[SongBirdandDaisy]

First, thank you evryone for responding to SnowBird. She is coming out more and more as T has been working with her. There is no "communication" between me and her because she's confused as to her state of existence. T is working on it.

Second, since she is around more, I seem to get triggered much more easily, eventhough, I don't always dissociate with it. It's coming in the form of panic attacks (yuck). I was at WallyWord a little while ago and had one. I recognized the trigger, I think, a man yelling at his child (I hate that), but it still triggered the panic and fear and oh my goodness.

Does anyone have a strategy for coping when out in public with dissociating and panic?

Also, since I am so sensitive right now, my responses to people might be fewer (someones suggestion) but I still think of all of you. I don't want that to happen because I have fear of abandonment and want to support all of you to the best of my ability, as you have me.

I want to cry.

SongBird

Well, I am definetly not going to abandon you.

Here I am.

I have the same fear too :P

will post more on panic after breakfast.

[bipolar_bear]

I am here for you. I know how hard it can be to be supportive sometimes. I am sorry that I don't have any suggestions on how to cope in public as I am still trying to figure that out myself.

safe hugs to SongBird, Daisy and Snowbird

Ok here goes.

Well, to be honest, I dont know that there is much we can do sometimes depending on how bad the panic is. When I get panic attacks, it usually triggers my Tachycardia and PVC's and I usually have to go to the hospital anyways.

When it doesnt however, i have several means of helping myself to feel better.

Hot bath, with all the lights turned off, or just one candle so that its nice and dark. Door locked, so you know you are alone and noone can get in, plus it takes away all of the exterior sensory overload.

Now, i understand you likely cant have a bath at the shopping mall , so I would reccomend finding somewheres that you can hide out for a few min even if it is just a bathroom. Perhaps a smaller restaurant within the mall would have a single stall bathroom. Or you can leave the mall if you are feeling crowded and get outside and find somewhere to just sit. If you have a car, and you feel ok to drive, you can drive to a side street and just pull over. PLEASE however if you DO NOT FEEL GOOD ENOUGH TO DRIVE please do not drive, stay in your car and lock the doors, put on some music and just remember to breath.

Another idea is if you know there is a pharmacy near by, remember that a pharmacist is a medical technician as well! Go to the pharmacy and explain what is going on. They know lots about these things and often times have a consultation room that you can sit in for a few min until you start to feel better.

just some ideas

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Thank you for the support Bipolar Bear. Maybe we can figure this out together.

songbird

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Rainbowzz

Good ideas! I like the idea of taking a bath at the mall hee hee

It is so difficult. And I'm tired of posting with problems. Everyone must be getting sick of me by now.

Songbird

When I am out in public I take with me my walkman with one cassette that is songs that I recorded off my CD's that would calm and relax me line "Until I can control again" (Crystal Gayle) "Aint going to let no body" (Joan Baez) "Ready for the times to get better" (Crystal Gayle) "I'll Get Over You" (Crystal Gayle) "You Never Gave Up On Me" (Crystal Gayle and this one reminds me both of my very special ex therapists now friends) "I want to be free" (Loretta Lynn) "Let your feelings show" Crystal Gayle "Too Deep For Tears" (Crystal Gayle) I also like some Tammy Wynette songs and Emmy Lou Harris. I also take with me a tape recording that my therapist and I made in therapy while we did relaxation visualization. (Lately we have been doing them about every other session. )

when I get where I am going the first thing I do is locate the restrooms that way if and when panic attacks, flashbacks and so on hit me I just head for the restroom and wait it out by once in a stall pulling out my notebook and write it down, and the trigger then when I get home I start making a plan for the next time I encounter that trigger.

My blog has an entry about handling triggers. you will find more of what I do there.

[SongBirdandDaisy]

thanks myself,

I have made it a habit to carry my mp3 with me. It has downloads from hypnoworld that T gave me. Hypnosis seems to work well for me.

I forget to use it. This whole process is still new to me. This new understanding that everyone everyone doesn't understand the same things I do is new to me. I thought everyone thought the way I did and idnd't know that ai dcould thinkd differently dirrferently.

I have to t toerembember my mp3.

songbird

[stormgirl]

Hi
I do the whole bath in the dark thing too - its great, i can get 'lost' for hours that way in a peaceful kind of daze, its wonderful I also think that the reason it works well for me is, is like someone said, sorry, i am too lazy to check who, is that it cuts down all the distractions in your environment (though I think they said it alot more eloquently than that).

I don't really get panic attacks, or maybe I do, but what i get is more this irrational fear that 'whatever this thing is' - IS NEVER GOING TO END. I realised this was a real trap for me, and it has taken some years to be able to say 'i know this will end, its just a case of riding it out.' The knowledge that it will not last is what works for me.......well mostly, it ongoing.

Storm

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Storm

Thank you for reminding me that it does get better. I know it goes up and down, it just seems like lately it's been down too much.

I love soaking in the tub! I have to do it more often, the meds have been making me so tired and "weird". I talk to pdoc on Monday. I'm going to talk to him about not taking them anymore.

Songbird

[catcoon]

I know how you feel when you dissociate. I used to do it all the time when I went shopping. An idea that worked for me was having my best friend go shopping
with me. She helped me stay grounded, but she also
knew what to do when I dissociated. She would help the child in me stay calm, would buy me a soda, and then take me outside so I could feel the wind on my
face. That sometimes helped me come back to NOW.
Maybe that is a suggestion that could work with you.
I only have been able to go shopping by myself for the
past year. It took 12 years of therapy to reach this point.
Don't give up. I'm thinking of you.

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Thank you Catcoon and Welcome!

I won't give up, eventhough it sounds like a good idea sometimes. But I won't, I'm a survivor - bad man can't keep me down forever!

Songbird

[January]

Hi Catcoon,

Welcome to PC. We're so glad you found us. You are most welcome here. We have lots of nice people here. Feel at home.

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

((((((((((((((( Songbird ))))))))))))))))))

Never, never, never, never give up!
[Winston Churchill]

Hugs,

Jan

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Miss Jan,

If I give up, that would mean the bad man would win and he doesn't take responsibility for what he did anyway. So, I CAN'T give up!

Curahee!!!!!

Songbird