Other Ptsd and agoraphobia

[Tessa]

Hi Zazz60,

I am glad you wrote about this. I have similar problems with avoiding going out except for work and frequent visits to the toilet. It does seem like it will never get better. However I hope it is some benefit to know you do not struggle alone.

 

[Grama-Herc]

I lost my job because of agoraphobia and ended up putting myself into hospital where all my diagnosis were made. That was in 1997 and I still suffer. My only saving grace is I've managed to develope a "safe zone" which includes a store, gas station and bank. Without these i probably would not be able to leave the house and for sure, if not for mother needing meds and food, etc I would never leave the house.

 

[Pink77]

I have developed agoraphobia as a result of the PTSD and the chronic anxiety. Cognitive Behavioural therapy suggests that the more you expose yourself to what you fear (in my case its mainly leaving the house but a whole lot besides) the more the fear should subside.

Hi Jazz60,

I too have agoraphobia that has gotten worse as my ptsd got worse. Sometimes I freeze at my computer and can't move at all, I'm so terrified. And yes, there are days I don't go outside even though I'm stir crazy from being in the house. One thing I do is just sit on the back porch/steps and enjoy nature. Nature grounds me and eases my anxiety. Sometimes I smoke a cigar when I'm outside which also relaxes me.

Are you taking anything for anxiety? If not, you might want to talk to you dr about it, and that might help with some of the symptoms you described. I also plan on errands on my days off from work to force me out of the house and that helps. But I've also had anxiety attacks when I get to the grocery store and can't get out of the car. I either call a friend or my mom just to be talking to someone. My counselor also suggested that if the parking lot is full and I'm anxious, go shopping another time. If I need essentials (milk, bread and cream for my coffee), I'll just run in for those items and do a full shopping another day, like right after work. This technique has helped me a lot. The noise of a lot of people in a store really aggrivates me.

You should look at why the courses at univ help you to focus enough to forget your anxiety. Maybe reading in your text books before the cab picks you up might help to relieve some of the anxiety. Or doing your homework at the library or a coffee shop to get you use to be out amongst people reading something that you enjoy? Just a thought.

Keep going tho, that's the only way you are going to get through it. Congrats on keeping up with university classes! that shows that the agoraphobia hasn't licked you yet! Best wishes, Pink

 

[BloomInWinter]

The agoraphobia is one of the primary symptoms of the constriction I've experienced in my life due to my PTSD.

...without therapy, it just kept getting worse. I didn't realize it. I'm grateful I can at least travel around town now, but find the idea of travelling anywhere else is very frightening. Ugh.

 

[Pink77]

I'm grateful I can at least travel around town now, but find the idea of travelling anywhere else is very frightening. Ugh.

Take it one step at a time BloominWinter. You will get there! Pink

 

[Cholena Taima Lethbridge]

Hi Jazz!

I know exactly what you are going through! I'm 19 and I am now housebound due to PTSD from something that happened to me in my pre-teens. If I have to go outside for some reason, like for example, Today I needed to go to urgent care because im running outta meds and have no doctor at the moment. I had to walk across town which was unbelievably dreadful constantly rubbing my fingers together which kept me occupied, weird i know, but it keeps my mind focused on something for abit, my heart is non-stop racing, im sweating like crazy even though its winter. Crossing the street is worse because theirs a car right there waiting for you to go by!! And thats just going somewhere! Finally i walk in the office and ofcourse theirs a million people waiting to be seen, i sat down, started panicing and i couldnt even get out of the seat because i felt embarassed or just so scared that even walking out was hard, but eventually i did walk out. It's horrible because I really need my meds otherwise I become really suicidal and i dont want that anymore, ive been in a Psychiatric hospital for 1 1/2 of my life already. NO MORE! But it seems the whole agoraphobia thing is just taking over me.
I've read that women that are native american are likely to develop this phobia, which makes me feel like there is no hope.
But I don't know, just letting you know you're not the only one who is trying to fight this!
take care~

 

[KP the nut]

I always have my credit card ( check 3 times to make sure ) in the top slot of my wallet, so I can pay at the store with zero thought, allll my car information is in another wallet within reach when I'm driving ( insurance, registration, etc.) because what if I get pulled over for something, God Forbid? The dam phone has to be charged up AND bottled water in the car for whatever 'what if' THAT is in my head. Does my head think I'm going to be stranded in a snow drift in the middle of the summer?
Anni

Sorry Anni, it's not funny but added to your list can I also add, blanket, heat pads, flask of hot water, herbal tea bags, hi energy food bars, the tank must be full of petrol, emergency car kit etc.

Talk about be prepared

 

[KP the nut]

Hi Jazz, I'm not there yet but since being diagnosed I have become v reclusive. I don't want to leave the house, especially on my own. I force myself to do things, meet a friend, anything.

My T sets me small goals, it helps.

Re transport, is there a community transport scheme in your area. Schemes are run to benefit people who cannot use public transport. The drivers are trained, some are volunteers, they are not run as hard nosed business ventures but to help people. The cost is usually cheaper than a cab and often you get the same driver so build up an understanding relationship.

BTW, welcome to the forum, try and keep posting, it is sometimes hard, but I've found it helps. Plus the support, care and friendship is amazing.

(((HUGS))) if you will accept them
KP

 

[Crl1983]

I've barely left the house except to go to school and when i absolutely have to.And even when i get the thought that it might be nice to get out of the house for fun 95% of the time something holds me back,i lose the courage and the motivation just like that.I have an easier time if my fiance or a family member or good friend goes with me but that doesn't happen much bc of peoples work schedules and such.It seems like so much work just to go up to the grocery store anymore.I get extremely anxious when I'm out and it ruins any fun i might otherwise have had.I'm always keeping an eye on everyone around me and observing them for any sign that they may have bad intentions.I get really suspicious when someone I don't know keeps looking at me or my kids,especially men.I know that sounds crazy because I'm watching everyone around me but that's how I get.When a man I don't know or group of people are near me,for instance, if they are passing or i have to pass them I get really nervous and fearful.When i take my kids out i can only take it for so long and then i start getting very keyed up and irritable- because it's so hard to really watch your surroundings and keep an eye on other people while at the same time keeping a constant eye on your 3 kids,..because i have to protect myself plus 3 other people and the only way i can describe it is it's like i go into extreme hyper defense mode and i overload.I know that sounds bad but it's true.I start to panic and i feel like i just want to gather up my kids and run home.I get lost easily too,i tend to dissociate when I'm driving alone and i do the same thing-get lost or miss turns or exits that i know(or should) like the back of my hand.

 

[anthony]

Exposure Therapy (ET) is extremely effective, however; it comes with some limiting factors first. You must complete some basics in psychotherapy first, ie. CBT or EMDR in relation to your trauma. If you haven't processed the root of the problem first, then ET becomes more a retraumatizing event vs. helpful therapy. Once you process some of the core problems, then you always start extremely small with actual physical ET. It is a real art and you must commit utterly to the process, which involves specific self talk during and after the event for it to work. You can read more at: [DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/exposure-therapy-for-ptsd.396/[/DLMURL]

It is a combination with CBT... you start with imaginal ET with your therapist, you then get into physical, ie. dares. You literally dare yourself to achieve a small thing, then you process the event, ie. did something happen to me? What? Recognition that the fear was countered by the fact you just did x, and y didn't occur as you feared it would. It is a process... and you must start small, and depending upon self esteem levels, you may require a person at first that you trust just to be with you and give you that push to achieve the set small goal.

The biggest thing with ET is that you MUST expect a volatility aftermath... because breaking a fear in the brain comes with symptomatic repercussions. Just accept it, expect it, ride it out, then attack it again, again, again... and you actually retrain your brain and remove the fear component, the unrealistic component, and replace it with factual information associated to the event again.

That is ET in a nutshell.

 

[Jana]

I have agoraphobia and applaud you for making it to school, Dont overlook your accomplishments, it's hard but you're doing it!

 

[Tiggy UK]

I have had agoraphobia after PTSD and I just read in a piece of reasearch about how it might be more suited to treatment through gradual exposure, but I instinctively feel this can't be true as I am constantly exposing myself to outside and recently was at a festival held in fields in the middle of nowhere for five days. I still have a problem leaving my flat and in particular, going on journeys. Has anyone been treated for this with CBT? I'm seeing a psychologist tomorrow with an organisation called Lift and I know he's going to suggest CBT. I don't think very much of it, frankly. I don't think thoughts can override generalised feelings of unease.