Posted by paxvox on October 18, 2001, at 15:56:48
In reply to Reclusive days..., posted by Krazy Kat on October 18, 2001, at 12:47:09
K Kat, has anybody been trying to herd you recently? I hear a lot of that has been going around.
But seriously (as if I can ever be too serious, ask Susan C.). Yes, I have had those kind of fears, generally when I am out of my "normal" daily routine (see my holidy haze posting for example). As a very obsessive person, I find comfort and, I guess, control in my life by doing things on autopilot, as it were. This makes other people get mad at me, however, you can predict what I am going to do,and CERTAINLY WHEN I'm going to do something. Why the obsessions? It allows me to control some aspect of an otherwise uncontrolable life. Or, I can't control what happens to me, but I can (mostly) control how I respond to it. I have never had the truly agoraphobic home-bound state. However, I have had the "I feel better in a fetal position" mode.
What to do? Do what you can, take a little step, then another. When I have had panic attacks, I have learned how to tell my mind (LOL) that I am not dying, I'm not losing my mind. I have used the deep breathing techniques to regain control. That works for me. It does take some practice, and faith in your own abilities. It is terribly disconcerting to have those "I'm losing my mind" feelings. If all else fails.....benzos are nice!
PAX
rambling along
poster:paxvox
thread:12660
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011015/msgs/12669.html