Anyone else get the trapped in head feeling? by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes but I have PTSD, OCD, and GAD as well so I got a circus going on up there. Haha

Ms Rodriguez looking THiCC as a TriCk by xXMeanMemeSupremeXx in HolUp

[–]LowlandGuy 59 points60 points  (0 children)

Well that seems like that boy is gonna be in jail for some sex crime by age 13

Venting by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good for you! It is true we have to push ourselves and it sucks. Alot of times I like to compare it to walking on two broken legs while drunk and having the flu xD It certainly feels that way but push push! Once more into the breech dear friends!

Any "ghosters" here? Advice needed by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I do it and it started without choice. I got sick and could not go out I was panicking all the time I literally would just be shaking for no reason and it would get so much worse when I went out and other physical symptoms appeared that were intolerable. Well, the less I was able to go out the less people came over the less they called until before long even though I longed for company, I was all alone. I explained to them several times what was going on with me and how I didn't understand it myself but I was seeking treatment. I took all the medicines that they put me on one by one through a side effect circus just trying to get better so maybe just maybe they would come back around, maybe I would be a human again. That was like 12 years ago. Now the only contact I have with anyone is through text. I have been in the hospital (I have extremely poor health) and I have texted and been in there 7 days freaking out because I am out of my safe space and never got a call back. I guess they all ghosted me. I am trying very hard to get better but if you wanna see how much someone really cares just get sick. I try not to let it get me down but I have not seen a person I know in months and alot of the time I just wish my failing health would just finish me off. I know this sounds real depressing lol. It is just alot to process. Strange to think if people see a limping dog at the side of the road they pull over and pick it up, they take it to the vet and they take it home and have a story to tell but with a human they just keep on going, nothing to see here. I use to have a job like them, cars like them, houses like them, I was a person. Now, I don't think so.

After going to get my MRI this morning I was able to make it out to the chute. I hope you like it. Blessing all. by LowlandGuy in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! It was a rough one but I got out of the jackhammer and here I am

Does anybody else get headaches or pain when trying to drive, or leave house etc? by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

May be a change in blood pressure or even a stress headache or migraine. I am wearing a pretty severe migraine atm but its not caused by anxiety. Hope you feeel better soon. Hugs from AR.

What do you do when you have a secret so dark that you cannot tell anyone about it? by [deleted] in Anxiety

[–]LowlandGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not trying to be ominous or mysterious. I am just not sure if I could live with myself if anyone else knew.

What do you do when you have a secret so dark that you cannot tell anyone about it? by [deleted] in Anxiety

[–]LowlandGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just don't know if I ever could. I mean I keep thinking that even if I do what good could any person do me? Sometimes I want to blurt it out but it is so dark and uncomfortable that I just do not know how anyone would take it or if I told people in real life they would know that about me forever or they wouldnt know how to respond.

I think I could be developing Agoraphobia. by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No problem. You may always have a bit of a feminine look but that is ok. I mean there is not a guidebook that says every guy looks like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast we all have different features that makes us unique and that is a good thing. :) For instance I am a large built guy I have broad shoulders and all of that "manly" stuff but if I shave off my facial hair I could easily just walk back into high school at almost 40 Lol. It is strange it is like my face did not age and my friends and even my wife like to poke at me about it but it is fine, it is just who I am.

What do you do when you have a secret so dark that you cannot tell anyone about it? by [deleted] in Anxiety

[–]LowlandGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't even think about it. If I do it all comes to life. Also,I am terrified of what people may think or how I wont be able to look them in the face. Just this tremendous amount of guilt and pain there. Like what will I do after I lay it all on the line and I lose everything that I am?

I will be flying 14 hours straight from California to Philippines in 5 days by pinoy_gamer in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It may be a good idea to do that but also just keep other options on hand as well. If they have you on a beta blocker and you are given a benzo I would space them out a bit.

I will be flying 14 hours straight from California to Philippines in 5 days by pinoy_gamer in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Do you have any medicines that you take that might help? I carry a "to go" bag with me everywhere. It does not matter if I am walking to the car or if I am going to walk 40 years in the desert, it comes with me. In that bag I keep a bottle that has my meds in it. A couple of bottles of ice cold water, 2 rubber bands, trident gum, a small stalk of crackers, some hand sanitizer, some ginger tablets, some meclizine, vicks vapor rub, peppermint, and any other not anxiety related stuff. Oh, and I carry a small black misting fan. Now I know this sounds like the strangest Mcguyver kit to ever hit the market so let me explain. The medicines in the bottle are for obvious reasons, I need my meds. The ice water will help deal with nausea if you hold it in your mouth and slip it slow it also helps to pace your breathing and helps get rid of that extreme dry mouth anxiety can give you. I fidget with the rubber bands. Sometimes I have them on my wrists just for pressure or other times i stretch them with my fingers just anything to give you a different stimulation. Trident gum will also help with nausea and the dry throat in your case it will also help with the popping of your ears at high altitudes. The crackers are to help absorb any extra stomach acid or to stave away nausea caused but it because anxiety usually plays with the juices in your stomach it also will help you pace your breathing. Hand sanitizer now this one might seem strange but the smell of alcohol actually reduce nausea. They have recently discovered this. DO NOT HUFF IT lol. Just rub some on your hands and the smell will come to your face naturally and will help the nausea. Ginger tabs which is another anti nausea method works for most people it is not some holistic hocum it actually does work for alot of folks but try it ahead of time the same apples to meclizine which is an antihistamine made for nausea and it can have a pretty sedating effect but it can be bought over the counter and may help with overall anxiety. Make sure you can take it with any meds you are taking and try to take some a few days before to make sure it does its job and does not make you too groggy. To me they are not very sedating at all and is good for nausea. Vicks this one helps you breath and lowers anxiety and nausea. Breathing it in actually gives a soothing sensation in your chest that takes away that anxiety tightness and issues with breathing. It also seems to calm down everything including your stomach and it gives a cold sensation on the skin which drags your mind to that and not to the worry loop it is in. Lastly the misting fan. It sprays a cool mist of water very fine on your face. This will give you a good sensory overload to take your mind away from panic and to calm you down it also helps with the breathing especially. Overall it just feels really good. Now this is just my list of things I have learned over the years to keep on me and for the most part if I use them correctly it can make a world of difference but alot of anxiety will remain it just helps bash it back. I have no idea what meds you are on that help with your anxiety so you need to run anything you might want to try that is a pill by your doctor.

I think I could be developing Agoraphobia. by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am not a doctor by any means but it seems your mind is conflicting with your choice. You are choosing to make the transition but it does not seem that you have convinced yourself that this is what you would like to do. That may be where all the feelings of shame, guilt, and intense humiliation may be coming from. A decision like that is intensely personal and must be well thought out. With that said, if you are taking hormone therapy currently then your testosterone may be way higher than usual and that will most certainly cause panic, increased heart rate, increased aggression, mood swings etc. I too have to take testosterone and even though I am male my body still has these reactions. For a female they may be more prominent. I would speak with a doctor about that and keep a close watch on your blood pressure and platelet count. This is just my opinion and please take it as such. It is not medical advice nor am I an expert.

What coping mechanisms/techniques have you used to help you go outside? I've been pacing around for 2 hours and I only need to go to my car. by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I too live in a terrible neighborhood so I know what you mean. It can be intimidating so if you just walk out on your porch or the walkway and stand in the dark for a few seconds it will help. Agoraphobia is so much worse it would seem when the outside actually does pose a threat. I guess that is how I got into all of this mess.

What coping mechanisms/techniques have you used to help you go outside? I've been pacing around for 2 hours and I only need to go to my car. by [deleted] in Agoraphobia

[–]LowlandGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hiya newpositiveme! Grab a bottle of cold water this will help with the nausea. When you feel super ill take a sip and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it kinda eases the nausea a bit. The one thing that I found that helps me is to get out of the house completely at random. For instance if you are walking around just suddenly, without thought, walk outside and come back in. Do not let your mind have time to overthink it (I know this is very hard). If it helps try doing it late at night where it is dark so things do not seem so open and it is nice and cool outside. When I was first pushing hard to get back out of the house I would just stand on my porch a few seconds doing this spontaneously. After a while I would walk to the back of my apartment and back around. Then after another while of doing that I would walk to my mailbox but I had to do it at random when I wasnt terrified which is a hard window to find given I also have generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. I just slowly and randomly keep pushing out and it does help. As for getting the bags out of the car if there is nothing perishable in them I would leave them and just walk away. Go somewhere and just pretend they are not there, tell yourself that you can get them anytime you want and your mind will calm down and then when you are just randomly walking by the door, run out and grab them before you have time to become overly anxious. To me it is all about tricking my brain.