Passing out anxiety

[BubblegumUK]

My anxiety seems to be getting worse and i can feel my world getting smaller, it's really getting to me, whenever i enter a shop nowadays i start panicing incase i panic because i'm not near an exit. I dunno i just start feelin weird, usually the sound goes funny first, then i start to worry and think somethings gonna happen, then i may feel another strange body sensation and it snowballs, it's really hard to control, i'm scared i'm gonna pass out in public, i used to go to tesco a lot but nowadays the thought of goin tesco scares me and i cant go. It's happening in lots of places, i dont know how to stop it, i dont want these feelings. :( anybody got any advice? i'm seeing a psychologist but that is mainly dealing with my self harm ,she said the only way to combat anxiety is to face your fear, i try to go out but i just start panicing before i even go :(

[Martin Burridge]

She is right about having to face your fears but this needs to be done in a controlled and systematic way.
Assuming what you have is Panic Disorder the recommended treatment (by NICE) is CBT. A CBT practitioner should take you through systematic desensitisation.
By the way you are unlikely to pass out because panic attacks cause an increase in blood pressure. Fainting is caused by a drop in blood pressure.

[European]

I was suffering from exactly the same fear, BubblegumUK. About 4 years ago I hardly made it to the cash-point around the corner without feeling so anxious and wobbly in the knees, I seriously wondered if I would make it home. Confined areas like shops, and particularly confined and busy areas like supermarkets and post offices were a complete horror to me. I managed to get on top of this with the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and these days haven't got a problem going anywhere.

The crux is the way one thinks, because the way one thinks determines the way one feels. And if you are worrying yourself sick with all kinds of scenarios that you *think* could happen before you even leave the house, chances are that those misgivings and presentiments are having an effect on how you feel. It's a bit like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

My biggest problem was 'emotional reasoning'. I thought I felt really ill and weak, which in fact made me feel very ill and weak - but that didn't mean that I actually was ill and weak. Because when put to the test by going out, I wasn't. It was only a cognitive distortion, a trick of the mind.

As for the fear of fainting, that was my biggest fear as well. And it has completely disappeared by now. In my case, it had to do with perfectionism, i.e. always having to appear on top of everything and perfectly functional, which means passing out would have felt to me as though I was stepping out of line and drawing attention to me, and being helpless and weak. Those thoughts totally freaked me out. Which is all nonsense, of course, because why shouldn't I be allowed to be just human just like everybody else?

With the benefit of hindsight I've also realised that this passing out thing had to do with trust, or rather, the lack of trust. Probably based on past experiences, I had it in my head that others weren't to be trusted, but that I could only trust myself. And in this context passing out would just have been the ultimate let down, in that I couldn't even trust myself. Which caused me to panic.
Again, this was all nonsense, of course. These days I can go to a supermarket full of people, and if the thought of passing out should cross my mind, I do have the trust that someone will be kind enough to attend to me and try and help me. Because I believe now that there are kind and helpful people out there!

Having said all this, you won't get better with your condition unless you confront it. The only way out is through, and the best thing is to build yourself up gradually by exposing yourself to the situations and scenarios you are panicky about, thus give yourself the chance to feel the horrible feelings, but to realise at the same time that they quickly stop once you actually pluck up the courage to stare back.
Once you've experienced that you actually have power in this, rather than being completely helpless, that's when your improvement will happen quick and fast. At least that's what happened in my case. Just be careful not to fall in to an attitude of avoidance, because that will firmly establish the anxiety, probably for years and decades, and make it much, much worse. Avoidance is the worst thing any anxiety sufferer could subscribe to!

[haz]

Hi

Have you tried any anti-anxiety medication in conjunction with your psychology? A lot of experts now believe that a combination of drug therapy (possibly only very short term) and psychology is the the best treatment. CBT therapy is not suitable for everyone but there are other psychological treatments for anxiety and panic disorders available.

Good Luck.

P.S. I worry about passing out a lot and then think about my blood pressure being high and passing out generally only occurs when your blood pressure is low.

[mtatum4496]

I understand Bubblegum. The way that going into a Tesco affects you is the same way that going into a Walmart here can affect me. First the sound then everything else crowds in and seems about to overwhelm me to the point that I think I'm going to pass out.

Of course, that has never actually happened.

That fear of passing out in public is very very common for anxiety sufferers. Depending on the reasons for the anxiety, you may find talk therapy or CBT helpful, or possibly some herbal treatments like Rescue Remedy may help you get through Tesco and begin to reclaim the place as your own. Medication is also an option, either with or without therapy.

Don't put off getting whatever help you need and don't be afraid to use more than one tool at a time to prevent developing severe agoraphobia. It ain't fun, I can tell you from personal experience, and it is not a snap to get over.

[haz]

I understand Bubblegum. The way that going into a Tesco affects you is the same way that going into a Walmart here can affect me. First the sound then everything else crowds in and seems about to overwhelm me to the point that I think I'm going to pass out.

Of course, that has never actually happened.

That fear of passing out in public is very very common for anxiety sufferers. Depending on the reasons for the anxiety, you may find talk therapy or CBT helpful, or possibly some herbal treatments like Rescue Remedy may help you get through Tesco and begin to reclaim the place as your own. Medication is also an option, either with or without therapy.

Don't put off getting whatever help you need and don't be afraid to use more than one tool at a time to prevent developing severe agoraphobia. It ain't fun, I can tell you from personal experience, and it is not a snap to get over.

Very well put! My psychiatrist says if I stood in the middle of Tesco for an hour on a Saturday afternoon my panic would eventually subside, although I haven't actually tried this! I did start to go on a daily basis and found that slowly each day I wasn't panicking as much cos my doc said I should build it up gradually rather than not going for 6 days of the week and then having to face it all again! It will get better, I'm just getting over a severe bout of agrophobia, it takes time though and you have to try and be patient.

Best Wishes.

[mtatum4496]

Very well put! My psychiatrist says if I stood in the middle of Tesco for an hour on a Saturday afternoon my panic would eventually subside, although I haven't actually tried this! I did start to go on a daily basis and found that slowly each day I wasn't panicking as much cos my doc said I should build it up gradually rather than not going for 6 days of the week and then having to face it all again! It will get better, I'm just getting over a severe bout of agrophobia, it takes time though and you have to try and be patient.

Best Wishes.

I agree Haz, exposure on a regular basis coupled with loads of patience will make a huge difference.

The key, in my opinion, is desensitization. My nerves kick into high gear in situations, which in turn leads to an inability to filter and prioritize sights and sounds happening around me. As a result, a panic attack in a public place is like this solid wall of sensory data pounding my brain like a sledgehammer, causing all sorts of negative thoughts to appear, which only means more fuel to the fire.

Every time I go somewhere and manage to make it through without anything bad happening - even if I have a rough time there - that is a win. There is a very good chance that the next time I go back things will be a little better. Not always - sometimes this is a one step forward two steps back kinda thing - but over time it is possible to see gains that build confidence.

This past year, I've reclaimed several places that had become extremely fearsome, including a couple of supermarkets, movie theaters and several restaurants. Even church, which had become a scary place, is considerably more comfortable than it has been the last few years. In other words, over time I am becoming less sensitive to those environments and my nerves and brain are able to filter and prioritize the input without going into mass overdrive.

Still, I do occasionally have episodes in each of these places, but these days instead of scaring me, they make me angry and all the more determined to stay put and ride it out. Once it is over I'm usually exhausted, but also feel quite triumphant.

[haz]

Oh Absolutely! Some days I don't feel like I have a panic disorder at all and then the next day I can't leave the house?? It's an ongoing battle.

Good luck in reclaiming more places.

Best Wishes.

[mtatum4496]

Oh Absolutely! Some days I don't feel like I have a panic disorder at all and then the next day I can't leave the house?? It's an ongoing battle.

Good luck in reclaiming more places.

Best Wishes.

Boy can I identify with that! I can go out for an evening with friends and have a marvelous time, only to wake up the next day and feel all those negative feelings clawing around the edges of my consciousness, triggering the desire to stay inside lest something awful should happen.

But then, I gave up on trying to apply logic to my phobia a long time ago - coz there isn't any :D

Here's to both of use making great strides in the week to come! :yesyes:

[BubblegumUK]

Thankyou all so much for your replies, it's a relief i'm not alone in this, i've always had anxiety for a long time but these panics and fears of public places and stuff have just all crept in without me realizing if that makes sense, it's happened very very slowly.

I'm sure if i did pass out in tesco or wherever then people would help but i don't want the attention, maybe thats part of the fear, i don't like having attention drawn on myself and if i pass out then that will bring attention, hmmm.

Like some of you have said, i also have those days where i can seem to do these things and then other times it's a real big struggle.

I have valium i can use for emergencies, worked a treat the other day at the dentist, however my GP only prescribed me 5 as i used to take them a lot and kinda relied on em alot, i have 4 left, i have to go carefull with them, i personally dont have a problem with taking drugs to make me feel better but i know it's probably not teh greatest idea. I do take Olanzapine but that is for my mood swings and not really for anxiety. I have heard that valerian is supposed to help, kind of natural plant thing, not tried bach remedy, nor have i tried calms, are either of these any good? if i could get an over the counter drug that is similar to valium that would be great but i don't think such a thing exists.

I hope i can get over my fear of places, i used to be able to go to big cities but the thought of it now just terrifies me and i cant face it, i do intend to go to tesco at some point and try and overcome my fear i currently have of it, its just knowing that when your in there there is no quick way out.

[mtatum4496]

Bubblegum, medication is a perfectly legitimate tool to use. The trick is to remember that it is a tool and not a cure. After all, a hammer helps in building the house, but it doesn't do anything other than what the builder uses it for.

Some people find medication alone works to manage the anxiety as they work through whatever is causing the problem. Others can use nutritional supplements and herbal remedies to great effect. Others find that therapy of some sort is the answer. Still others find a combination of any or all of the above make all the difference in the world.

Its up to you what you need in your arsenal to both manage and eventually overcome the reasons for the anxiety.

I do have a question about Valium - I've heard of it being used as a relaxant and also for general anxiety, but I've never heard of it being used for social avoidance, or the treatment of agoraphobia. Is that a common approach in the UK?

[mtatum4496]

By the way, I have tried Valerian root and St. John's Wort and both made things worse for me - still others have found them to be beneficial. With Rescue Remedy, I found it would calm my mind when it is racing but really did not help with the agoraphobia at all. Just as with different medications, people have different experiences with various herbs and herbal fusions. Do remember that sometimes herbs can have a negative interaction with certain medications (foods too - for example, grapefruit in any form has a terrible interaction with Xanax), so it's a good idea to research before combining herbs and prescription drugs.

[mtatum4496]

I hope i can get over my fear of places, i used to be able to go to big cities but the thought of it now just terrifies me and i cant face it, i do intend to go to tesco at some point and try and overcome my fear i currently have of it, its just knowing that when your in there there is no quick way out.

I've used this approach (and still do) and maybe it would help you too.

I started out going to smaller stores and getting used to them before tackling the bigger ones. For example, before trying to overcome the big supermarket I had once shopped in with no problems, I started showing up at some smaller locally owned grocers that did not have the bright overhead lights and the piped music playing. From there I graduated to slightly larger grocers who did have overhead lights, then to ones that also had the Muzak playing. Once I mastered those, I tackled the large supermarket again, first in one department, then adding one more each time I went.

Maybe starting smaller and building up to Tesco will help you desensitize at your own pace and also build up your confidence to float through any anxiety that should appear?

[European]

It doesn't matter what you do, whether medication, herbal remedies, therapy or CBT - at the end of the day the only thing that has the power to overcome anxiety and panic is simply to face up to it. All kinds of things may contribute in order to pluck up the (daily) courage in terms of this confrontation, but no matter what you do, you will have to confront your fears if you want to leave them behind. That's the bottom line of it, and there is no other way.

Oh, and just one word of warning: Be very, very careful with any benzodiazepines (valium, diazepam, etc.) as they are highly addictive! You wouldn't be the first to end up with a serious addiction as destructive as alcoholism or heroin addiction, and consequently I'd recommend to only use them in special situations and as a last resort.

[haz]

Thankyou all so much for your replies, it's a relief i'm not alone in this, i've always had anxiety for a long time but these panics and fears of public places and stuff have just all crept in without me realizing if that makes sense, it's happened very very slowly.

I'm sure if i did pass out in tesco or wherever then people would help but i don't want the attention, maybe thats part of the fear, i don't like having attention drawn on myself and if i pass out then that will bring attention, hmmm.

Like some of you have said, i also have those days where i can seem to do these things and then other times it's a real big struggle.

I have valium i can use for emergencies, worked a treat the other day at the dentist, however my GP only prescribed me 5 as i used to take them a lot and kinda relied on em alot, i have 4 left, i have to go carefull with them, i personally dont have a problem with taking drugs to make me feel better but i know it's probably not teh greatest idea. I do take Olanzapine but that is for my mood swings and not really for anxiety. I have heard that valerian is supposed to help, kind of natural plant thing, not tried bach remedy, nor have i tried calms, are either of these any good? if i could get an over the counter drug that is similar to valium that would be great but i don't think such a thing exists.

I hope i can get over my fear of places, i used to be able to go to big cities but the thought of it now just terrifies me and i cant face it, i do intend to go to tesco at some point and try and overcome my fear i currently have of it, its just knowing that when your in there there is no quick way out.

If you're on Olanzapine I wouldn't take ANY over the counter drugs without checking with your doctor first. Herbal medication can be extremely powerful and have contra-indications with your Olanzapine. Could the Olanzapine be causing increased anxiety? Have you discussed this with your doctor?

Best of Luck.

[JaneC]

Hi Bubblegum, fainting was always my big fear too. I felt like that for years and years on and off - and never fainted once. Now if I find myself thinking about it, I tell myself, well I wouldn't really come to any harm if I did. Would you be to start by going to eg Tesco if you had someone with you? I found being accompanied sort of broke me back into going places that I feared, and once I got used to them that way and felt ok, I was then able to do it by myself. As others have said, getting out there really is the only way to do it x

[juiceyloop]

My anxiety seems to be getting worse and i can feel my world getting smaller, it's really getting to me, whenever i enter a shop nowadays i start panicing incase i panic because i'm not near an exit. I dunno i just start feelin weird, usually the sound goes funny first, then i start to worry and think somethings gonna happen, then i may feel another strange body sensation and it snowballs, it's really hard to control, i'm scared i'm gonna pass out in public, i used to go to tesco a lot but nowadays the thought of goin tesco scares me and i cant go. It's happening in lots of places, i dont know how to stop it, i dont want these feelings. :( anybody got any advice? i'm seeing a psychologist but that is mainly dealing with my self harm ,she said the only way to combat anxiety is to face your fear, i try to go out but i just start panicing before i even go :(

Hi hun, i used to be exactly the same. I constantly worried about passing out but even during massive panic attacks i have never once fainted or passed out, i personally don't know of anyone who has either.

As for the facing you fear part...alot of people said the same to me but because it was said so often i felt pressured into it so it made me worse, in time i started to find my own way. Sure i still can't walk into town but i can go to the local shop with an escort or so to a big supermarket. Its a huge improvment for myself and i know i'll get there eventually.

Take the "healing process" at your own speed hun, do what you feel comfy with and on the days you feel like you can push yourself that little bit futher go for it.

Good luck xxx :yahoo:

[Thumbelina]

Its excessive anxiety - i also felt this al the time. It is the sideeffect of prolonged anxiety. It will go with time.

[BubblegumUK]

Well i've been on the Olanzapine for over 2 years now, it's only in the past 6 - 12 months its gotten worse, it seems to get worse as time is going on, so i wouldn't have thought it be the Olanzapine but i may ask my GP when i next get my meds, and i'll ask about the herbal stuff too. If i could be given more valium i'd happily take it but i think my over reliance on it in the past has made them more weary of prescribing i to me, i do feel i need something though, and i'll ask about CBT when i see my psychologist next, i think i did CBT in the past but that was focusing on self harm and mood swings and not the anxiety which has gotten lots worse since then

Yeah the lights in supermarkets are horrible, doesn't help at all. I go to my very small supermarket where i live, i still panic when i'm in there but i mean i have to go to get food, its not easy though, its the same anxiety about not being able to escape. The weird thing is that i work in the same supermarket! i work after hours when the lights are dim, there are no customers and it's quiet. I know when i ma there i can escape if need be out the back or to the toilet, which is probbaly why i'm okay there, plus theres only about 6 staff. In the day time though when i go it all just looks different and feels like any other busy supermarket. Tesco is at least 5 times the size of the one i go to.

I've been told that when your anxious theres only so high it will go before it gradually comes down, which must be true because i try to fight it when it happens, normally having a bottle of water with me helps as the sensation and actually having something to do with my hands helps.

So glad i found this forum!

[Thumbelina]

I am almost over all the anx and panic and depression except this patch now for which i believe there are reasons, but the horrible lights in the shopping centres are really distirbing me eery time still. I dont know what is it but nothong i can do about that.