We haven't abandoned you. Don't ever think that. Listen the program takes 12 or more weeks but you will see enough improvement to start to function again before then. Right now you do not want to do any thing that is difficult because that falls under exposure and that comes later. Do you have enough money that you can waste some time. What I would suggest is that you spend some time learning to relax. Spend some time walking around or visiting coffee shops. See the sights. When you are comfortable and when you can tell yourself that you will get better then slowly work back pieces of your routine. It takes time. If you try to jump back in right away you will fail. This is not one of those cases where you get back on the horse that bucked you off. You have to do it but in your time and you have to be prepared. Spend some time preparing. We don't know what causes panic specifically but we do know what cures it. You will get better but not if people push you. The only ones that should push you are us. We know when to push and when not to, and mostly it is not to. Keep posting, it will help you immensely. 

Davit.

Welcome Joey!

 

You have come to the right place.  I am sorry you are going through such a difficult time right now.  Many members know what it is like to have anxiety controlling their life.  it is incredibly hard but you can overcome this. We will be here for you every step of the way.  Have you begun to work your way through the program yet?

 

 

You have agoraphobia which is very common and also very curable even if it doesn't seem like it. You have it pretty bad but so did I. Are you on medication. It can be a help or a hindrance. I can't technically advise you so I will tell you how I handled it. First I would start with 2.5 mg Valium or equivalent in Xanax. I prefer Valium because it is a good muscle relaxant. If just taking it after supper didn't help then I would take it first thing in the morning also. Of course with the doctors permission. Then I would work on the negative thoughts. Those ones that say. "I have to get out of here"  or " I can't do this" and especially the subconscious one "why is this happening." You have to face this phobia, but not right now. FIRST you have to get some relaxation and coping tools in place. THEN you can deal with the phobia. This is the only way it can work. Once the valium has settled you and you learn to calm yourself when the anxiety hits then you can start facing the triggers. First and foremost you have to tell yourself that what you are feeling is not real. RIGHT. It isn't real is it? There is no reason physically why you can't go to work, your mind has just been conditioned to think in a negative way and now you have to think positive. Right now I would write down how I feel when I try to go to work. Beside it I would write, "Is this true" If it is not true then  write, "this is not true". Do this for every situation that makes you even the least bit anxious. You may find there are lots of them because anxiety breeds anxiety and panic breeds panic. Then I would take each one and say, "I can do this, others can do this, so  can I." I would do this till I started to panic. Then I would do the box breathing and muscle relaxing while thinking something else till I was calm. If I couldn't calm then I would go do something else and come back to it later. Do you like your job? Say, "I like this job," " I want to do this job" "I can do this job". When you start to think you can't (and this will happen) block it, do not allow any negative thoughts room to grow. Driving to work I would not allow myself to think how uncomfortable I was. I would say something nice and look at the scenery. Look at the buildings. Comment on the different colours and sizes.  This is all general because I don't know your exact situation But you see it is all about replacing negative thoughts with positive, and yes it is hard so don't be surprised if it doesn't work all the time at first.

It will get easier. It is all about replacing negative with positive. 

Davit