panic.

I think it's just that I don't enjoy doing it and want to be in and out as soon as possible. I get overwhelmed with all the things I need to do. Hoping new pdoc and new meds will help - I never had trouble with this before the past year, when my old pdoc took me off Prozac. New pdoc is slowly putting me back on.

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by yellowfrog268

NJ Blues,

Hopefully your new pdoc will be helpful to you.

I know I cannot deal with large department stores (think Wally World or the big red T) because of bright lights, too many choices, crowds, noises, waiting in line, etc. It just overwhelms me.

I get the same way. But lately, I have been going in to Costco and Winco, because its actually cheaper for me to pay for the gas to go in to town to go to those places, then to go to our local groceries store. I hate it, but I kind of have to do that for rite now.

[yellowfrog268]

Originally Posted by shortandcute

I get the same way. But lately, I have been going in to Costco and Winco, because its actually cheaper for me to pay for the gas to go in to town to go to those places, then to go to our local groceries store. I hate it, but I kind of have to do that for rite now.

I can deal with these types of stores so long as the time spent there is limited and I go when there is less of a chance of large crowds. So for me holiday sales events are definitely out of the question. Also hate Black Friday.

[shortandcute]

Yeah, I refuse to do Black Friday.

[kirby777]

Originally Posted by NJBlues

How sad is that? I hope the new pdoc can help, how can I live my life like this?

NJ-

I am so anxious I barely function. I rarely go out in public, anywhere. I am so far gone I am self isolating and only feel somewhat safe in the house.

You are getting help and that is a good sign! I only have my dog to take care of...if I had a family to take care of, I do not know what I would do. I have extended family members pick up things for me at stores and drop them off. So they are enabling my behavior.

I happen to love Walgreens (?)...so am very proud when I can actually shower, dress, and go to there to walk around. I believe if i saw someone i knew, I would pretend I did not see them, and even go as far as pretending not to hear then if they called my name.. I am very ill.

[Marla500]

Originally Posted by kirby777

NJ-

I am so anxious I barely function. I rarely go out in public, anywhere. I am so far gone I am self isolating and only feel somewhat safe in the house.

You are getting help and that is a good sign! I only have my dog to take care of...if I had a family to take care of, I do not know what I would do. I have extended family members pick up things for me at stores and drop them off. So they are enabling my behavior.

I happen to love Walgreens (?)...so am very proud when I can actually shower, dress, and go to there to walk around. I believe if i saw someone i knew, I would pretend I did not see them, and even go as far as pretending not to hear then if they called my name.. I am very ill.

Kirby777, if you don't mind my saying so I don't think your family is enabling your behavior, you can't really help it can you? I almost lost it at the grocery store today. there were so many people and I just wanted to get out of there. I was doing my best to get some shopping done but left with very little. I couldn't think. of course today was not a good day to go.

[Marie Evans]

Originally Posted by NJBlues

How sad is that? I hope the new pdoc can help, how can I live my life like this?

I do not like dealing with large department stores because of too many choices, crowds, noises, waiting in line,etc. But, I do like the different variety to choose the items that you want to buy in these stores.

Originally Posted by yellowfrog268

NJ Blues,

Hopefully your new pdoc will be helpful to you.

I know I cannot deal with large department stores (think Wally World or the big red T) because of bright lights, too many choices, crowds, noises, waiting in line, etc. It just overwhelms me.

[Marie Evans]

Originally Posted by shortandcute

Yeah, I refuse to do Black Friday.

I never do Black Friday because sometimes shoppers want to start violence with you over an unnecessary reason.

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by kirby777

NJ-

I am so anxious I barely function. I rarely go out in public, anywhere. I am so far gone I am self isolating and only feel somewhat safe in the house.

You are getting help and that is a good sign! I only have my dog to take care of...if I had a family to take care of, I do not know what I would do. I have extended family members pick up things for me at stores and drop them off. So they are enabling my behavior.

I happen to love Walgreens (?)...so am very proud when I can actually shower, dress, and go to there to walk around. I believe if i saw someone i knew, I would pretend I did not see them, and even go as far as pretending not to hear then if they called my name.. I am very ill.

I do hope you can work your way out of this situation. In my case, I do have a family to take care of & I have to work, and I manage that ok, though not brilliantly. I want so badly to get better so I can take my kids out more.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by NJBlues

I want so badly to get better so I can take my kids out more.

Hope it works out for you, with the new meds! That's what they are there for, to help us out.

My anxiety attacks, can be exhausting, after the fact. I've had heart palpitations on and off, I would stretch and say, since I was 15/16 years old. But not diagnosed with one, until 2007/2008--thought I was having a severe reaction to an MS med, but it was listed as heart palpitations. And then I started seeing my pdoc in 2009.

Took citalopram for a couple years, then off, then I had more palpitations that started in August, and tried to work it out in talk therapy 1st, then took citalopram, but didn't react well in February/March. I'm temporarily, he says, by virtue of an in-between appointment call, I am on Alprazolam, and see him week after next, and will discuss what is going on in further detail. Not sure what I'll get, or if I'll stay on this one.

Both of these meds, work well for the palpitations. Those are mind blowing to have, but when you've dealt with them for so long, it's almost like the normal for me.

[NJBlues]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Hope it works out for you, with the new meds! That's what they are there for, to help us out.

My anxiety attacks, can be exhausting, after the fact. I've had heart palpitations on and off, I would stretch and say, since I was 15/16 years old. But not diagnosed with one, until 2007/2008--thought I was having a severe reaction to an MS med, but it was listed as heart palpitations. And then I started seeing my pdoc in 2009.

Took citalopram for a couple years, then off, then I had more palpitations that started in August, and tried to work it out in talk therapy 1st, then took citalopram, but didn't react well in February/March. I'm temporarily, he says, by virtue of an in-between appointment call, I am on Alprazolam, and see him week after next, and will discuss what is going on in further detail. Not sure what I'll get, or if I'll stay on this one.

Both of these meds, work well for the palpitations. Those are mind blowing to have, but when you've dealt with them for so long, it's almost like the normal for me.

Hope the meds work out for you, healingme4me. I hope we all get better!

[winter4me]

Give me Main St., small shops any day.