Agoraphobia Support Group

Phobicbunny:

having a dog was suggested to me by my hcp, also. she suggested that if i can care for my plants for a year and they not die, then to move up to a dog, so i will be walking him/her and healing myself at the same time. i've got a soft heart and couldn't keep an animal cooped up the way i keep my own self cooped up, so you are ALL RIGHT for taking your lil one out for jaunts.

It sounds like your head is getting in the right direction and i hope you keep on posting so you know you have support. In sharing your experiences/feeling, you've opened my eyes, too, and make it easier for me to share.

Blessings to you!

xElizabethx

awww im glad i am helping. yeah as much as i dnt want to go out i have to take him for a walk. it may not be a mile walk or so on but he is getting walks everyday ( except my worst days) but weither he has a walk or not he plays catch. i have also found doing things that keep my mind occupied really helps. like cleaning lol. i clean like mad now. or making something. which is a great thing as with 2 young children in the house it seems more fun. iv never wanted pills or theropy as i would like to try and sort myself out as then i feel astho i have achived it. my partner now understands alot more. yeah he has his little moans as i no it cant be easy for him. 7years of me being a bubbly, happy crazy girl to being like this is a change for both of us. but he is my safe person. i can cope with him being at work. but weekends if he has to go somewhere he tries to be as quick as he can so he is back with me. bless him. im finding nights seem to b the worst for me. my heart goes mad and get belly ache i have no idea why. but i am just so greatful that i found this group and no i am getting support from all of u. so thank you all so much for putting up with my rants xx

Phobicbunny,

Well I am so glad he's sticking it out with you. I, too, used to be a crazy One Woman Act. Like performing jokes and singing or playing piano when we had get togethers. I was always ON. And I realize now, I was overcompensating to hide my panic and distaste for the memories that made me so "crazy" inside.

Having a partner support you when out of the blue, it seems, this stuff pops up makes the journey so much less bumpy.

I am so glad you found this site, too. I got help from a member, TennisP, who gave me a great visualization technique that helped me go outside yesterday! It was super terrific!

Having a safe person to chat about this stuff helps. I can tell you this though, my husband, a Rock of Gibraltar and my greatest advocate needs his time off, too. I never realized how hard it must be on him to cope with my illness, and I spent so much time being ill, that now that I'm getting on the good road, I remember to appreciate him for all he did and does for me.

He was working "behind the scenes" so to speak to help sweep potential triggers out of my way. He helped me identify and work out tools to cope with my anxiety. He came up with the Stop, Look and Listen method that helps me identify Perceived "threats" or actual ones. It's so amazing to love someone with a capacity to care for me, apart from my illness.

When your tool box seems like it's missing tools, knowing where to turn for further techniques and methods is sort of hard. A lot of us seek professional or spiritual counseling or guidance when we can't find what we need to truly enjoy our lives.

I applaud your efforts and successes for doing this on your own without meds and stuff.

That you speak out here is a great tribute to your journey and the realization that you will heal is evident in all your posts.

I hope the day smiles upon you and your family!

Best wishes,

xElizabethx

You don't need meds. I've had this for over 7 years and have tried meds one time, they messed me up. I have always made the most progress without them. Meds are a crutch that most people fall dependent one. Be dependent on yourself. You can do this, you can beat this. You will never beat this sitting inside, crying feeling bad for yourself. You've gotta come to terms with this and you've gotta try to move past this. YOU CAN BEAT THIS. The people who have you will most likely not find on a support site because they are out there living. Don't get too dependent on a site. It's great for support and awareness but don't let it be a place you go to for social interaction because you can't get out anymore. You can get out. You need to believe this. There are many self help books that'll teach you ways to calm yourself and to breath through panic attacks. If you'd like to talk real about this inbox me. Sometimes the stuff you need to hear to get well is the stuff you don't want to hear. Your family and fiancé has no idea what you are going through so of course they have no idea how to help you. I have had to deal with this as most people here have, too. You can always help give them information about this to bring awareness. Good luck!

Whitney,

How do you know that this person doesn't need meds?

Everyone is different and if meds can help this person then I think that is wonderful.

What works for one person may or may not work for someone else.

This is not a one size fits all illness. I am not looking to debate this I just don't think that it is fair or responsible to make a bold statement telling someone that they don't need meds just because you had a negative experience with them.

I know people that take meds and it has been a wonderful help to them.

I know people that choose not to and that is their choice too.

There is not a right or wrong choice in regards to taking meds.

It is a personal choice. But if Meds can give someone a better quality of life then I think that is fantastic!

Whatever works for someone that is awesome!

Post edited by: angelonearth, at: 06/21/2012 05:12 PM

Meds are NOT a crutch. People are dependent on Insulin or a Pill if they are a Diabetic and people are dependent on Blood Pressure Pills if they have high blood pressure. People take Thyroid Meds if they have thyroid issues. They are dependent too on Meds. So if someone needs Meds to help them to have a better quality of life then I think that is fabulous.

Meds are not a crutch! They are helpful to people that choose to take them.

Each person should make a choice that is best for them and just because people have had a negative experience with Meds they should not discourage someone from possibly taking them.

Good luck!

Great update phobic bunny.

It sounds like you are doing great there.

Keep up the good work.

This is a fantastic forum, y'all. Such activity is a great way for me to broaden my horizons and gain new perspectives on my choice of coping and learning to live without fear dominating everything.

Each of us perceive the world so differently and seeing how all y'all share so freely here, lends me courage to remember to keep my eyes open to all aspects of life.

One never knows where a useful tool or method of coping will arise.

Thank you all for sharing and suggesting and offering feedback.

Warm regards to you all,

xElizabethx

p.s. I did agree that substituting online interaction is not as fulfilling as making real connections offline, but i am really glad that this forum exists to help bolster me on the days I can't go outside. I hope it is that way for all y'all, too.

Warm smiles to you beautiful souls

thank you everyone....ur words put a smile on my face! : ) at the moment i am choosing to not take meds as im that kind of person. As if i can do it without i will feel astho i have achieved. But meds are always an option. X