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Could Use Some Help


12 years ago 0 12 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Everyone,
 
Should we stay away from people who from people who have negative attitudes toward this. My kids father gets angry when I am going through an episode. Sometimes he even leaves the house. He thinks I want attention. That's not even the case. I have four children. How much more do I need.

12 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Debora,

As  Vincenza stated, you are in control, even if you might not think so. Everything in life (except death and taxes) is your choice even though it may not seem so. With Agoraphobia if you keep in mind that it is your decision and tell yourself (even out loud) that what you are doing is your decision then you can do it. It might hurt the first few times but soon it will push the panic out of the way.

Good luck with finding a new therapist. 

Davit.
12 years ago 0 1853 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Deb,
 
As Davit mentioned, healing starts with You.  You have hope, tools & resources on this site to help you better understand what mental/emotional/physical circumstances are associated with panic and anxiety.  Most of all you have members on the forum that are present and rooting for you to pull through these challenging times.  Be gentle with yourself - healing will not happen overnight but it will happen.  The mind body connection is powerful one. 
Try focusing techniques when you are feeling physical pain:  lie down in a comfortable place and pay attention to where you are feeling discomfort or pain in your body.  If you feel pain in more than one area, choose one area to focus on.  Is their an emotional connection to why you may be feeling pain in that area?  Visualize the pain dissipating - use deep breathing techniques as you do this and release the pain through your breath as you exhale.  
Let us know if you find visualization techniques helpful.
 
What qualities are you looking for in a therapist?  What would you like to get out of the sessions?
 
As you are consulting with potential new therapists, be sure to vocalize your goals and expectations!
I support your decision to look for a new therapist, especially if after 8 months you don't feel any growth.
Change can be scary but it is also empowering.   You are in control! 
Thinking of you,
 


Vincenza, Health Educator
12 years ago 0 4027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Deb,
I don't want to question your judgement with who you work with, but I think there are always "secondary gains", or reasons to continue in our unproductive behaviours.
 
An example would be when our friends become toxic, and how hard it is to find a new circle of people.  This. like most of life, isn't done seamlessly.  Friends who aren't "perfect" still give us some warm fuzzies, but at a price of the negative behaviours we wish they didn't have.
 
Some people have no problem changing their family physicians, but there's a risk with you doing that, since you sound like you need stability.
12 years ago 0 542 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you Davit. You're reply was comforting when you said "I've been through all that and came through and got better" it  was a very bad day and that gave me hope, hope is something I need right now, that is a very nice picture of you, the background looks very green and outdoorsey and peaceful, like nature at its finest.
 
Thank you Hugs I will look up that article I would like to read it and if it can help that would be great. My physician really has never helped me with this condition, he is good with the physical part like colds flus antibotics etc......but my panic and depression he really does not "get" he once told me when I broached the subject "dont panic be happy" if it were only that easy, the therapist I have been seeing for eight months has not really be helpful {unless its me and my fault, I dont even know anymore} I do not think he is using CBT, I see him and I cry and get upset and get a stomach ache and he just takes the check and leaves, he even asked me if  "I want to get better" "secondary gains" and other unhelpful things, anyone who has panic and depression WANTS to get better, of course they do not want to suffer and live like this, I am looking for a new therapist but I am so scared I will pick the wrong one again, I am praying for God to lead me to right one to help me this time not make me worse, what if I pick wrong again? I hate to change but I see no results and I dont think he knows how to help me. I am supposed to get a call Monday from a new one, hopefully I will, and recover to at least function somewhat again.
12 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
And I will say it again. "You can get better, much better" The key word is you, you have to do the work and we will support you every step of the way. 
And never forget that we were like you too and now it seems hard for us to imagine it but it was and some times when I read posts I think "oh God I was just like that. Frightened and lost and not believing I would ever get better. But I did, slowly but surely.

Davit.
12 years ago 0 4027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Zen & Deb,
If you read the "ask the expert" response for January 2011, Dr Farvoldan explains what's behind much of what you're going through, as do many of us.  Make sure you are composed, if you ever are, to absorb the article, since it will take some time.
 
With a lot of work, and our support, you'll notice results.  Hopefully you can get professional help through a team your physician can help you assemble.
 
You're not alone!
12 years ago 0 542 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Zen, I do feel you're pain. I glad you got to the Doctors office that was a big step. You're son probably did not realize what was going on at his young age, I know the first time I had this my son was 10 and I just tried to explain to him about it, he is special-needs so it was harder. It is great you're Mom is supportive and helpful, my Mom died young and she was my best friend so I am so happy to hear she helps you that means a lot. I know exactly what you are saying, but you did walk you're child to the bus stop and self-talked and got through it and that is great! I hope and pray that both of us can start to feel better and recover, if for no other reason for our kids, you are young and youth does help, at 25 you are healthy and strong, my problems did not start till I was 40 {I am fifty now} and get horrible thoughts I am too old too get better, but Davit and Sunny say I can, they are great supports as all on this site. I hope as the weeks progress you and I both can feel better.
12 years ago 0 12 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I just started today and I feel this will be very positive since I don't want to be on medicine. This is the most interactive site that I found about this condition. It actually has steps to help you back to the normal life. I am a single mother of four kids. 7 5 3 and a 1 year old. I am always on edge. I never leave the house, and I do not drive any more. What 25 year old wants to sit in the house with a car and a motive. I use to walk my kids to the bus stop, but the other day I had an attack on the way there. My heart felt like it was gonna jump out of my chest. I dropped to the ground with my three year old standing by my side. He just stood there with his finger in his mouth. I started taking some deep breaths and did some self talk until I got on my feet again. I made it to the house and told my mom to take me to the doc. I had another attack in the docs office. After they told me I was ok and gave me my apt to the psych I went back home thinking the rest of my life is gonna be a failure if I keep going through this. I can not tell you how much I want to erase these horrible episodes. After reading the first lesson I can not wait to face these things head on. 
12 years ago 0 542 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi everyone, I had about a week of somewhat relief but today everything has come crashing back! I just want to run to ER but my husband would be furious at me. It started early this morning around dawn, I actually fell asleep quickly for a change because I have been so tired out, I woke up out of a sound sleep and could not breathe! I felt my airway blocked I was so terrified, I got up and drank some milk and tried to lay back down, I was dreaming so heavily all night and woke up exhausted with a horrible stomachache and headache, I hate to have all these symptoms at once, normally I just have one or two, my left arm is hurting and my chest and I think its my heart, I dont understand why that after having over a week of OK that I should crash like this? I dont know whats physcial or emotional? I have been reading a lot so my eyes are hurting and tired and blurred which is scaring me too, the stomachache came out of nowhere, its too soon for my monthly, all these symptoms are panicking me, I feel wired and tired at the same time, it took so much NOT to have an attack today, my heart is skipping beats and I feel so anxious but totally exhausted at the same time, I hope this goes away, its pushing me back.
 
I made a mistake last night looking in my medical book about things, I know that was really BAD and I regret it, I was looking up CFS and thyroid problems and fibromylagia, just trying to figure out WHY I feel so bad tired and exhausted, I wish I had not done that, and I wont do it again. I wanted to ask the other members a question; when you were going through panic and depression did you dream and dream all night? and wake up exhausted? its not nightmares just weird crazy dreams all night, I use to not dream so much or just before I woke up, now its all night, I read when this happens its  "the brain trying to heal" but shouldnt the brain like shut down and relax and have peace when sleeping, the breathing is bad enough but the constant crazy dreams are driving me crazy, I just want to wake up and feel rested and refreshed, the body symptoms are very bad today, and I am coughing a lot, I am down to 3 or 4 cigarettes a day from half a pack, the therapist said do not go cold turkey because it will cause more anxiety and withdrawal, I am trying to eat good, walk a little and think positive, I was so hoping I was "turning the corner" I guess this explains why my husband never mentioned I was getting better he was so afraid I would regress he did not want to jinx it and I guess he was right, and believe me I was so hoping he would be wrong.
 
I am sorry I sound like a basket case, everything hurts, my stomach, my head, my eyes and this tired wired feeling is awful! Is this just a setback? like two steps forward one step backward? I was so hoping and praying that I was recovering, and nothing terrible has happened in my life to cause this just the body symptoms, Thanks for listening, sometimes I feel so alone and that I will never get better and I dont want to think negative, I am hoping this is just temporary, if anyone can share I would appreciate it. Thank you, I must sound like a mad woman, I am sorry, I just want this to END!

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