Hi KP,
Any idea what triggered the anxiety about going out? Did stress creep in too much suddenly?
It is easy to let the anxiety get the best of us. There were times I felt panicky about going out and then somthing bad did happen. It makes me want to listen to the anxiety and not go out when I feel that way. Most days, I just need to tend to my thoughts and repressed thoughts and simply acknowledge what is bothering me (unprocessed emotions or ideas). Once I look my fears in the eye, I tend to feel more brave. Why is it so hard just to find my fear's "eye" in the first place? Well, I think that is the crux of PTSD. Fear more or less did some sort of internal mechanical damage that "fuzzed" that emotional clarity that we used to have for processing stuff. Now, it takes real effort to locate and process basically any and all emotions that don't slide out of the mind easliy.
Hang in there and don't feel guilty about the dogs. They will be okay!