I have anxiety and cant leave my town?

Question

please no mean answers...does anyone else have this prob? I live in a small town and I can go places here...but when I start getting far from home I panic....I am afraid I am going to go crazy and jump out or something...I dont want to but I have that fear...my fiance is the best...he has tried to help and I am on meds...but nothing is working for me...I pray ...I try to get out there and go a little further each time but It doesnt really help because the next day I am back to the old me who cant do it....what am I supposed to do?? I cant even get to a therapist let alone afford one!!!

Answer 1

Not sure it's a possibility for you, but try moving. Not out of town, maybe just down the street or a different apt. in your complex or even see if you can stay at a nearby friend's house for a while. Maybe if you can get your brain used to new places it's comfortable with, it won't panic on you when those new places are a little farther away.

Answer 2

hello.
I know there are many who share a similar situation as you. Erm... I think its good that u are able to step out of your house, that is a good start. This is what I think u can try?( may or may not work though)
Firstly, when did u start having fears of leaving town? How long have this been going on? - By knowing what cause the fear, it helps u "see" it clearer where the fear lies or come from. Next, u said u are on medication. what i know is that, it takes time ...abt 1 month or so to see the effects of the meds.. so If u have only started taking the pills only recently, be patient and give it some time.
If the meds is not helping u at all, talk abt it to the doctor who gave you the meds... also, taking pills alone (in my opinion) is not enough, you also need to do something abt it.
Okay, after u know and understand how your fear of leaving town comes abt. Next is to do something about it so that you will eventually be able to go further out.
I think totally eliminating the fear is not very sensible to start it off with.. But!.. you can try REDUCING the feeling of anxiety. One day perhaps go have a spin with your fiance, take one step at a time, drive up close to the border of your town a couple of times, try breathing in and out slowing to calm yourself. its like if you are afraid of going into a pool , go up to a pool, next walk around the pool, dipping your hands or feet into the pool, splashing water by sumerging your feet only ... and before you know it, you are in the pool!
Same goes, go up close to where your fear is.. after a few times your feeling of anxiety will most likely reduce.
Don't give up if you back out from the idea of going up close to leaving town. You can do it again. Whenever you feel comfortable enough to proceed, do so. Try going to a nearby city or town with a close friend; having ppl u know around you, giving u that support helps a great deal! =D you don't have to go that far, try a small distance and add on to that and eventually you will realise how far you have gone!
well, thats my opinion ... hope it can help you though. I am not a professional so its still good for you to seek the doctor's advice first. =D

gd luck!

Answer 3

Well first thing you need to do is quit using those neg words, like can't, you are defeating yourself every time you say you can't do it. You need to change that to a positive word, like can, i will do this , or something like that. You can afford a therapist, cause most of them go on what you make, so you may be able to get a therapist for nothing or a little bit of money. So why not try and get a therapist , they can help you finally learn to get out of the town, and to travel. So give it a try, can't hurt

Answer 4

I've found this book really helpful. I haven't gone through the whole thing yet, but it's really great. It's kind of like a program that you do a chapter at a time, but it's not weird in any way...it's very realistic and so helpful. I think that everyone should read it, even if they don't have anxiety-related problems, I really think it'd be helpful for anybody. The most important thing I've learned from it, I think, is how important breathing is, and how to breathe the right way. (Not so that your chest moves, but so that your stomach moves.)

This is the link to it on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Phobias-Panic-Reneau-Peurifoy/dp/0446692778

And this is the link to the previous edition of it, with a lot more reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0446670537/

Good luck! I am glad to hear you have a supportive fiance. I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 5

i also suffer from anxiety personally i dont think a therapist can help i beleive it is a chemical imbalance in the brain i take ativan and it helps me i am unable to go to any social function without it unless i get drunk but i no longer drink and dont recomend that sounds like what your doing is all you can do but dont give up i know how you feel i want to run out of the room sometimes and i shake and sweat and cant even talk right maybe your doctor can change your meds till you find something that works better keep praying and keep trying best of luck to you

Answer 6

It sounds to me like you may have agoraphobia. Agoraphobics may experience severe panic attacks in situations where they feel trapped, insecure, out of control, or too far from their personal comfort zone. In severe cases, an agoraphobic may be confined not only to their home, but to one or two rooms, and they may even become bed-bound, or a recluse.It doesn't sound like you are an extreme case,however you should seek treatment. Most therapists work on a sliding scale so you may be able to find on you can afford. As for getting to them that will be something you will have to overcome.Look inside you and muster as much personal strength as you can, you may suprize yourself. Be positive and good luck.