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[asim699]

Hello, My name is Josh and I am suffering from GAD, Agoraphobia, Panic disorder and obsession.
I have developed the following fears/phobias due to this:
Fear of travelling long distances.
Fear of being trapped.
In traffic
In room
Being at a place which is far from home
Open and wide spaces
To go in the center of wide open space
To go at unfamiliar places
And many more…..

Actually all of these fears revolve around Panic Attack. I am afraid of having another. Panic Attack is like a monster from which I am afraid. It can appear anywhere; it can happen in toilet, in bed, in class, in office, during travelling. It seems that there is no safety zone which can be free of anxiety.

The fear of having an attack limits the life of the sufferer because he does not know where it has to happen. Note that I always have a flight response. (Cannot Persist)

All of these fears phobias are due to the fear of having another panic attack. By using coping strategies I have created a safety zone of 5 KM (Square). Coping strategies are temporary but useful for the time being.

Now I am being forced to be taken to another place for living which is 10KM From safety zone, All of this has created a state of in security, DE realization, anxiety and obsession. Even my own safety zone is becoming non-safe.

Please tell what should be done…..?

[mammo]

Hi!  Sometimes understanding why a panic attack occurs can help to manage them.  What happens is our brain signals that we are in a "fight or flight" situation, and floods our body with adrenaline to allow us to do this.  Since we're not in that type of situation, this extra adrenaline has nothing to work on, and it results in fast heartbeat, dizziness, all that comes with the panic attack.  It's a "natural response" happening at the wrong time.  When you are having a panic attack the best thing to do is get busy doing something physical to give the adrenalin something to work on, and get your mind onto something else.  They are very difficult to beat on your own, and this is why so many of us are on medication.  You can always try, and if you can't do it, then maybe it's time to think about medication.  From talking to you, I think you will want to try on your own first.  There were times when raising my kids that I was able to not get into a full blown panic attack.  This only happened when they were in the car with me and I knew their safety depended on me, and I was able to hold it together for them. Once they were out of the car, it would sometimes get full blown, sometimes not.  I have always believd in facing our fears, and I did for several years until I no longer felt safe at home and started having panic attacks while at home! I had 3 kids to raise and so I got help, and have never regretted it.

[compnet]

This goes to you and everyone on the board.

Anxiety, panic, phobia/fears, depression, stress conditions, etc. can be caused by a magnesium deficiency.  People with some of these conditions have used magnesium and found it helped.  Magnesium and the B Complex Vitamins are essential to handling stress calmy and smoothly.

Some of the safer and more effective forms of magnesium include: Taurate, Glycinate, and Citrate (can be laxitative -- take with food).

[asim699]

Hi mammo,

For several years I always tried to avoid or escape from Panic situations. But now the time has come to face my worst fear. This is the situation in which panic attacks will surely happen. The fear is related to the change of place. Yesterday, I gathered some energy and went on a test drive to see the new place, but after half the way I started having anxiety symptoms (Heart Beat, Shaking Legs), I thought I will get a full blown panic attack If I go any further , So I returned.

I always have avoidence behaviour for panic, should I start facing it?

[mammo]

Hi!  You are very brave in not doing it!  There are many good anxiety medications, what all have you tried?  Just the worry of all this is hard on you.  Let us know what you have tried, there may be others that would work better for you, it's often trial and error as to what will finally do the job for us. With the right medication you can have a much happier life with no panic attacks, so let us know what you've tried and hopefully, we can suggest others you may want to talk to your doctor about.  Be sure and see a psychiatrist regarding medications, they are the most knowlegeable.  Also, you should think about therapy, often our anxiety has a root cause which is something from our past we have either forgotten about or have never dealt with.  Once you find out what this is and deal with it, your anxiety will ease.

[asim699]

I think you are right, i think about killing myself but i was not able to do that, i am not so brave. If I were brave enough then I might have overcome this disorder.

There is a question?
I work in a software house. The job responsibility also includes travelling to other cities and countries after a specific time period. This is what I dont like due to my condition and i know that they will send me somewhere. Currently my manager does not know about the illness, I have not told my disability to anyone at work place, if know about this then they may fire me or at least look at me like a crazy person.

What should I do? Should i discuss my issue with them or not? Also there is already a tension of shifting home to another place.

Thanks,,,

[mammo]

What if we all felt this way?  This is no picnic for any of us, but still we fight for each and every day!  If you commit suicide what makes you think things will be better?  You may end up in a darker more miserable place with no hope, at least here there is hope!  You say your family has suffered a lot, what do you think you committing suicide will do to them? If you don't fight for yourself, fight for them, they don't deserve this anymore than you deserve to suffer.  But together there is hope.  It's not your place to just throw your life away, I know how desperate we can get, but I also know there is always hope, and I always think of the people I would leave behind, make it about them and you will fight, I guarantee it!  You will create another safety zone wherever you go.  There are thousands of people dealing with this, you're not alone, maybe try talking to us? We understand and do care, let's talk and see what happens, can't hurt and may help. I don't think you want to give up and leave your loved ones, let us help you....okay?  Be strong, and talk to us.

[asim699]

Yes, I know treatment is there, medicine does work a bit but side effects are worse, CBT is good but temporary (Coping). There is only one place left for peace and that is hell, for a person like me who is suffering from this for many years, tried every thing but nothing works, my family suffered a lot. So I am going to commit Suicide.

Thanks for your help....
May God Bless us all, I dont want to go in heaven rather in hell because that is the right place for me. I have not find peace in this world, nor I will in the hereafter.

[MMahon]

You should visit your doctor and get a good physical exam and blood tests, if you haven't already done this.  Discuss the symptoms you mention above with the doctor.
You should also consider psychotherapy and seeing a psychiatrist.  They can help you to get to the root of youur anxiety and come up with treatments for it.   You do not have to continue experiencing the symptoms you have and there are successful treatments for it.