[notjacob]

hi all. i've had an anxiety disorder with phobias for the past 10 years. I am now 29 and would like to be able to do normal things without worry.

i have had little to no help from medical professionals apart from medication.

my phobias are:
heights (had this ever since i can remember)
the night sky (i cannot go out at night because the vastness of it terrifies me, dizzy feeling, feel like i'm going to fall into the sky)
large buildings, large structures (they make me feel dizzy when i go near them, i cannot really travel to large cities with skyscrapers etc as it makes me feel very overwhelmed)
vast open spaces
airports and aeroplanes (i cannot go near an airport even)

along side these phobias i also have a generalised anxiety disorder which is not as bad as it used to be. what can I do? i just want a normal life. any thoughts appreciated.

[Skeezyks]

Hello not: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

I have some personal experience with many of the things you mention are phobias for you. So I can sympathize with your plight. Here are links to some articles from PsychCentral's archives that may be of some interest on the subject of phobias:

https://psychcentral.com/disorders/a...bia-treatment/

https://psychcentral.com/library/phobias_tx.htm

https://psychcentral.com/lib/facts-about-phobias/

https://psychcentral.com/disorders/a...obia-symptoms/

I don't know, of course, if you're here simply seeking advice with regard to this particular concern or if you plan to hang in here with us. However, should you be planning to continue on (we hope you do)... may I suggest you introduce yourself over on PC's New Member Introductions forum? Here's a link:

https://forums.psychcentral.com/new-...introductions/

There's a lot of support that can be available here on PC. The more you post, & reply to other members' posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are the chat rooms where you'll be able to interact with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) So please keep posting!

P.S. One type of treatment that I believe is often used in the treatment of phobias is referred to as "exposure therapy". Family therapist, Kati Morton, has a video on her YouTube channel on this subject. (Be sure & read her video description that appears beneath the video.) Here's a link to that video:

Hello, that is quite a list. I am sure most of us here have lengthy ones too.

My own suggestion is some CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) - which you can do on your own. There are many workbooks on the subject. Find one with plenty of exercises and tasks to complete. The idea is to learn a new one each week.

Anyway, my thoughts are that you focus on "Black and White Thinking" "Catastrophic Thinking" and "Discounting the Positive".

[Dalea]

meditation also helps me with my anxiety

[ken9018]

Hello, I would try to get some professional with the anxiety. That's what really helped me. Till then meditating works,eating right, exercise and picking up a good hobby that will take your mind off your anxiety.