[Elana05]

When I am not feeling well, feeling very anxious or upset, over tired or depressed, the anxiety extends to become panic over things that may or may not really be a problem. Years ago, I funneled anxiety about work and a dysfunctional family relationship into pretty bad hypochondria and fear of things not being sanitary. That passed. But one that has stuck with me is a fear of certain breeds of large dogs. If they are running loose, I panic and almost begin to hyperventilate if they come toward me. I grew up with dogs and never really had any bad experiences so I don't know where this comes from. But I do have a fear of not feeling "safe" enough.

So this morning I hear loud barking and I realized that there is a pit bull running loose around the apartments across the street.

It was barking at the mail man. Now I am terrified. I am planning how to stay inside and not go out and I am praying that the dog is gone tomorrow. I am just convinced that it is going to be loose, and come after me tomorrow if I go out to get into my car. Sometimes I even like to take a walk around the block. But I will not go out now. The apartments across the street are really run down with a lot of young guys who live there. There are always loud fights and the cops are constantly being called on them. The fights are awful because I get triggered by those. But now with the thought that I could get attacked by a pit bull... I just feel myself totally sinking into a place of agoraphobia. It was mild before but now I am totally concerned that I am going to be too freaked out to leave the apartment. I feel awful, I feel crazy, and I don't know what to do about it except sit in fear and vow not to leave here.

[madisgram]

hi elana, it sounds like you are experiencing unknown fears. i can totally relate to many things you posted and no you're not going crazy. re the dog fears, i feel you are transferring fears about something in your life that upsets you to the other things you mentioned including dogs. take a look at what is really bothering you, recognize the false fear of dogs, etc as an irrational fear based on other things that are upsetting you. then you can try to untangle this and know that most dogs, etc are not going to hurt you. that something else is the real culprit. hopefully you can do this to get at the root of the fear. try to go out even if it's just standing outside your door. it will de-sensitize the agoraphobia so it doesn't grab hold off you.
hope this helps and that you can keep these irrational thoughts from surfacing and to get at the root of not feeling safe. hugs.

[Ryask]

Call the city pound, if they are letting a pit bull run around that's not safe for anyone, plus it's anonymous, of course this isn't a real solution to your issues, but it is a short term solution, you should have to be a prisoner in your own home, phobia or not.

[Elana05]

Hey all.

I did call the local precinct about the dog. They said they'd go check it out. It would be one thing if it were a golden or a lab, then I'd be focused mainly on the welfare of the dog. In this case I was concerned about the welfare of the dog (being hit by a car) as well as neighbors and children, mail-carrier, or me! (getting bit). Because it was a pit bull I just wasn't sure. They can be sweet one minute and not so sweet the next. The thing that bugs me is how much I don't know where I stand. I can't tell when a concern is an honest concern or when I am overreacting. Many of the things I get concerned over, well, really could be a problem. But it's the worry... it's like I feel overly unsafe and hyper-vigilant. And I can't let this stuff go.

[with or without you]

after all this is over (when the dog is gone) have you thought about slowly desensitizing yourself to large dogs? Like maybe walk by an SPCA (but don't go in)....then go to a pet shop that only sells puppies....then go to the SPCA again and walk through?

[manwithnofriends]

My fear of dogs is getting out of hand. Now I can't even go to a park cause there are bound to be dog walkers there. What if they throw the fetch ball at me? The dog will get irritated and bite my head off... (It can happen, even if the dog is well-raised, for they know no one but their "owner")