Any help is appreciated THANK YOU

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2007
Any help is appreciated THANK YOU
2
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 12:47am

For about the last year or so I have been having what I believe to be anxiety/panic attacks. I am not on any types of drugs because I am a firm believer in "mind over matter" when it comes to things like this for myself. I know for some people it is necessary, but I don't think I am candidate for drugs.

This all started last winter when I was driving in my car and it was snowing and out of nowhere I started experiencing what I believe to be an anxiety attack. It was snowing heavily outside and I had to pull over to the side of the road and I couldn't breathe and my heart started racing and I had to call someone to come and get me. I refused to drive the remainder of the way home.

As time has gone on, I have slowly gotten to the point where I now only drive approximately 1/2 mile from my house. I no longer can drive on busy streets. Also, I can no longer be in a car with someone that wants to take the expressway or be in a vehicle with someone that wants to drive when it is snowing outside or raining. It has progressively gotten worse as time has gone on. This doesn't only apply to driving.

I have always had claustrophobia, but that has also gotten worse. I used to work in a high rise building up until 2 years ago when I went on disability (that is an entirely another issue in itself) and I worked on the 3oth floor and had to ride up the elevator everyday and it never bothered me. Now, even when I go to a departement store or my doctors, I will take the stairs even if it is on the 7th floor and I have to go up all those flights of stairs, I'll do it, just to avoid being in the closed spaces. It's that fear of being stuck in that elevator and no way to get out.

None of this bothered me until I had this incident with the snow on that one night and I'm trying to find someone that has had a similar problem that can hopefully help me. It is getting worse and it is slowly closing me off from the world outside and I am trying to avoid that.

I refuse to be put on medications as I know there are ways around this without that, so please anybody out there that can help me, it would be so greatly appreciated.

I'm only 37 years old and would love to be back where I was a year ago. If someone would like to chat with me via yahoo my id there is darinchgo1@yahoo.com or my email is darlenest@ameritech.net.

Thanks!

P.S. I know I have the option of talking to a therapist, however, I would prefer to chat w/someone here before doing that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 6:59am
Just wanted to welcome you to the board. :) Lots of people here have similar issues so I am certain that you will get some good advice. There are coping tips & Tricks at the bottom of the page that are worth taking a look at. Some of them have helped me immensely as I am trying to do this med-free also. Good luck :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 11:21am

Hi! It's nice to see you;) I am sorry to hear what you're going through. You are NOT alone.


I know I will sound like a broken record & perhaps provoke your ire. That is NOT my intention. Just straight shootin' from me:)