[TheDragon]

Hello everyone.

Lately, I have been dealing with anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia which are all new to me. Before, I only dealt with depression, and emotional blunting, and I am very unused to anxiety.

For the last three weeks my agoraphobia got worse and I simply stopped going to school. I only left my house for therapy appointments with a large degree of difficulty (and I had to occasionally miss one) and rarely left my room. Yesterday, with a help of a friend, I managed to get to school. I had a panic attack shortly after waking up, while getting ready, at the door, and another two panic attacks once I left my house but I managed to get there.

Today, I woke up and started panicking. I decided not to go to school and even then the panic took a while to die down. I still feel anxious, insecure, and scared. I wish to be able to at least go to school (despite hating it) so I can get back to a somewhat normal life. I would like to be able to do so without the constant help of someone, and I just wanted to know what advice everyone may have.

[Irine]

I have been dealing with something a little bit simmilar. Not to such an extent, but it had to do with school

Do you have an idea why are you afraid of school? is it school that you hate the most or you really don`t want to get out?

[TheDragon]

Originally Posted by ladymacabethadmunsen

I have been dealing with something a little bit simmilar. Not to such an extent, but it had to do with school

Do you have an idea why are you afraid of school? is it school that you hate the most or you really don`t want to get out?

I highly dislike school as it is. The social atmosphere (I do not get along with my peers and I tend to highly dislike most of them), I dislike the actual atmosphere, I dislike the authority system, and I have a hard time not feeling terrible at school. Aside from that, I also do not want to leave my house, let alone my room. I do not wish to leave because as it was described to me by my therapist, I have made a "cocoon" out of my room and it has become my safe place despite the fact my house is not a place I like because of my parents. I also have to deal with dissociation which can get bad when I am outside of somewhere comfortable. When I start getting stressed outside I mildly hallucinate and when I get back I get depressed.

[gimmeice]

You mentioned a therapist, have you talked to your therapist about this issue? Anxiety can be hard to overcome on your own, I used to stay in my house unless I had to go somewhere, I was afraid of being away from home. The way I overcame some of this is when I started therapy I made a contract with myself that I would go to every appointment unless I was sick, several times I had to drag myself there because I didn't want to go. Therapy and taking small trips out of the house to the library or a small store has really helped me.

[Perna]

If you're damned whether you do or don't, I'd just go ahead and do the one that gets you closer to what you ultimately want? Since you have a panic attack anyway, just "ignore" it the best you can and go through it like you did the other day when you went to school anyway? I found with panic attacks that if I assess the situation and intellectually know that nothing bad is happening and there's no reason for the attack, going with my intellect helps them die down faster and not show up as often. Call their bluff instead of giving in to them. Anxiety isn't very "smart" so if you get logical with it and/or make fun of it it goes away for me.

[Carzo10]

Stuff like this sometimes happen to me. It's weird, in the morning when my brother wakes me up I get this really shaky feeling like a shock just went up my spine. At first I thought it was because this happens in the morning and that I'm tired from my sleep. But I've gotten used to the time my brother wakes me up at, and I just wake-up around that time now. When he;s on his way to my room I get this nervous rush that says 'oh great! here he comes'.
But latter in the morning when I get ready and eat, this feeling leaves me. Until I'm on my way to school. Weather I'm taking the bus or my mom drives me. It's like I'm on my way to my death. I've already missed so much school. They have sent an officer over and my grades are slipping, badly.
I first noticed then when I was like in 3 or 4 grade. I had asked my grandmother why dose this happen to me. she said something along the lines like, 'it's the devil trying to get into you so you won't get the education you need' (lol). Since then I just dropped it, but I'm always awhere of this feeling when going to school, or public places. It's weird too, because I'm not a shy person.

[TheDragon]

Originally Posted by Perna

If you're damned whether you do or don't, I'd just go ahead and do the one that gets you closer to what you ultimately want? Since you have a panic attack anyway, just "ignore" it the best you can and go through it like you did the other day when you went to school anyway? I found with panic attacks that if I assess the situation and intellectually know that nothing bad is happening and there's no reason for the attack, going with my intellect helps them die down faster and not show up as often. Call their bluff instead of giving in to them. Anxiety isn't very "smart" so if you get logical with it and/or make fun of it it goes away for me.

If I choose to go to school, I will suffer another few panic attacks before going, and on route to school. I dread the panic attacks. Once I know I am not going, the panic attacks will stop and the anxiety will die back down. The biggest problem for me is when the anxiety and panic completely overwhelms me in the morning both physically and mentally. I am normally a very rational (people have commented on how I can be too logical) but when the panic takes over my mind will become a mess and I will not be able to think. Often I start dissociating as well which makes it worse in a sense. Once panic has died down I can at least fight the anxiety but when the panic is in place there seems to be very little I can do. I have managed to go 2 days out of four this week, and I hope to be able to make it in tomorrow. I do try to stay in the mindset of "No matter what, just go and do it." but when the panic completely overrides I cannot.

[jaeyw]

Have tried any meds?

J

[KailleK]

I'm in exactly the same boat. I haven't been to class in four, almost five weeks now and it's getting to the point where I'm scared for myself. Good to know I'm not the only one specifically freaking out over school.

Originally Posted by DragonofPain

Hello everyone.

Lately, I have been dealing with anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia which are all new to me. Before, I only dealt with depression, and emotional blunting, and I am very unused to anxiety.

For the last three weeks my agoraphobia got worse and I simply stopped going to school. I only left my house for therapy appointments with a large degree of difficulty (and I had to occasionally miss one) and rarely left my room. Yesterday, with a help of a friend, I managed to get to school. I had a panic attack shortly after waking up, while getting ready, at the door, and another two panic attacks once I left my house but I managed to get there.

Today, I woke up and started panicking. I decided not to go to school and even then the panic took a while to die down. I still feel anxious, insecure, and scared. I wish to be able to at least go to school (despite hating it) so I can get back to a somewhat normal life. I would like to be able to do so without the constant help of someone, and I just wanted to know what advice everyone may have.

[TheDragon]

I have been having more of an issue with going out in general, but school is one of the hardest places for me to go. Do you find anything helps you get there? A friend of mine came picked me up in the morning and drove me to school so that we could avoid the public transit. That really helped I found.

Originally Posted by KailleK

I'm in exactly the same boat. I haven't been to class in four, almost five weeks now and it's getting to the point where I'm scared for myself. Good to know I'm not the only one specifically freaking out over school.

[KailleK]

I haven't made it yet; tomorrow is the plan, but it seems like it's been "tomorrow" for a few weeks now. Unfortunately I moved out of my hometown two years ago, and don't really have any friends around here available. I've got one friend who's called me before to try and get me to get up and go, but I end up ignoring the call.

Originally Posted by DragonofPain

I have been having more of an issue with going out in general, but school is one of the hardest places for me to go. Do you find anything helps you get there? A friend of mine came picked me up in the morning and drove me to school so that we could avoid the public transit. That really helped I found.

[KailleK]

I made it to school today!

The trick seemed to be just... being able to smile. I went to sleep with my cat curled up under my chin, and I woke up to her burrowing under my blanket. It just... made me smile. I took my time in the shower and enjoyed the hot water, then I checked my email, did my hair, and picked the cutest outfit I could think of.

For breakfast, I promised myself a bagel from my favorite place on campus. Knowing that I'd have a delicious treat when I got there definitely helped a ton.

There were moments when I had to breathe deeply and try and keep myself calm, but I left campus with a smile and proud of myself. I guess it's the little things that get me going; I hope you can get there too!

Originally Posted by KailleK

I haven't made it yet; tomorrow is the plan, but it seems like it's been "tomorrow" for a few weeks now. Unfortunately I moved out of my hometown two years ago, and don't really have any friends around here available. I've got one friend who's called me before to try and get me to get up and go, but I end up ignoring the call.

[TheDragon]

Congratulations Kailek! It is great to hear that you made it back to school. I do try to take my time in the morning but too often I just start panicking. Usually it is when I have a bit of time where I am breathing that I can get myself ready for the day. I seem to be making it to 2-3 days per week which is better than none. I find I cannot eat in the mornings so treats are out of the question for. I usually call my significant other in the morning and that is the part that makes me smile and helps a lot. Wish you luck in the future as well and good job again!

Originally Posted by KailleK

I made it to school today!

The trick seemed to be just... being able to smile. I went to sleep with my cat curled up under my chin, and I woke up to her burrowing under my blanket. It just... made me smile. I took my time in the shower and enjoyed the hot water, then I checked my email, did my hair, and picked the cutest outfit I could think of.

For breakfast, I promised myself a bagel from my favorite place on campus. Knowing that I'd have a delicious treat when I got there definitely helped a ton.

There were moments when I had to breathe deeply and try and keep myself calm, but I left campus with a smile and proud of myself. I guess it's the little things that get me going; I hope you can get there too!