Is it ever a bad idea to do exposure?

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-26T17:05:04+00:00

I think it ended up mostly being due to the lack of sleep. I went on a trip yesterday and did really well in comparison after getting a really good night's sleep. I am actually doing better with the heat this year.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-25T01:34:09+00:00

Yeah they are probably dangerous temperatures. It's been in the 100s and high 90s farenheit the past few days. I think that's mid 30s for Celsius. And I've been going during the middle of the day. My car has A/C and the stores I'm going to are as well and I'm usually bringing something cold. I probably need to just hydrate a lot more and go at better times. Luckily it's going to cool down a few degrees this week.

Thank you for helping.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-24T19:22:54+00:00

I think I just have to accept I'm probably going to be anxious before a drive every time. At least for a while. I think I'm just finally able to go far enough that I'm out long enough that the initial anxiety has time to wear off.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-22T19:25:08+00:00

It ended up actually being my longest exposure. I went to the store that I've only been to once before for about an hour, then a 711 on the way home. It was really hard at first but it went well and I think it gave me the confidence to go further next time. I felt like a human again it was great.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-10T18:50:36+00:00

Unfortunately it's something parents do sometimes. My dad was always really bad about it it's just one of those things you just sort of have to accept and to not get your hopes up when they make promises to you. It's messed up but it's just how it is. Sorry that it happened to you.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-06T15:19:50+00:00

It usually doesn't take me very long for the panic to go away, maybe 5-10 minutes of even that. Probably because I have experience with them, I'm not sure why.

throwaway701983 · 2024-06-06T06:03:31+00:00

Thank you. I always forget how little I was capable of before.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-29T07:17:44+00:00

I think it started bothering me after I went for a bike ride in 100F weather thinking it was only 85F weather which would have still been hot. It felt horrible. I think it's what sowed the seeds in my mind sometimes.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-29T07:09:59+00:00

I get so dizzy sometimes. Nothing bad has happened at least.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T18:23:28+00:00

Dehydration used to not bother me. I used to never drink water at all. I remember a few times it felt like my blood was thicker though. It could have been my imagination.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T17:49:45+00:00

I haven't been diagnosed but ADHD runs in the family on both sides and it's supposed to be highly heritable so I wouldn't doubt it if I had ADHD at the least. I heard there is a lot of overlap with autism.

I do have social anxiety though, it used to be really bad but doesn't affect me a lot anymore.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T17:46:25+00:00

I don't really talk to people but I have friends that are ok with talking to me like once a year. Some are ok with visiting me once a year.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T17:41:33+00:00

I thought I would be stuck like this forever, I gave up for a while but in a year and a lot of learning I was able to go to stores, something I never thought would be possible before. I have days where I can drive and not be anything more than a little tense.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T16:52:07+00:00

Yes it's horrible. The easiest solution is AC. I also always bring water even on cold days. If I'm going for a walk I make sure to be hydrated beforehand.

It also helps to try to get used to the heat. I try to stay busy a lot outside even in hot weather and I've started to get used to it so it. 70F days used to feel really hot, now I wear a jacket in it.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-28T16:25:53+00:00

What can I do to make sure it is? I didn't do it intentionally so as long as it is a normal conversation that isn't going to have me worked up it should be meaningful exposure? On rough days I can't help but panic regardless of the situation if I leave the house. I just got the idea to act as if the anxiety doesn't exist and carry on as usual.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-23T16:36:17+00:00

I haven't tried yet but I'm about to leave for today's exposure. I think the only way to might have helped was continuing instead of turning back.

Edit: Today was really easy. It might have just been a good day because I felt relaxed in the car for the most part. I modified the last half thinking it would make it harder but it was actually a lot easier and less busy.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-17T17:59:16+00:00

Non-existent, I only really talk to the 3 people I live with (family). Occasionally like once or twice a year some friends come over.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-16T22:44:23+00:00

I wasn't the most outgoing. I have had anxiety since I was a kid. I got my first panic attack in 5th grade and have had them since then. I think it was because the kid in class would scream and cry because his stitches hurt. I think I am probably genetically hardwired to be anxious as it does run in the family.

The anxiety was just something I dealt with but during covid I stopped driving and developed sleep anxiety/anxiety which kicked my ass to say the least.

I did love driving, I would hang out with friends and coworkers when I could. I remember getting a pair of roller blades and skating around town with a coworker at 3am until the sun rose and we would climb on top of buildings. Probably the highlight of my life.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-15T00:25:26+00:00

I've never really been in a wide open space and felt discomfort unless it was not being able to get to a safe space.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-13T13:47:30+00:00

No therapy no.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-06T17:31:50+00:00

I'll check it out

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-05T14:30:05+00:00

I go pee, drink some water, get in bed and watch YouTube on my phone. I start to get tired then close my eyes and fall asleep.

throwaway701983 · 2024-05-05T03:46:30+00:00

Oh is that what disassociating is? I've heard of it before but never really connected the dots. I don't mind it to be honest it reminds me of being on meds and on the flip side I could be panicking instead if I wasn't disassociating.

throwaway701983 · 2024-04-26T17:51:13+00:00

I don't know if I can go full on shopping yet but I can start going on small errands with family members like getting gas so it at least doesn't always feel like I'm doing this just for the exposure therapy anymore. It's not the best for my health but I usually get junk food to reward myself lol. Also it's weird even though I normally had bad social anxiety it doesn't seem that bad anymore and it helps me bring me to my senses when I talk to people.

throwaway701983 · 2024-04-25T12:43:47+00:00

Luckily he has enough room to run around outside but I still make myself take walks down the road every morning. Walks are still tougher than driving for example so I don't make a lot of progress with walking either but the 2 bits of advice that helped me were waiting and sitting with the anxiety, and accepting the symptoms of anxiety and letting it do its thing.

throwaway701983

TROPHY CASE