Anyone else suffer from social phobia? It is getting worse and worse. Help!

[snowkitten]

I used to suffer from bouts of anxiety/panic attacks. All the bog standard "I'm going to faint/die/have a heart attack" style stuff until I read a book by Claire Weeks which changed my life . Just recently however the anxiety has resurfaced and I am constantly on edge, adrenalin pumping, totally unrelaxed horrid horrid horrid! I cannot face social situations but force myself to for the sake of my children. I even felt anxious with my mother fgs! I find myself feeling like I am under scrutiny, like everyone knows I am struggling/a fake. Why is this happening to me? I am usually a confident, bubbly, outgoing woman. It is awful awful awful

got back. we are all still alive. Duiring the journey I kept saying to myself "this is as bad as you can feel, and if this is the worst, then i can handle it". Made my anxiety whilst driving a little more handlable. Surprisingly though, i felt great afterwards

nbg - where di you hear that you cannot faint during panic attack? That is some comfort to me

Unsure if you have tried this site or no..

www.nomorepanic.co.uk

I find Clare Weekes comforting at my wobbly moments.

Thoughts

Afternoon

It was my mum that told me. She is has been a nurse for a gizillion years
When you think about it, it does make sense. Your body goes into fight or flight mode, your heart races so your blood pressure increses.
Its when you have low blood pressure that you actually faint.

It does provide some comfort to me but when I get that worked up I feel so bad.

Amazing isnt it, how you go out and you feel so bad at the begining of your journey but eventually you ease up and when you get home its like you can conquer the world

I always think to myself that I will hold onto that feeling and the same the next day but it never happens.

Tuesday is my test day as I've arranged to take dd to a friends house.

Luczluutoo, will check that site out, thanks

luucslootoo - thans for web site address. i will check it out once dd goes back to school and I have some headspace!
nbg - i am now beginning to feel anxious from waking . it is taking over my day . This is the pits. I havent felt like this for a couple of years . How do you cope?

luczluutoo - excuse spelling of your name

Its not going to help but I just mangle through the day.
I find it gets better later on, after lunch time.
Mornings are really bad for me.

I know I need to do something about it as I will soon have 3 children relying on me.

I do find that the internet is a great way of distracting me and helps me a bit.

Snowkitten-I understand how bleedy awful it is to be racked with panic's/anxiety 24/7.Have you seen your GP? Some therapies are brilliant for anxiety as is anti-depressants,don't be put off by all the negative press they get.They certainly helped me from going over the edge of sanity!

All I can say is try and see what your anxiety is.........as someone said the flight or flight response.The more you fret about your racing heart obviously the more it races...IF YOU FEAR YOUR FEAR -it will continue.You wont faint,die or go mad..........Promise! Acceptance of your panic really helps to curb it.

Really hope it ebbs away for you and yes,internet is a fantastic distraction but be careful you dont't use it as a crutch (been guilty of that myself)

Take care both of you

lucz - thanks for words
nbg- hope your day goes well. i had a dear friend round yesterday and jad a great time. i told her i was suffreing anxiety etc and she was so supportive it took the pressure off. i still got 'moments' but not nearly so bad. hth

feel shit again today .

Does anything trigger it Snow? I get panicky if I know I HAVE to do things.i.e taking kids to school,making appointments,going away for breaks....then sometimes I'm panicky at how I feel..."my hearts racing" "my head feels wierd" etc etc...Maybe they should lock us up and throw the key away *smiles.......Hope your day gets better!

lucz - at the moment anything sets me off! I feel so sorry for my lo's. They are unaware of course but I still feel guilty at feeling like this . Today I feel anxious, light headed, racing heart, a bag of nerves. i cant tell dh as he is totally unsympathetic adn writes it off as a trifling matter . It is getting worse not better

Have you been to your GP?.I understand about the guilty feelings,I cover my attacks up too for fear of ppl's reactions and also because most ppl have the attitude of "just pull yourself together".If you need to talk I'm more than willing to via msn or email.Please check that site out,it make give you some comfort to know you are not alone and has some excellent information.I'm already nervous today as my DS starts school tomorrow,and I have to go to the playground and mix........urghhhhh.

lucz - my msn is [email protected]. but I cannot get on until after around 8:30pm when dd goes to bed. There are random times during hte day when I have some time but I'll just check to see if you are there. Thankyou

lucz - ps. hope tomorrow goes ok.