Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety Support Group

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."

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Exposure therapy not working for me/advice?

Rippelk2
Rippelk2

Driving to work has become nightmarish for me. My panic and anxiety have sky rocketed within the past 2 months. I re started my Prozac and use xanax as needed. It has only been once, last Monday, that I had such a severe panic attack I could not drive...I honestly don't know how I made it through a 12 hour work day. I've been okay enough to force myself to drive to and from work since then. I take 1/3 of a 0.5mg tablet of xanax when I wake up to help but it makes me really sleepy. It either helps me drive a lot or it makes me so sleepy that I get anxious about how tired I am driving. 


So a lot of people believe in exposure therapy, the more you do it, the more you de-sensitize yourself to it and the more comfortable you get. I drive all the time and it's not helping at all, it's only making things worse. I am constantly anticipating the drive, I am always uncomfortable driving and suffer from severe anxiety doing it and panic attacks on/off. 


Does anything help you guys cope with this?? I use the xanax as I've described above on/off, put lavender essential oil on a tissue in my car to help calm, and I have a mantra I say out loud "I am safe and in control". 


I'd love some advice of anything that might help. 

Mito
Mito
sorry no advice...but my best wishes are with you...
laurie32
laurie32
I know how you feel. I am scared to go outside. All you can do is try your best. I know sometimes that do not help. Have you try say that nothing can hurt you and that you are going to be ok. Try to keep say that till your brain get it. You might have to say that alot of time and that might help. I hope things get better for you. Hugs
Diane22
Diane22
Were you exposed to a bad car accident at some point? Do you know where the root of the panic comes from? Are you seeing a therapist to try to overcome the issues. i know its really tough and its almost impossible to get around with out a car these days. I dont know how to help you with this but i do know that therapy helps people with these issues all the time. I hope u get better soon.
Rippelk2
Rippelk2
No car accidents that traumatized me. My fear is the fear of the fear. I had a panic attack driving once when my panic disorder was all the time and it was just awful and ever since I struggle. I think it's PTSD from the panic attack if that's possible
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