I hate it when people say they have illnesses when really they don't - i.e. "I have OCD" - no actually, it's normal to religiously wash your hands after going to the toilet!!
So I don't want to jump to conclusions and assume I suffer from claustrophobia but I'm starting to wonder. I've always hated crowded spaces and get quite stressed out if I can't move freely - but so do lots of people.
Anyway, earlier in the year we went to Alton Towers and once on a ride, the bar came over and I swear to god I thought I was going to have an asthma attack. My chest tightened, stress levels rose, I panicked like crazy - It's happened since then on busses when they've got too packed out my chest tightens and I can't breathe properly.
This morning, I was in a lift full of people and it got stuck. My heart started beating so fast I honestly thought I might have a heart attack, I couldn't breathe, I crouched down in a corner - people must have thought I was nuts and when someone said "shit, it could take an hour for the fire brigade to get us out" my first thought was "I'll never make it".
Is this genuine claustrophobia or am I just a bit of a drama queen in small spaces?