I'm Stuck In A Cycle I Can't Break
I've been having problems with an upset stomach since July or August of last year. Unfortunately, when this physical symptom showed up it really triggered my anxiety and it turned into full-blown agoraphobia. I can't fully face my agoraphobia with these physical symptoms and I can't get to the doctor's because of the agoraphobia. I feel so stuck.
Hi @iwasntborntofade89
How awful this must be for you and its totally understandable why you feel so stuck. Anxeity often goes hand in hand with physical discomfort and if your physical discomfort is stomach problems then the anxiety will only serve to exaserbate the problem.
What do you currently do to manage the anxiety?
g
@Whatmakesithappen
I see a psychiatrist but I haven't seen her since October because last time I had a panic attack so severe that I could barely talk due to hyperventilating so much and all the stress brought on a migraine. That panic attack was a big reason the agoraphobia has gotten so bad I think. Anyway my psychiatrist still prescribes me my meds over the phone so I take those. I also meditate, keep a gratitude journal, keep a regular journal, and have a mood tracking app on my phone. I started trying to take little steps to expose myself to the outdoors but I feel overwhelmed. I've been able to go outside to the backyard but I'm nowhere near feeling able to get in the car and go to the doctor's. That sounds terrifying. But it's hard to feel good mentally when you feel bad physically. I know I'm rambling, I'm just stressed.
@iwasntborntofade89
Its fine youre really not rambling, you explained that perfectly. Youve descirbed a perfectly natural sequence of events that would impact upon your already weak state. You tried to do too much too soon and it set you back. The exposure technique that you are trying is a great way to tackle this kind of anxiety problem but again it does depend on how you carry that out, and how is supporting you through it.
It is a technique that does take time for you to feel its beneifts though, so i would suggest doing somkething to tackle your deepened stressed state first. Something like guided meditation, mindefulness etc...
Is that something that you have tried already?
@Whatmakesithappen
I just downloaded a new meditation app this morning so I'm excited to see how that helps. I think I've also realized that I have a tendency to want to solve a whole problem at once when in reality I do best when I break things down and take them step by step. Slow and steady tends to win the race for me more than sending myself hurtling towards a huge problem at the speed of light. Now I just have to make sure I remember that 😀
You are your own best therapsit right now @iwasntborntofade89.
Chunking down problems always helps to make things clearer and less scary. As the saying goes 'Keep it simple stupid' (not calling you stupid).
I love meditation apps, there are some very good free ones, however once youve exhausted the freebies then they hit you hard it you want to move on to the rest of the meditations. Youtube is a great place to find all sorts of meditations too.
Keep on keeping on I wasnt born to fade!
g
@Whatmakesithappen
Thanks for the encouragement 😀
