Mind is clouded with fear and anxiety

[RonK]

Hello everyone,

I am a 27 year old male mainly dealing with Agoraphobia and anxiety. I do not know where to begin. It seems like it all started 3 years ago. I used to be able to drive everywhere without any worries but randomly I would get this strange feelings like blur vision or my heart would race but wasn't sure what it was. Eventually as time went on by the next year or so it has gotten worse. I used to smoke cigarettes which of course made it worse. I thought I was going to die at some point not being able to breathe properly. So I made the decision to stop smoking last year in July which now it would be a year of smoke free. However I should add that I used to smoke marijuana years before that. I started at a young age and that as well stopped when I was about 22. Although I never had problems when smoking marijuana it actually made me feel great. Now I don't know how it would make me feel. So this year seems like its been bad especially during the summer. The summer heat makes it worse. I like winter a lot better. Driving to work is such a hassle for me I can't relax myself. Sometimes I would need to call my girlfriend to talk to me while I go to work so I would stay calm. Along with that,the feeling of derealisation kicks in whether I driving to work or during work which my job requires me to travel to certain locations. I try not to drive on highways. I have the sense of fear of something happening to me. The thoughts of "Am I going dehydrate and die" or being stuck in traffic,waiting at a traffic light,turning on the left lane,being in large open areas,going places that I can't go. As far as meds go I haven't really taken anything and if I did I stopped immediately due to the side effects. The most recent I have been prescribed for is Escitalopram. I haven't taken it yet but if anyone has any experience with it I am all ears for it. Sorry for the long post but if you get the chance to read all of it I thank you for that.

[Nowuccas]

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. Perform a web search for the terms: "EFT; video"

Always keep a bottle of water in your car.

Some relevant reading: Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias, by Jerilyn Ross, & Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado, & The Fear Book: Facing Fear Once and for All, by Cheri Huber and June Shiver, & Feel the fear, and do it anyway, by Susan J. Jeffers. From your bookstore, or online. It is important to deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, or images, or even an emotion, by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately.

When you notice something negative, such as: "I'm never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so pathetic/useless/such a scaredy cat?" or even: "I can't handle this fear!", or a disturbing image, *recognise that this is part of your negative mindset, from the deep, primitive, animalistic recesses of your brain, which needs to be balanced by the use of higher mental functions.

After identifying and labelling it, visualise a large red "STOP!" sign, and/or possibly a stern faced person wagging an index finger at you in a negative manner, then say to yourself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!" You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick", instead of "tactic". In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version.

Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method.

"Just for today, I'll not be afraid of anything. If my mind is clouded with nameless fears, I'll track them down and expose their unreality. I'll remind myself that only I am responsible for, and in sole charge of my life. What happened yesterday need not trouble me today. Do I accept the fact that it's in my power to make today a good one just by the way I think about it and what I do about it?"

Depersonalization:

Advice from other therapists, and sufferers: When affected, run your hands under cold water for several minutes. Adapt the following to your situation: Look around and find 5 colours; feel 4 different textures; smell 3 different odours, and taste 2 different things. Focus on your hands for several minutes, multiple times daily. Try snapping a rubber band on your wrist, lightly, at first, then increasingly harder; remove afterwards, and pocket.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Derealization, by Frederic P. Miller, Agnes F. Vandome, and John McBrewster, from your bookstore, or online.

I suggest minimising, or avoiding fluorescent lights when reasonably possible

[av1988]

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. Perform a web search for the terms: "EFT; video"

Always keep a bottle of water in your car.

Some relevant reading: Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias, by Jerilyn Ross, & Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado, & The Fear Book: Facing Fear Once and for All, by Cheri Huber and June Shiver, & Feel the fear, and do it anyway, by Susan J. Jeffers. From your bookstore, or online. It is important to deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, or images, or even an emotion, by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately.

When you notice something negative, such as: "I'm never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so pathetic/useless/such a scaredy cat?" or even: "I can't handle this fear!", or a disturbing image, *recognise that this is part of your negative mindset, from the deep, primitive, animalistic recesses of your brain, which needs to be balanced by the use of higher mental functions.

After identifying and labelling it, visualise a large red "STOP!" sign, and/or possibly a stern faced person wagging an index finger at you in a negative manner, then say to yourself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!" You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick", instead of "tactic". In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version.

Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method.

"Just for today, I'll not be afraid of anything. If my mind is clouded with nameless fears, I'll track them down and expose their unreality. I'll remind myself that only I am responsible for, and in sole charge of my life. What happened yesterday need not trouble me today. Do I accept the fact that it's in my power to make today a good one just by the way I think about it and what I do about it?"

Depersonalization:

Advice from other therapists, and sufferers: When affected, run your hands under cold water for several minutes. Adapt the following to your situation: Look around and find 5 colours; feel 4 different textures; smell 3 different odours, and taste 2 different things. Focus on your hands for several minutes, multiple times daily. Try snapping a rubber band on your wrist, lightly, at first, then increasingly harder; remove afterwards, and pocket.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Derealization, by Frederic P. Miller, Agnes F. Vandome, and John McBrewster, from your bookstore, or online.

I suggest minimising, or avoiding fluorescent lights when reasonably possible

What an amazing post. Thank you for such informative posting.

[av1988]

Hello everyone,

I am a 27 year old male mainly dealing with Agoraphobia and anxiety. I do not know where to begin. It seems like it all started 3 years ago. I used to be able to drive everywhere without any worries but randomly I would get this strange feelings like blur vision or my heart would race but wasn't sure what it was. Eventually as time went on by the next year or so it has gotten worse. I used to smoke cigarettes which of course made it worse. I thought I was going to die at some point not being able to breathe properly. So I made the decision to stop smoking last year in July which now it would be a year of smoke free. However I should add that I used to smoke marijuana years before that. I started at a young age and that as well stopped when I was about 22. Although I never had problems when smoking marijuana it actually made me feel great. Now I don't know how it would make me feel. So this year seems like its been bad especially during the summer. The summer heat makes it worse. I like winter a lot better. Driving to work is such a hassle for me I can't relax myself. Sometimes I would need to call my girlfriend to talk to me while I go to work so I would stay calm. Along with that,the feeling of derealisation kicks in whether I driving to work or during work which my job requires me to travel to certain locations. I try not to drive on highways. I have the sense of fear of something happening to me. The thoughts of "Am I going dehydrate and die" or being stuck in traffic,waiting at a traffic light,turning on the left lane,being in large open areas,going places that I can't go. As far as meds go I haven't really taken anything and if I did I stopped immediately due to the side effects. The most recent I have been prescribed for is Escitalopram. I haven't taken it yet but if anyone has any experience with it I am all ears for it. Sorry for the long post but if you get the chance to read all of it I thank you for that.

Wow, RonK. I read this and thought this was a post I wrote. We have the SAME exact problems. Agoraphobia is very new to me. Sometimes when I drive I get a choking feeling. I now keep water in the car so my body realizes I'm not choking, because the water makes it down my throat. Have you tried more physical activities? That helped me get rid of anxiety for a long time. Since I'm sick and bed-ridden this week, I guess that's why my anxiety has come back.

[RonK]

Thank you for this amazing reply. I will try the things you have mentioned,check the video and look up on the reading material you provided.

[RonK]

Wow, RonK. I read this and thought this was a post I wrote. We have the SAME exact problems. Agoraphobia is very new to me. Sometimes when I drive I get a choking feeling. I now keep water in the car so my body realizes I'm not choking, because the water makes it down my throat. Have you tried more physical activities? That helped me get rid of anxiety for a long time. Since I'm sick and bed-ridden this week, I guess that's why my anxiety has come back.

I used to get the choking feeling before and I think that had something to do with my breathing. If you breathe properly I am sure you won't get that feeling. No I haven't tried any physical activities because of my mind being in fear with negative thought. I try to walk around my neighborhood if I can which does put me in a better mood.

[Anacin]

I have a lot of experience with medications but not that one. Maybe you're in another country. Who knows. But I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. I really don't know what else to say. It started three years ago? Oh yeah cigarettes make it worse. Hmmm...why did it start three years ago? At least you have a support system. That's always helpful.