Negative recuring thoughts

[anxiousrob]

Ok so i'm anxious. I'm ok at home and when i'm local to home within my "safe zone".

But as soon as that zone is pushed I dwell and dwell and dwell until I cant do it.

I.e. travelling 2 or 3 hours away with work, this is something i've done hundreds of times, but now its an issue.. If my boss asked me to go somewhere in say a couple of days, I dwell so much my heads feels numb.....and I physically have a panic attack at the thought of going

I need to stop these thoughts, and ideas. I feel like my head is going to explode

[flisco]

Hello

I can emphasise totally- I get travel anxiety, I'm fine at home and here in my own town, but if I have to go out to another city- or god forbid abroad I feel really frightened. My issues stem from a fear of being lost and not being able to find my way. I used to be a totally confident traveller so I don't know what's wrong really except that its anxiety,I'm seeking help with my psychiatrist

Are you seeking help with your anxiety?

[anxiousrob]

Hi thanks for the reply...Yeah i've been on meds for about a year, I went to a local talking shop, that didn't seem to work so I went to see a private therapist. That's now ended, so i've been back to the GP, i'm now heading back to the local talking shop, to see a different specialist.

I was naïve for a start, and though the meds were the cure. That taking them would turn on a switch, but I was wrong i've got to dig deep and help myself

But my word its hard...

[flisco]

I know, its so hard!

Over the last two years I've gone from being a strong carefree confident gal, to a frightened mess- and I'm gonna have to learn all the basic things again. I get the feeling with travel anxiety that I'm going to have to start with baby steps- like getting trains on my own, going to visit my family in different cities etc. all baby steps, I feel like I'm starting from being a teenager again, re-living getting my first bus alone and stuff- where has my confident self gone?

I hope your GP is helpful, sounds like you've been doing the rounds. I'm under a psychiatrist (for different mental health problems- the ones that caused my anxiety) so I'm hoping to get help for the anxiety really soon. I wish the meds were a magic fix; I'd give anything to be my old self.

[koala]

I have this problem too. I struggle just going into the nearest city which is an hours bus ride away. Unfortunately I don't know how to solve your problem but its always good to know you're not the only one. I hope you find the answer your looking for.

[flisco]

You too Koala? I wonder how many of us there are? its totally not agoraphobia as I can leave the house just fine, although six months ago I couldn't- couldn't even go into town then. Now I'm just about holding down a job, but feel anxious about it all the time. But travelling to a different city, scares the hell out of me, I'm fixated on being lost. that's my issue, train travel alone, long bus rides- all scare the living daylights out of me- I even panic about being lost in the building I work in (a grade 1 listed labyrinth)

How long have you felt this way? have you had any improvements?

[anxiousrob]

Yeah, its maybe more common that we think..

I was fine, I don't know where this has all come from, its a confidence issue I think?.

I went for a night out in Leeds at the beginning of the year, I was fine going there, but when we got there and got out of the car my legs turned to jelly.(this happened since my issues so wasn't the start of it)

I had an issue with the size of the buildings (kind of makes you feel inadequate and small, its daft I know) I felt so un easy.. After a few pints I was ok, the alcohol gave me the confidence, even the confidence to go in a lift up to the 20th floor which is usually a massive NO!

[flisco]

My fears started from when I had a mental health breakdown, lost all my confidence after that, my fears with travel anxiety are about getting lost and not being able to find my way.

20 floors is huge no wonder you usually wouldn't go! I wouldn't feel safe!

[DeanP]

I'm trying to understand ways I can behave better to help a colleague and friend at work who has panic attacks and depressive episodes. I think she fears situations where her performance at work may be judged. I made an off hand remark the other week about her being a drama queen that I really regret. She has been open to me about what her attacks are like, but I haven't seen one. She goes off to a dark, quiet, cool room that is fairly private. She discreetly re-applies deodorant when she gets back.