Avoiding EVERYTHING

I have had anxiety/panic/depression for 10 years. Seems like each year has gotton worse, this year is by far the worst (I am also my heaviest weight). 2 years ago, I stopped going to the doctor and dentist (which isn't good because I need loads of dental work), 1 year ago I stopped going to the grocery store or anywhere really. On occassion (like once a month) I get out, even if it is for a car ride. This is so unfair to my 5 children.
I read where all these people are on all these meds and they don't help, therapy has never helped me either, so what's the point to either?
The main reason I have agorophobia is because I get so dizzy (I guess is what it is called) and lightheaded, daily, if I try to leave my home. It does happen sometimes in my home if I am feeling really anxious. My muscles hurt so bad daily too. I also have terrible eczema. And just no motivation to even get a shower daily.
Can anyone relate? Any success stories?

[rilesnic]

I get soooo dizzy which freaks me out.  Sometimes that how they start for me too.  I feel like I'm going to pass smooth out.  I do it in many social situations and when I'm driving alone.  I have considered looking for a hypnotist.  Have you done that?  You're right, therapy does not seem to work very well for everyone, including me.  I feel like I can tell them more about panic attacks than they can.  Not very helpful. Hang in there. I'm hoping someone else posts soon and maybe they can help us both.  Do you carry a paper bag with you?  I've heard yawning helps with hyperventilating as well.  

[Katie35801]

What you said about the therapist-on point! I find myself giving THEM therapy! lol I breathe in the inside of my shirt,sometimes. But when I start to feel dizzy/lightheaded, it's too late, panic has come.....and makes me feel like a failure.
I've never done hypnosis, I'm so tight on $, so it's hard for me to try much. I even eat every few hours, but that doesn't help either. 10 years of this, daily, is starting to wear me down. : /

[MrGreen]

Why not try and look at your problems in smaller pieces and see how they all make up the bigger picture. Not sure if your therapist ever did anything like that with you? The mood you are feeling. The thought going through your head at that moment. Your reaction to that thought. The symptoms it brings on. They are all related. We tend to look at the whole. So much going on. So we can't just sit back and break it all down and deal with it piece by piece. The whole idea here would be to see if you could have thought a different thought or reacted in a different way. That's what you are trying to change here. Because we think in a negative way when down. Instead of saying ' I have been through this before and nothing bad has ever really happened to me. It has passed '. We tend to think the worse. ' Not this again. Here comes another attack '. Thus bringing on the reaction of running away from the situation. Thus bringing on the reaction of the symptoms we go through. The body sees danger in the way of the mind and is reacting to that. It shoots into defensive mode. But what would happen if you let those feelings hit you and you didn't run away? Worse case senario. You may feel a little cr@p. Dizzy in your case. But to ride those feelings out and see that they do pass is the only way back out if you don't want medication or theraphy. You can't just sit there on your rear and expect a miracle to happen as you sleep. Lord knows we all wish it was that easy to beat. You would have heard of flight or fight. We do one or the other. Most times we flee. But to fight back is a good thing. Not easy at all. Let yourself be exposed to what you fear the most. All those bad feelings. But it will show you that they do pass. Just as they came on. Nobody is saying run out the door and go miles from home. The front garden would be a good start. Baby steps. It is like we have to learn skills we have forgotten how to use over time. Yes. It can be done. I was housebound for over a decade. I do take medication. Had to admit to myself that I needed it. Used to hate the stuff. I still have problems. But I do go out and about on buses and trains and into packed shops. Things I used to dread. I just took it one step at a time. My garden was the start. Then a walk along the road I live on. Nothing major to begin with at all. Let your body adapt to the new feelings. Get used to them. Over time it becomes easier. You want to take it that bit further and you venture outside your safety zone. Yes, the condition has shaped my life. The things I do I do because they are all I can do. Others things I never go near. But I like to see it as beating the condition and getting some sort of life back. From indoors 24/7 for 10 years to been able to go out and about and feel comfortable. It can be done if you do it the right way. I will admit that some theraphy is useless. I found myself studying them. Looking at all their books and saying ' read that, and that '. But then I found a good councilor. After so many years. So you may have bad ones who go by the book and what is on the pages in front of them. But you have others who don't need any books. There is good and there is bad. Don't give up hope. It can be beaten. You just have to meet it half way. Be ready for the fight of your life. You have to want to do it for yourself. And you have your kids as a good enough reason too. Just wish you all the best with it. Hope I didn't bore you to tears with my post.

[rilesnic]

MrGreen is right.  I know the entire country is cold right now, but if you get a sunny day, you should bundle up and go outside for a bit.  If you can do that everyday, then start bringing the kiddos out with you for a while.  I know what you mean about $ being tight.  I hate spending any money on something like this.  It makes me so mad that I have to suffer from this and look around and see everyone so happy and not worried about anything (not showing it any way), I so want to be like that again.  I am determined to be.  I went to my daughter's softball game today and it was great, then stopped off at Wal-Mart (with my husband, never alone), and ran into a friend.  Could feel my heart in my throat!  I know it is a claustophobic/agoraphobic issue!  It makes me so mad!  I felt it all the way home and am still feeling it a little.  Trying very hard to ignore it.  Maybe you and your husband could go out for late breakfast one morning.  Not during rush hour times.  Large stores like Sam's  kill me and so do restaurants with dimmed lighting.  I think we are so in tune to our bodies that we can never truly relax.  Keep checking this forum.  Also, you didn't mention heart problems, which is wonderful, but the heart forum has a few great inputs like MrGreen on here, and they talk a lot about anxiety issues.  This forum doesn't seem to post as much at the other, so maybe you can go check it out.  YOU can beat this!!   WE can beat this!!  Keeping you in my prayers!