Panic at the Wal-Mart
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| Fri, 10-20-2006 - 6:01pm |
Hi all,
After my wife and I picked the kids up from school we went to Wal-Mart (ugh) for a few Halloween things and what-nots. Up to that point I had been feeling pretty darn good. No panic or anxiety but I could definitely feel the blues at periods in the day. I started taking the Paxil & Xanax on Wednesday night also.
So pretty much at the exact time we walk into Wally World I begin feeling out of control or panicky or whatever. It felt like it lasted forever and it ranged from chest pains to numbness in my arms to dry mouth, lightheadedness, scary thoughts of going crazy, etc. All I wanted to do was leave in the worst way. I even told my wife that I wasn't feeling good and wanted to go home and she said "no". I was convinced that it was from the meds and they were goingn to give me a heart attack or something.
Finally I grabbed the bath pouf that was in our shopping cart. My 11 year old son was sitting in the back of the cart and I started having a catch with him using the pouf! This brought me out of the attack! And that of course made me happy. But, my wife was browsing around and then I became angry because I still wanted to leave. Is that normal to have mood swings like that, if they are even considered mood swings? It was a pretty cary experience as they usually are. I can only imagine what people were thinking watching a 30+ year old having a bath pouf catch with his son in the middle of Wal-Mart.
Take care,
Rob

I am sorry to hear this, Rob. Thank goodness you were able to distract yourself from the panic symptoms. I wouldn't have thought anything if I saw a dad playing ball with his son. You did great!
I am sure you were entitled to feel angry, however you made it through. You didn't die(you won't, BTW) & the meds didn't cause it. Assure yourself of this often. The meds will help by lessening the fears & these symptoms in a few weeks.
Wally World is a big trigger to many who post here. The lighting, new merchandise smells, the heating/cooling system, the fact that I am far from my car & can't see the exit makes this a rare shopping trip for me.
I think feeling anger in WalMart is totally normal. I cannot stand that place! I recently stopped going. I pay a little more at Target but it is just a nicer, cleaner environment. Friends keep trying to sell me on Costco, but I just can't deal with big stores like that - Home Depot is another one. I find them very stressful! They are poorly laid out and I just feel pressured to buy buy buy. Shopping is not something that I particularly enjoy.
I think that the way you dealt with it is great. It sounds like a pretty intense experience.
Sheri Ann
Hi Rob,
Great coping technique with the catch game and I'm sure your son loved it too. I'd think it was great to see a father playing & paying attention to his son in a store.
Hugs,
Dee
and those people watching you--- they don't matter!
Jenna
Rob I can certainly understand your panic in Wal Mart........my worst fear use to be going into Meyers........I would lose it every time. As someone else stated I believe alot of the trouble for me was the lighting. We have a very small Wal Mart here where I live that I can usually get in and out with very little problems, unless of course it's around the holidays and too many people are in the store. They are thinking of putting in a super Wal Mart which I'm hoping does not happen or I won't even be able to go back to Wal Mart to shop. Since it's the only major department store in my town I'll be lost totally. I doubt if anyone thought anything of you playing "ball" with your little one. I know I would have just thought it was good to see a father enjoying himself with his child.
Keitha