Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
I was wondering if any of you have a problem with showers causing panic attacks. I have never liked showering or bathing, because I feel trapped when I'm all soaped up and vulnerable in a weird way. I'm also more than a little afraid that I will pass out and hurt myself.
I think it may have something to do with me finding my mother passed out in a pool of blood in the bathroom after she came in one night drunk, vomited and then passed out. She was fine after stitches and sent home with a concussion. I only vaguely remember it, but I'm sure it was traumatizing to a young child.
I've dealt with it for most of my life by just keeping a schedule,
(bathing at least every two days). and forcing myself to run the gauntlet so to speak, and also figured out ways to cut down on my time in the shower. like using two in one shampoo/conditioner and such. However ow that my anxiety has resurfaced hardcore, it's getting harder and harder to make myself bathe. I take a lot of sink baths, so I don't think I smell too bad most days, but it's becoming a hindrance. Like most people I enjoy feeling clean and I can never seem to rinse my hair good enough in the sink. It's making my husband crazy, he now forces me to take showers, but he has to sit in there with me so I don't freak out
Anyway some commiseration or advice would be welcome.
I think it may have something to do with me finding my mother passed out in a pool of blood in the bathroom after she came in one night drunk, vomited and then passed out. She was fine after stitches and sent home with a concussion. I only vaguely remember it, but I'm sure it was traumatizing to a young child.
I've dealt with it for most of my life by just keeping a schedule,
(bathing at least every two days). and forcing myself to run the gauntlet so to speak, and also figured out ways to cut down on my time in the shower. like using two in one shampoo/conditioner and such. However ow that my anxiety has resurfaced hardcore, it's getting harder and harder to make myself bathe. I take a lot of sink baths, so I don't think I smell too bad most days, but it's becoming a hindrance. Like most people I enjoy feeling clean and I can never seem to rinse my hair good enough in the sink. It's making my husband crazy, he now forces me to take showers, but he has to sit in there with me so I don't freak out
Anyway some commiseration or advice would be welcome.
erindrake
You say you feel trapped. Can you shower with the shower door/curtain open? You are afraid to fall, do baths sitting down help? One of the reasons you may not feel clean could be because you are using a 2 in 1 shampoo. I was a cosmetologist, I don't keep my license up because we don't make any money lol, but those shampoos are horrible for your scalp and hair. You might feel cleaner if you used separate and I suggest a professional shampoo and conditioner because most others have alcohol or wax fillers. They leave your hair dry, dull, clumpy, or waxy and sticky. Perhaps you can wash hair in sink then sit in bath for ten minutes while you wash your body. Then get out. That should be sufficient.
simplycatherine
I don'T have any advice but I wanted to say I have trouble with baths and showers as well. I also feel trapped, especially once I am soaped up. I make myself shower every two days.
simplycatherine
The sad thing is, I used to enjoy long hot baths.
ariadnesthread
I actually do shower sitting down. I am partially paralyzed from having west nile virus, so I take a shower on a shower seat with a handheld nozzle, because I can't stand for ling periods of time. I didn't think about the shampoo being to blame, I just assumed I was failing to rinse it out good.
CherylMc
I can see why you have issues with bathing. This is something you have to keep doing and realize you were able to face your fear. Maybe try writing down how you feel afterwards i.e. clean, refreshed, etc. Also write down how you felt while bathing. You can even write down how you feel before getting into the tub. Focus on how much better you feel after. Since your husband will sit in there with you, take the opportunity to sit in there for a while. Allow yourself to just stay there a little longer each time. You will see that you are okay. Then have your husband sit just outside the door.
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