ana
01-10-15, 13:35
Hello everyone,
over the course of 14 years of suffering from panic attacks, I have been gradually making my radius of movement narrower and narrower: I only go to places that aren't too far away from where I live, and even though I am comfortable in my safe zone, I feel very stuck, and I hate myself for having imposed this prison on myself when I want to go further away from home and travel.
Last week, my orthodontist asked me to go to a clinic (which is on the other side of the city I live in) for a minor medical procedure. I am absolutely terrified! I haven't been to that part of the city in over 4 years, and I dread all those unfamiliar roads and streets. If I think about having someone drive me to the location, I panic, as being a passenger is the worst for me, and I always panic. If I opt for public transport, I'm worried that I might get a panic attack on the bus and will need to get off, or worse, that the bus stop I'd be dropped off at will be far away from the clinic meaning that I'll have to walk and potentially get lost in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. I'm thinking about driving myself there, but I'd still feel uncomfortable as I've never driven to the area before.
I know I'm overthinking this, but it's troubling me, and I can't seem to get it off my mind. I can choose when to go in, so maybe I can manage doing it on my day off on Tuesday, but I'd much rather not do it at all, which isn't an option, of course. Any thoughts on how to make this easier for me?
:flowers:
over the course of 14 years of suffering from panic attacks, I have been gradually making my radius of movement narrower and narrower: I only go to places that aren't too far away from where I live, and even though I am comfortable in my safe zone, I feel very stuck, and I hate myself for having imposed this prison on myself when I want to go further away from home and travel.
Last week, my orthodontist asked me to go to a clinic (which is on the other side of the city I live in) for a minor medical procedure. I am absolutely terrified! I haven't been to that part of the city in over 4 years, and I dread all those unfamiliar roads and streets. If I think about having someone drive me to the location, I panic, as being a passenger is the worst for me, and I always panic. If I opt for public transport, I'm worried that I might get a panic attack on the bus and will need to get off, or worse, that the bus stop I'd be dropped off at will be far away from the clinic meaning that I'll have to walk and potentially get lost in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. I'm thinking about driving myself there, but I'd still feel uncomfortable as I've never driven to the area before.
I know I'm overthinking this, but it's troubling me, and I can't seem to get it off my mind. I can choose when to go in, so maybe I can manage doing it on my day off on Tuesday, but I'd much rather not do it at all, which isn't an option, of course. Any thoughts on how to make this easier for me?
:flowers: