Are you enjoying the bank holiday weekend?

I’m having a nice time, just sitting by a fire at the moment 

I always hated bank holidays as they messed up my whole weeks routine with a Monday supermarket shop.  Doesn't matter this week as I can't go shopping any more anyway. 

I'm liking the cooler weather as it means a little less vertigo & nausea, but it's too little, too late, for me now sadly.  Agoraphobia & panic attacks had 4 months of heat to worsen to the point that I can't go anywhere or deal with anything happening at home now. 

To top it off, the nights are really drawing in as Woodbine said, my vision issues are much worse in the dark, dusk and artificial light so that's ideal...

(PS - I do realise that I can't cope with either summer or winter, so there's not really a solution!)

Grinchy said:

Sorry to hear your having trouble @OverlyAnxious, i to struggle with agoraphobia and panic attacks, not much fun ,today we are going for a drive, worked myself up to go out in the car, takes a lot to get me out these days, but see what happens, enjoy your day whatever you decide       

I had been managing the agoraphobia since about 2006, bad periods and better periods, but always managed to keep my independence and at least go shopping each week.  I roughly knew my limits and how far I could push, but even pushing the limits had 'manageable' consequences.  But this year the panic attacks have taken over and I can't find any way to manage them.  They're just so sudden and severe, regardless of any preparation or planning, and seem to latch onto pretty much anything I try to do even at home now.  Trouble is my agoraphobia is not just around going out but also the 'entrapment' side as well...I feel trapped in my flat when the panic attacks hit, but can't get out either, and can't deal with any person coming over or by telephone...I'm having to have shopping delivered by a relative and that's trigger them even though it's just left by the door with no obligation to meet them.  It doesn't make any sense, it's not like I 'think' anything bad is going to happen at that time (unlike other anxiety triggers).  I need some way to subdue these before I can start to make progress with anything else.  I can't take meds so I'm trying to find an alternative.

Cher_Scope said:

@OverlyAnxious I'm sorry you're dealing with such difficult challenges, it sounds really tough and although I do have some understanding of living with anxiety, we can't fully understand another's situation unless we've walked in their shoes (sorry to use an old adage!).  You mention that you're looking for alternatives, could we help with that?  Do you find any strategies/distractions/techniques help you get through the harder days?  

Not so far...  Because it affects my vision and hearing, watching TV or listening to music doesn't help in that situation, which are my usual distractions.  And I can't (safely) get down the stairs and outside into fresh air.  Even seeing bushes moving in the wind through the windows is a problem, as is the noise of the washing machine etc.  I just wish I was on the ground floor with an enclosed garden as I 'think' that would help act as an escape (with limited amount of 'loose' plants).  But unless I can get these physical symptoms under control, even temporarily, I won't b able to get through a move. 

It's still getting worse week by week as well, much faster than ever before...  Each of these panic attacks aren't just unpleasant for me, they're almost traumatic, so each one makes it so much harder to attempt another 'event' that could trigger it.

Cher_Scope said:

@OverlyAnxious Gosh, that sounds hard.  When you feel the panic attacks coming on, do you use any coping strategies to ease them?  And, what about you too @rubin16 ?

I once had a thing where just being stood in supermarket queues would be a real trigger for me.  Although it doesn't work for everyone, I found concentrating on slowing down my breathing and blocking out all the external 'noise' helped me manage.  For a time, I used a Mindfulness app as well that I'd incorporate into my day (after dinner normally!), just to quieten that internal voice that was always lovingly, but overly, on guard against threat.

Have you tried mental health apps ?  Also, (at risk of going over old ground you've both tried) - what about online self help, books or journaling?  It's easier said than done, and I have grimaced at people who've said this to me in the past, but remembering panic attacks reach a peak and then subside can also be a comfort 

I do try to control breathing but my old strategy of 'deep' breathing no longer works as it just makes me feel more faint!  I wondered if it was due to high blood pressure...never had it checked as I can't deal with touch or medical places...  Bought myself a home pressure tester...managed to get the cuff on without too much excess anxiety (making sure not to think about what it would actually measure lol!)...pressed the start button and honestly thought it was going to snap my arm in half!  Panic majorly triggered, switched it off before it could even take the reading, got the cuff off and put the whole thing out of sight...so I can't say that was particularly successful! 

I also used to use online photo apps (Instagram etc) to get through unpleasant bathroom visits but my vision issues are triggering headaches if I try to focus on my phone for any length of time now.  So I'm trying to limit time spent on phone and laptop as much as possible.  I really need an eye test but obviously no chance of having one in my current state.  It's just passed 2 years since the last one which wasn't a success as I couldn't make the optometrist understand my vision problems.