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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Feeling very scared

naturegirl5991
naturegirl5991

I live in a very small town have very severe social anxiety that makes even going to the grocery store alone a great feat. Tomorrow I have a work training in the next town which means I have to take the bus and I am absolutely terrified. I've taken the bus many times before but it takes so much mental energy. I get so nervous about the stupidest things. I'm even scared of walking onto the bus "wrong" and that's just the beginning of it. I feel so trapped in these feelings... sometimes I wish I'd never been born instead of feeling this way...

bonusjack
bonusjack
Hi. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble managing the anxiety. Focus on walking onto the right bus, not walking onto the bus wrong. Take a magazine with you for something to do. You will be fine. I hope the training helps you. Good luck.
LibbyTeal
LibbyTeal
I know the feeling. Sometimes I can go all kinds of places and even travel with minimal discomfort. Other days just walking half a block to the coffee shop seems impossible. I'm sure I will explode or collapse before I get there, and in front of other people no less. The public/social aspect makes everything worse, doesn't it? Sometimes it helps me to think about what is it really that I'm so afraid of? And then how likely is it really that that horrible thing will happen? In the unlikely event that it does happen, what then? People will think I'm weird? Maybe they're right, but life will still go on, right? You can do it. And don't forget to acknowledge all the things you CAN do and DO do, in spite of these challenges.
PracticalGrit617
PracticalGrit617
Hello NatureGirl,
The fear will pass if you want it to. I used to feel the same way about traveling on a bus. What helped me was changing my mindset about myself. For instance, your concerns aren't stupid. Your concerns are real and the best part is that those concerns/fears can be overcome. Like you, I was afraid of even boarding the bus wrong. The root of that fear was embarrassment caused by a lack of knowledge. I was also afraid of what people would think of me or that I would get yelled at for doing something wrong. The more I took the bus, the more I got the hang of it all. The more I got used to it, the more comfortable I became. The fear died. The key is to push through. You will overcome the fear because you are a conqueror. You will master new things. Let us know how it all goes. We're here for you!
Khadi
Khadi
One word...I pod. You can put one on, listen to the music of your choice (something soothing :) and you don't have to talk to anyone. You would be amazed at how much it can help...give it a try. I wear one to the grocery store ALWAYS! xo
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