Agoraphobia.

Thanks Granny Knot. I think a sense of humor is important and I'm so glad that I still have one BUT I do wish I could stop these spirals of anxiety but they take over. I think from the CBT it's called catastrophisation.

Looking and sounding together is a coping strategy I learnt when I was a child because my poor mum had an hysterical personality and never bottled things up.

I had to learn quite quickly that her needs came above mine. My dad was an invalid after the war so he was very needy as well.

As a consequence they would freak out if I was ill, or upset etc., Mum actually told me that she had enough to cope with with dad and she would end up in a Mental Hospital if I gave her any trouble.

I find Gransnet a wonderful way of expressing how frightened I often am.

Do you still have panic attacks?

falcon you probably have no idea how together you sound in your posts. So my sense is that you will be fine. Anyone with problems who can still exhibit a sense of humour has my utmost respect. I can just picture you walking "with an agenda" to get home .

One of the things I learnt back when I had my panic attacks is to ask "what's the worst thing that can happen?" If you do have a heart attack/nosebleed/wet your pants - someone will materialise to help you. Of that you can be sure.

Have a good day

I could go back to CBT but the first time I went it was a huge group. We had to fill out a lot of forms and at the end a few people were held back for further treatment.

I wasn't one of them but it was made clear that we could ring for a one to one appointment if things got worse. It's called Lift Psycholoy. (can spell it.) So I have that option if I get worse.

As far as Diazapam goes I'm in the process of cutting down the dose as I don't want to be on tranquilisers for the rest of my life. So far so good.

Yes I have tried everything (including hypnosis) and it takes the edge of my anxieties. I think mine is a case of time heals all and I just have to be patient.

Glad that I'm pushing 70 and don't have the pressures of going to work anymore although work can sometimes take the mind off things.

Agoraphobia IS sneaky Annie I can see that you have experience of it.

I can be quite happily going about my business thinking this is great, I'm getting better, and the wham the poor old brain says "you're kidding youself, your life is in pieces, you must hurry home."
It's amazing how fast I can walk when the panic hits :-) I'm sure onlookers must think "my goodness that old dear is going at a cracking pace."

My fears are I'm going to faint, need to go to the loo, going dizzy. I had Labyrinthitus some years ago and I'm scared it will come back when I'm out. Oh yes and I'm scared I will have a nosebleed in public which happened years ago. My DH had similar worries and we would retreat to the car and calm each other down - how I miss that.

Grans net is such a wonderful help. Any more advice would be more than welcome.

I don't suffer from agoraphobia but claustrophobia so do understand what you are going through but from the opposite point of view! Lots of people here have said that CBT didn't help them and at the time I probably would have said the same but the fact is that after 40 years of avoiding lifts I can now get in one without a panic. I joined a CBT group where I felt that others problems were more severe than mine but I think it did help and I was able to overcome my phobia to a certain extent. I am very claustrophobic so to be able to go into a lift now is a major improvement for me. Whatever you do Falconbird I hope it helps. Do your best to keep going out. The more you avoid it the more difficult it will be to overcome

I have agoraphobia. You're doing really well getting out and about. You have to keep pushing yourself to go to shops etc. Is there someone you trust who you could go out with. I can't leave the house without my DH, my mum or my DDs with me.

A lot of people still prescribe it unfortunately

Diazepam?! I thought they didn't keep people on that for very long. I really thought ssri's had replaced the sleepy-making stuff.

Exposure therapy used to be the recognised treatment for phobias.
I think you would have to have a referral from your GP to a clinical psychologist.
Consists of making a list of fear situations from low to high then being exposed to each level, accompanied by relaxation exercises, until the fear diminishes.

falcon.

I didn't really know how agoraphobia is diagnosed, but having googled it, I understand it to be anxiety and panic attacks related to leaving one's house or being out in public.

I've suffered from panic attacks in the past (many moons ago), which often came on when I was out and about. I've written about it on other forums. I was fortunate to see a doctor who explained to me that it had to do with having many stressful events in a short space of time - as said above.

I went through a difficult time since we moved here a few years ago and went to the GP and he referred me for a short course of CBT. It was a complete waste of time. I don't think that you're going to change behaviour in six weeks. My memory of it is about faded, many times photocopied sheets I had to complete, and a group of people that just made me feel worse. I persevered for a while and then bailed - self-discharged.

Given that falcon has tried just about everything, perhaps hypnosis (by a reputable practitioner) might help.

My anxieties vanished when the situation that was causing me anxiety, changed.

Falconbird Don't put yourself under any pressure, just keep taking small steps forward, and time will help.
I've been through a lot of similar feelings and panic attacks. I can't go abroad any more, thanks to very abusive episodes with my first ex, unless I'm with several people that make me feel safe.
My house has been my sanctuary for years, and I still get nervous going somewhere new, but I daren't give in to the fear.
Keep trying, it will get better

I agree that severe stress can cause all sorts of problems. We are human beings and can only take so much before something has to 'give'. I have no advice to give as I haven't suffered from agoraphobia but have had severe panic attacks and anxiety issues after many awful events. I hope you can find a solution falconbird

Ana, yes CBT is available on the NHS but waiting lists can be long and the number of visits are limited , the problem is with the likes of Agoraphobia there is no set time limit for recovery, for some they can recover within the short time they are receiving therapy, for others it can take much longer, much depends on what triggered it , some therapists believe the cause doesn't matter just how to deal with the recovery

for you falconbird but no real advice. Grief and pain really take a toll on us. I got shakey and nervous about going out last year. The effort of forcing myself was exhausting and made me feel worse. I like you in my youth imagined myself as being like some sort of strong matriarch full of vigour, confidence and enlighten advice. Oh the naivety of youth. I hope you feel a little better each day until you can see a little light at the end of the tunnel

There is CBT on the NHS here, but a bit of a wait for one to one. Counsellors round here cost between £45 and £55 an hour - I think it varies around the country.

CBT in a group tends to be about learning about the ideas behind it; one to one is more about tailoring the techniques to you specific needs so you may find that more helpful.

Enlisting your family in fighting this off is a good plan - I know you do not want to burden them (none of us do) but it may be that they have a lot to offer, with gentle encouragement and background support.

Anniebach, some areas do offer CBT on the NHS.

Doctors do not have time to discuss the problems of agoraphobia , first step is anti depressants then they refer you to a therapist or or you local NHS mental health dept, because of the cut backs mental health teams are overloaded with referrals but not enough staff, when you finally have your appointment you will probably be given a weekly appointment with a therapist or a CPN , this will be for x number of weeks . If you choose to visit a CBT councillor they charge at one hundred pounds per hour .

Mental health has always been and still is back of the queue for medical help.

Falconbird, do keep going to the shops etc, do not be tempted to avoid one thing you are now doing , agoraphobia is so sneaky , every time you take a step back from an activity you are doing now, the phobia will take a step forward but every time you take a step forward the phobia has to take a step back. I have agoraphobia x

You are doing all the right things - hang on in there.

I am on an anti-depressant at the moment and get deeply exasperated (and sad) at the very slow progress - but sometimes these things need time, frustrating though that is. You have to gird up your loins and know that things will get better in time.

Try writing down 3 things each day that have gone well; what may seem like small achievements, like going to the shops, are important and need to be acknowledged.

I've been to a hypnotherapist, CBT in a group, Cruse and I'm on a low dose of Diazapam all of which have helped to a point.

I think the problem is that when my husband retired we went everywhere together in the car. I don't drive so it's left me feeling vulnerable. We used to love going out in the car and it was a safe place to retreat to if either of us felt a bit unwell.

It was a place where we could "hunker down" as Mishap put it. I feel exactly as you said Bikergran, when I'm out I often want to be at home and when I'm at home I sometimes don't like it. My DH didn't die here it's just the feeling of loneliness and loss of companionship.

My little luxury is the occasional taxi which does help if I have to make a longer journey. I hope the symptoms will pass in time because I have had offers of holidays and days out which I have had to refuse.

When I was younger I used to imagine myself in the distant future as a "Merry Widow" travelling about like an intrepid explorer - no chance at the moment.

I'm not surprised you feel like this Falconbird, you've been through all the most stressful life events there are, in a short timescale!
Severe stress often leads to panic attacks, I do know a little about how you feel about not leaving the house 'just in case'.
Certainly your doctor's the best person to help, a short course of antidepressants helped me.
and (((hugs))) x

I think it would be wise to take the advice of your doc rather than Paul McKenna! - he is just a self-publicist. Serious hypnotherapists just get on with the job quietly.

There are lots of ways of helping those who are agoraphobic and it might help you to go to the doc and suss out the options. We cannot speculate on here what the most suitable help for you might be, but hopefully your doc will know what is available in your area - he/she will certainly have met this problem before and will have some ideas for you to consider.

Anti-depressants are sometimes prescribed for this as they can reduce anxiety, which is what lies behind agoraphobia, but it is likely that other suggestions for help might be made for you to make your own choice as to how you want to proceed.

You sound as if you are doing really well coping with this and that is good to build on.

I hope that you get the help you need and wish you every good luck with it. Acknowledging the problem is the first step and you have taken that.

Oh yes. "Mother's little helpers". Caused more panic attacks than they cured.

If Paul McKenna says he doesn't believe in CBT I think it's irresponsible of him.

I have no experience of it, but it does seem to be the therapy most favoured by the NHS at the moment, so why sow seeds of doubt in the minds of those who have put their faith in it?

When I suffered from panic attacks 30 years ago my GP prescribed valium. Thankfully, the medical profession has moved on since then!

Antidepressants are not just for depression. Agoraphobia is a terrible thing to suffer from. (from experience) These days there is medical help available. It can change your life.

falcon I'm one of the people that would shriek with horror at the suggestion that you rush straight for the anti-depressants. I thought they were not prescribed for situations where feeling sad or scared is understandable and appropriate (as in your case). It sounds as if you are doing a great job at looking after yourself and you do get out. We all have moments where we feel panicky and we can't all be depressed.

Didn't Paul McKenna just say he doesn't believe in CBT? Would hypnosks perhaps help you?

Falconbird you sound like you have had an awful lot to deal with, I don't know if it anything to do with the bereavement, but! the last 3 or 4 months with me, If I have been out shopping in town I have a sudden urge to want to run home get inside and lock the door close the blinds etc, also when I am at friends house (even next door but one who have been very kind to me) I accept their invite for a light lunch, but whilst I am sat there eating I am just thinking "come on eat my sandwich hurry up I want to get home"! Sometimes when I get home im ok and the house comforts me, but then other times when I get home I think "I hate this house"! dh died at home in this house, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Three times is a lot for you to have moved around, you must wonder where the heck you are when you wake up sometimes, I hope you find some peace soon..