Agoraphobia / anxiety / panic as a result of all this

[Lemons1571]

Has anyone developed this as a result of the pandemic? I realised yesterday after my third panic attack, then reading up about agoraphobia/panic, that I have exactly the pattern of symptoms. It came on when the government starting scaring us with all the talk of more transmissible variants and vaccine evading mutations.

I see a lot of advice on here about telling your gp, but what could they do at the moment? Desensitisation can’t happen as I’d need to be gradually exposed to crowds / busy places, and I’m unvaccinated in group 6. I don’t know what CBT is but even the online stuff looks like you’d need a quiet place, not a house full of homeschooling kids and a full time job anyway!

The only thing I can think of is to keep avoiding the places that trigger me, and hope I eventually get a vaccine and this somehow sorts itself out. Does anyone have any advice? Will it just go at some point? I am in that not-so-sweet spot of late 40’s, CV but GP says they’re running behind on vaccine rollout so no sign of it yet.

My 15 year old daughter has developed extreme agoraphobia during lockdown. I'm reading like crazy to help her and the advice I can give you is if you avoid those things that panic you it will get worse.

Please make yourself get outside.

I'm taking her out every day. She's uncomfortable and upset but the feelings are gradually dissipating. I'm not being unkind. I'm following the advice. Please read up on the fight and flight response of panic disorders.

@picknmix1984 I’m ok with going outside as long as no one else is there. Walks passing the odd person, Tesco at 10pm all fine. It’s when there starts to be more than 1 or 2 people (eg waiting rooms) that the “fight or flight” kicks in. But I can’t desensitise myself to groups of people atm as it’s a virus risk.

I panicked so much last time I was in a waiting room that I was pressed up against the wall in terror, and then managed to trip over when I spotted a gap and ran out.

It's definitely harder for you to desensitise but my daughter started like you and it grew and grew. It doesn't go unless you tackle it. I would say your mental health risk at the moment is greater than your covid.

@Lemons1571 I'm going to send you a PM with a personal story I don't want to share on the boards. But just to add that your GP could possibly prescribe anti-anxiety medication in the short term which can dampen things down. I've also had CBT and I did find it helpful but (a) I think it's best done with a therapist and (b) it's basically self-awareness enabling you to challenge unhelpful thought patterns so starting to recognise/record your triggers, physical responses and thought processes may help.

Speak to your GP OP, I was having panic attacks and agoraphobia after a traumatic event a couple of years ago, I got beta blockers (propranolol) which I took before I faced a stressful situation. Not a magic cure by any means but a definite help.
Also second the advice about trying to get out and face situations that make you anxious, in really small controlled ways and always with a get out plan. Each tiny step forward will help lessen the anxiety.
Good luck, I totally get how scary and exhausting it is, you must feel like you’re living in a prison atm.

Get outside I suffered the same !!!! Read the date book and call anxiety UK but baby steps .. PM me if you need any advice x

Are you in England? Some iapt services offer CBT via typed messaging only if you have no possibility to speak in a quiet place. CBT will help you reverse this quickly so it doesn't get set in. The longer it goes on, the longer it can take to reverse.