irrational fear (s)

I have bipolar 1 disorder and function quite well. I raise a family and run a business. I stay on top of my illness and take care of myself.

Now for the question....I have ignored these irrational fears that run through my head a lot. I found they got in the way so I basically ignored them, only for them to get worse! For example I lost a sibling to a car crash 5 years ago and to this day I will not drive because I am afraid it will happen to me. Another example is that I am deathly afraid of cougars (the cat kind) to a point of not leaving my house. We are in a rural area and there has been 1 cougar sighting in the past 5 years and no attacks but I am still paranoid enough to want a tazer gun...lol!

Are these fears associated with bipolar disorder?????Does anyone else ever feel this way???? Is there help??? I am trying to lead a normal life but these thoughts get in the way.....I would love some feedback. Thank-you so much

Gloria

As for the cougars...I have been hiking in Colorado and there were cougar attacks...see if you might be able to call your local gaming authorities and ask about the population of cougars in your area...the taser is not a bad idea...glad you joined us...make yourself at home...

Glory sounds like you have PTSD over that accident, and with good reason, if it kept you in the hospital for 3 months it must have been a bad one.. driving on the interstate has never bothered me beyond getting frustrated with the stupid drivers, and i get that way on the side roads..lol, drove in California on the freeways, and those people are suicidal..

Sometimes you just have to face your fears and walk through them, or in Glory's case, drive through them..

So, blackbird, i wanted you to know you are not the only one who has these fears...but, like Carmen said...you might want to get some help with the driving...glad you are here with us.

My biggest fears whether irrational nor not I am not sure are fire and water, burning a live and drowning..

Welcome. I am glad you are here. I have bipolar 1, and have all kinds of fears. I have an anxiety order. I have ptsd, and have a fear of dogs. I have not been attacked, since I was 10 yrs old, but, will be so afraid, I won't go walk in the neighborhood. I get nervous around big men. I get nervous on the freeway. I have a hard time with crowds, too. I have alot of other fears, too.

I take anxiety meds, and go to therapy which really helps

Gypsy, I can relate so well to the dog thing. I was deathly afraid of dogs my whole life until recently. Our family relocated to an area with a small population. I had major anxiety at night because everything was too silent, I was used to the big city noises, so my husband suggested a dog to help me feel safe. I almost died at the thought!!! But as time went by and I lost more and more sleep, I welcomed any solution. Out of great desperation I reluctantly got over my fear of (most) dogs - and we are owners of not one but 2 dogs!! I honestly feel I am able to have them because I can control them, it seems my fear comes from things that I cannot control....traffic, cougars, people, etc.

Do anxiety meds help, basically I mean can they provide a sanctuary from the "forever" fear feelings? I am very interested, I welcome any reprieve.

Thanks again!!!!

There are meds for anxiety, and they help me alot. I am on a mild anxiety med, called Buspar, and my doc gave me Hydroxyzine. I take that when, I am really having problems. It clears the anxiety completely.

I also take Lithium, and Lamictal which have helped with most of it.

Isolation, and aghoraphobia, can be a result of depression, and psychosis , from my bipolar.