Problems With Heights, Open Spaces etc

S

Say I Am You

New member
Hi,


I have an extreme problem with heights,open highway, large bridges elevators , tunnels, up high, night driving with lack of street lights etc.

I am not scared of the above at all!! my brain seems to have a bad reaction when i know i am coming up too or partaking in any of the above .

Doctors say it may be a panic attack etc etc but its not i have tried medication with no avail.

Symtoms:

Complete confusion
Feel like i am going to die! literally
sureal feelings
feel like i am going to slip in a coma
numbness
Cannot swallow properly

This also has a major increase in the above sysmptoms when i am hungover

symptoms dont occur or very little occurance when i have had a few drinks!!

strange but true!!


So if anyone thinks they may know what this may be besides saying panic attack would be helpful to me because this is really effecting me.

Thanks

Billi
 
Hi, Billi . . . it sounds like you do have anxiety over the mentioned phobias. Your symptoms also sound like a panic attack.

Panic attacks occur when you feel threatened (whether or not the threat is real). Phobias are things that repeatedly make you feel threatened.

There are good therapists out there that can help you overcome your phobias.

The odd thing about phobias is you can watch video images or see pictures of things that may not scare you at the time but the attack comes on when you have to interact with the thing.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

Lindaru :)
 
Billi,

A panic attack is simply one more symptom you are experiencing, but based on what you are telling us, it is likely the condition you have is agoraphobia...

In addition to the symptoms you are experiencing, agoraphobics can also experience,

1. fears of: being alone, losing control in a public place, of being in places where escape might be difficult
2. some people with this condition become house bound for prolonged periods of time, even years!
3. Feelings of: detachment or estrangement from others, of helplessness, of dependence on other people
4. Changes inl temper or agitation with trembling or twitching
5. Lightheadedness, near fainting, dizziness, excessive sweating, breathing difficulty, heart changes, etc, etc, etc.

Agoraphobia can be difficult to treat...for that reason you may need to see a psychiatric specialist who is very knowlegeable with these kinds of disorders...doubt a regular md would have the qualifications and/or experience treating this disorder.

Bethsheba
 
Wow! I have been to so many Doctors with them not knowing what my problem is or just telling me its only a Panic Attack!! It made me believe i will be stuck with this problem for the rest of my life not knowing what it is!!.... I read up on Agoraphobia and i cannot believe it.. this is exactly what my problem is.. Mainly the fear of unfamiliar places, high slopes/surfaces, Lifts, windy roads, on a bridge... places where no escape is available!! All my symptoms seem to fit in the Phobia.

Well i have booked into see my local MP so hopefully he will refer me on to a specialist.

Thankyou so much!! If i do get this problem fixed.. its all from you & that means alot!! ... I Will keep you posted to see how i go.

Many Thanks!!

Billi
 
I had all of them(symptoms) above and then some. It got so bad until I went to atleast the hospital every day for a month.
1. I felt as though i was going to die. I couldn't travel alone by myself or else I'd literlly faint. I couldn't breath hardly, sweating, scared to death. This happen to me when I was 22 years of age. I've suffered insomia for years also.
 
Billi,

I wish you the best, Billi, and I'm sure you'll do fine. Figuring out what is wrong is often the hardest part of the battle.

I have known of people with varying degrees of this condition and I mention this only to reassure you that it is not uncommon...

Take care and do keep us posted....it means alot to be of some help as I have known too many who wouldn't be helped.

Take care, Billi! I'll be thinking the best for you!

Bethsheba
 
Mildred,

There is help for this condition. I would hope you would be able to talk to your doctor about referring you to a specialist.

I have known of some who have been housebound with this condition for decades...it is no way to live...and there is help.

Take care and let us know how we can help!

Bethsheba
 
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