anxious about absolutely everything, help?

[hayley xo]

Hi, I'm 17 and I've had generalised anxiety disorder for 8 months now, and I've also been diagnosed with depression. I've been on prozac for about 3 weeks now, but I can't leave the house. I'm terrified of everything, and just the thought of even walking down the street sends me into a panic. I just start to think of all of the bad things that could happen, and I get terrified at the thought of getting all panicky and dizzy. Because of this, I've just completely avoided going out, and it's really getting to me now. I was just wondering if anyone could give me any advice on how to overcome this? At the moment, I'm finding it hard to even go to the doctors, or to have a ten minute journey in the car.

Thanks,
Hayley.

[NoPoet]

Hi Hayley, if you can't go out into the world, bring the world to you! Invite a close friend or friends over to watch a DVD and have something to eat. Get used to socialising in a safe environment with people you trust. Watch telly, comedies, films, play the computer, just have fun.

You can build up to going round to a friend's house and do the same there. There's no rush, you've got all the time in the world. Have the friend come round to meet you or get one of your parents to drop you off at their house. One day you could go to the cinema or to a local fast food place. You really can do this, one day it will just feel like the right thing to do, then you know you are on the road to recovery.

Also ask your parents or a brother or sister if they want to start going out for walks round the block. It gets you out, it will make a big difference to your fitness, it's a perfect opportunity to spend time talking to your family member, and it should gradually make you more comfortable in the environment surrounding your safe place (home). It expands your world and widens your comfort zone.

The more you get out into the world the more you will realise you have little to fear from it.

Take baby steps with your recovery as the small, gradual improvements are the ones that are permanent. Good luck, and have fun where you can, live is for living and having fun is a big part of that :)