Calkat
02-02-06, 14:01
Hi there,
I am a 31 year old woman married to my very patient husband and have 2 children under the age of 2.
I am so glad to have found this site and to know that I am not alone in my fear and that there is hope for me to be "normal"!
before today I just thought I was mad, but now I have discovered that I suffer from Pyrophobia, or a fear of fire, housefires in my case. It started over 20 years ago when I was 10, and a neighbours house went on fire. From that night I would actively keep myself awake incase the same thing should happen to me, and I have been known to still do this from time to time when I feel very anxious. Since having 2 babies my fear has grown to epic proportions, and my deepest worry is that I will be trapped in my home with no escape and be unable to save my children. I know this is irrational but I can't seem to stop it. Last night was the last straw for me, my DH had been watching a programme about housefires which quite honestly put the fear of God into me, I was crying, shaking, heart hammering, nausea.......I can feel these symptoms just now thinking about it.......and my hope is that one day I will no longer feel this phobia and be free to live a normal life. As you can imagine, keeping oneself awake at night is not really compatible with having 2 small children. I am exhausted from lack of sleep and I am sure this is not helping my state of mind.
I am particularly interested in the Cognitive therapy, I am curious to know if anyone has used this to good effect? I would also consider hypnotherapy. I am desperate at this point. Sick of the hammering heart and long dark nights waiting for my house to burn down[Sigh...]
Thanks for reading this far!
I am a 31 year old woman married to my very patient husband and have 2 children under the age of 2.
I am so glad to have found this site and to know that I am not alone in my fear and that there is hope for me to be "normal"!
before today I just thought I was mad, but now I have discovered that I suffer from Pyrophobia, or a fear of fire, housefires in my case. It started over 20 years ago when I was 10, and a neighbours house went on fire. From that night I would actively keep myself awake incase the same thing should happen to me, and I have been known to still do this from time to time when I feel very anxious. Since having 2 babies my fear has grown to epic proportions, and my deepest worry is that I will be trapped in my home with no escape and be unable to save my children. I know this is irrational but I can't seem to stop it. Last night was the last straw for me, my DH had been watching a programme about housefires which quite honestly put the fear of God into me, I was crying, shaking, heart hammering, nausea.......I can feel these symptoms just now thinking about it.......and my hope is that one day I will no longer feel this phobia and be free to live a normal life. As you can imagine, keeping oneself awake at night is not really compatible with having 2 small children. I am exhausted from lack of sleep and I am sure this is not helping my state of mind.
I am particularly interested in the Cognitive therapy, I am curious to know if anyone has used this to good effect? I would also consider hypnotherapy. I am desperate at this point. Sick of the hammering heart and long dark nights waiting for my house to burn down[Sigh...]
Thanks for reading this far!