Hairdresser and agoraphobia

[sickofagrophobia]

I think also sensory issues. I’m 15 mins into letting my colour set - been told it needs another 30 mins yet annd then anlso needs cut and styled … and I’m so close to having a full on meltdown . Can’t cope with the level of noise and smells and having to make small talk with folk I don’t know that well. My hair desperately needs done, it’s going grey (I’m 31) but I can’t cope with all the other stuff that goes along with it.

does anyone have any good ideas for coping? Particularly ones that will help me in the next two hours 😕

I have an overwhelming fear every time I leave the house that something awful will happen while I’m out. The scenario plays in my mind like a film each time. Have read the dare book, had therapy, waiting on more therapy; done graded exposure, etc etc . It’s hell .

Do you have any headphones? Can you immerse yourself in a story on your phone (either reading or listening)? Breathing exercises can be a good way to calm yourself down too.

Sorry not sure what to advice. Maybe you could ask them for some cotton wool and put it in your ears to drown out the sound and stop the small talk.

Well done for getting there. And when you get home and nothing bad has happened make sure you take time to think about that and the fact that your fears don't equal reality.

Thanks. I’m currently distracting myself by drinking way too much tea… the salon manager is lovely but I keep running through worst case scenarios in my mind … it’s been on for 25 mins now …

Have you explained to the hairdresser? I'm sure they would understand and may be able to help in some way x

Have you read Claire Weekes ?
x

Her books are amazing I've suffered with panic disorder and it they really helped x

Hi, I'm a hairdresser. Please tell her you are overwhelmed by the noise and are going to close your eyes and try to relax. She will probably be relieved to not have to do the small talk!

Other ideas..
Ask for no massage while you have it washed to save time.
Could skip the blow dry? Tell her your going swimming later if you are not sure how to get out of it.

Hope you manage and I'm sure it will be worth it. Hard parts done, you made it out!

It’s shit, isn’t it? You need to occupy your brain with something that takes all of your concentration. Can you do some sudoku on your phone? Or are there tiles you can count? Is there a clock you can focus on and just get yourself through a minute at a time? If all else fails, try this grounding technique.

FIVE things you see around you. ...
FOUR things you can touch around you. ...
THREE things you hear. ...
TWO things you can smell. ...
ONE thing you can taste.

Your brain can’t go into full on panic mode if it’s concentrating on the flavour of tea. And start thinking about what you can do to reward yourself when you get home. Have you got any posh bubble bath you can treat yourself with? Or an hour or so shut away in peace reading a good book? You’re doing so well. You’ll be so proud of yourself when you look back at what you’ve achieved this week 💐

Hi OP, sorry you’re struggling.

Can I recommend Paul McKenna’s “Freedom from Anxiety” on audiobook? If you can download it to your phone and listen to it on headphones when you go out, it will help keep you calm and eventually, you won’t need it.