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Discussion Topic: Lots of panic but no fear.
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 Cia |
05-14-2004 @ 11:58 PM |
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Member
Joined: Apr. 2004
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I don't know if anyone else has this same problem but I can't seems to associate my panic attacks with a specific fear. For the most part I find that my panic attacks just appear out of no where.
I can remember when I first started having these stupid attacks they happened in specific situations. ie. getting on a crowded bus when it was very warm out, or shopping at Wal-mart at Christmas with everyone and their grandmother  Now when I have these attacks they can happen anywhere, at anytime and usually without warning.
I don't really know how I'm supposed to set specific goals and overcome them if I can't identify the over all problem. I'm not agoraphobic so I still leave my house. I still stop at Wal-mart and thankfully now that I have my own car will never have to ride a bus again. The only situation I haven't found my self in again is flying (had a doozy of an attack on a plane once), but that's due to lack of funds not avoidance.
The only thing I can think of that may be a common thread is that if I become overheated I tend to panic. Does that mean I should set a goal of getting really hot?  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what sort of goals I should be setting? I would appreciate any advice that anyone has.
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| sky |
05-16-2004 @ 4:18 AM |
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Joined: Oct. 2003
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Hi there Cia,
I had this problem with goal setting too. I didn't really have any specific fear, I just feared fear itself! I think it's a good idea to expose yourself to the physical aspects of it, like the heat. There's always more to panic than meets the eye. But physical sensations and fear is as good a place as any to start. Then when you start to overcome that fear another might crop up and take its place, so then you can work on that one and so on. That happens a lot, you just keep plodding on through the fears as they crop up. I think ultimately anyone with panic disorder fears losing control. So no matter what object the fear is attached to the underlying theme is just the same. Hope this helps. I have a fear of heat too. Right now as I'm typing this I'm a tad anxious as I've just dried my hair! It's some exposure I've worked into my day to day routine. Perhaps you could try this too, or a hot shower, or exercising. Don't over do it to begin with. Just gradually expose yourself to what you fear and experience the way your body copes with the heat. Everyday your body will cope.
Take care hope this helps some.
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| bob |
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05-17-2004 @ 12:09 PM |
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Joined: Apr. 2004
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Hi Cia...looks like I'm in roughly the same place you are. I'm stuck at week 4 of this program. I don't really avoid anything. I do pretty much everything I need to do...but with varying levels of anxiety. I some times have extra (to the point of VERY uncomfortable) anxiety when I go to church, social settings, etc. Mostly, however, my anxiety just sits there without a specific link.
So, now I'm trying to figure out how to handle the exposure part of the program. I was going to skip week 4 (after focusing on it for 2 weeks)... but in week 5, the program says, "don't continue until you've done exposure work". Does any one have any advice on how to handle this?
I'm trying to set some basic goals - but they are more about life improvement - none of them relate to expample offered in the program. I don't fear animals, I go to malls, I run, I pretty much do most things I want. But I'm anxious when I do those things. So my goals right now are more focused on lifestyle changes I'm trying to work on...nothing,however, that I can really build an exposure plan around...
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| Jasmine |
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05-18-2004 @ 12:53 AM |
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Joined: Apr. 2004
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Hi cia and bob,
I am having exactly the same problem as you guys. I have just about overcome my agoraphobia but don't know what to do about my constant anxiety and depression.
I do have one fear that I am desperate to overcome and that is to return to work - the place where my breakdown occurred a year ago!
I am terribly frightened of what everyone will be thinking of me.
Must to now to collect my daughter from school - will return later.
Anneke
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| Cia |
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05-20-2004 @ 2:55 AM |
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Joined: Apr. 2004
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Well guys, still haven't identified any main fears but I have noticed that I don't go out with friends as often as I did before this got so out of control. I think that this is probably a good place to start my exposure training. I'm not sure that this is really a problem but I guess it won't hurt to find out. I hope you are finding things to concentrate on, even if they are as small as mine. Good luck to you.
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| Posted By |
Discussion Topic: Lots of panic but no fear.
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