Aa
help
I have a friend that has acute anxiety. She has a comfort zone that she will travel but is very local 30 minute drive.
What can i do to help her expand that are and also be able to travel long distances and fly?
What can i do to help her expand that are and also be able to travel long distances and fly?
"She also attend group therapy but felt know one really could understand what she was feeling."
That's how we ALL felt. You could also see if she's interested in joining us on these forums. It can be very therapeutic.
That's how we ALL felt. You could also see if she's interested in joining us on these forums. It can be very therapeutic.
The problem with antidepressants/antianxiety meds is that you have to allow it to build in the system. It is hard when you are foggy! Been there done that! She needs to hang in there and realize the foggyness does lift after a month to 6 weeks. I know that is a long time, but it is worth it!!! Thank YOU for being a good friend to her!
Thanks for all of your suggestions
Yes she has seen a professional who put her on meds. But she did not like the fog it put her in. She also attend group therapy but felt know one really could understand what she was feeling. I had thought of the baby steps going for a drive a little further each time but was not sure if it would help or add to the anxiety to even mention it.
Yes she has seen a professional who put her on meds. But she did not like the fog it put her in. She also attend group therapy but felt know one really could understand what she was feeling. I had thought of the baby steps going for a drive a little further each time but was not sure if it would help or add to the anxiety to even mention it.
I totally understand where your friend is coming from. It got so bad that if I was taking a familiar route (i.e to my parents) and my husband drives and doesn't change lanes when I normally would, I get anxious. It seems like such a silly thing! I had an attack when my oldest daughter (now 9) was a baby and her dad was at school, I couldn't leave the bathroom! Thank God she was sleeping! I was on the phone with my mom and she kept telling me to go get my meds. I was CONVINCED that it was not safe to leave the bathroom! It may be irrational, but it seems real at the time. Be paitent! I am lucky that I have true friends who have seen me in a severe attack, and still stand by me this day.
I would recommend buying her a book on cognitive therapy that will explain what's happening to her, and get her into CBT. A professional will know the right pace for her better than a layperson, and know how supportive to be and how tough to be.
amish, when I had my first anxiety attack of what became agoraphobia, I was on an airplane. The pilot refused to take off because I wouldn't sit down, and kicked me off the plane!
amish, when I had my first anxiety attack of what became agoraphobia, I was on an airplane. The pilot refused to take off because I wouldn't sit down, and kicked me off the plane!
Don't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. The person must want to do it for themselves. You sound like a great friend. But understand it may take time. Little baby steps. Moving a bit further each time. Until she becomes comfortable with the new distance and the feelings it brings with it. She on medication or theraphy at all? Just another suggestion. Theraphy alone might work. Slow exposure to what she fears worst of all. It is not easy though. Hence I say not to force her. It will feel like a nightmare for her. But just be there for her. Be patient. Understand she is doing her best. Good to have a friend like you around her too.
This is a VERY difficult issue, and one that I personally am fighting. I don't have panic attacks any more, unless I'm outside of that comfort zone.
The best thing to do is to practice with this. Take her 30 minutes out and then back every weekend. Add 5-10 minutes each time. They key is getting her to realize that NOTHING bad will happen when she's outside of her "comfort zone". She IS her comfort zone. There is nothing safer or more dangerous within that 30-minute area than there is outside of it.
Flying? Whew, not that's a whole different animal. The problem there is lack of control. "If I have a panic attack and freak out on airplane, there is nothing I can do. They can't pull over or land so I can get out. I'm trapped, and if I freak out it will just make things worse. They'll think I'm crazy and tie me up so I don't disturb the flight. Or worse, they'll make an emergency landing and I'll be picked up by the FBI."
That's the kind of snowball, disastrous thinking we agoraphobics experience.
Work out the driving issues first before you tackle the REALLY hairy one: flying.
The best thing to do is to practice with this. Take her 30 minutes out and then back every weekend. Add 5-10 minutes each time. They key is getting her to realize that NOTHING bad will happen when she's outside of her "comfort zone". She IS her comfort zone. There is nothing safer or more dangerous within that 30-minute area than there is outside of it.
Flying? Whew, not that's a whole different animal. The problem there is lack of control. "If I have a panic attack and freak out on airplane, there is nothing I can do. They can't pull over or land so I can get out. I'm trapped, and if I freak out it will just make things worse. They'll think I'm crazy and tie me up so I don't disturb the flight. Or worse, they'll make an emergency landing and I'll be picked up by the FBI."
That's the kind of snowball, disastrous thinking we agoraphobics experience.
Work out the driving issues first before you tackle the REALLY hairy one: flying.
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