being bipolar has changed my life,or so called life.Why can't I leave my house,or go grocery shopping?

Question

They labeled me as bipolar and I see a psychiatrist ,and he has me on all kinds of meds. I also see a one on one therapist. I still fear going places,like to the grocery store, or some days I don't want to leave my house. When I do go to stores or in public,I feel like I'm having a heart attach,get all sweaty,the fight or flight mode, I just have to leave that place,,even if I'm in line with a cart full,,,I leave it and get out of there. My doctor asked me "what do you think would happen to you if you stayed" My response was I would DIE..!!

Answer 1

Like the other answer, I'd say you are definetely having panic attacks at the grocery store. When were you diagnosed? I have Bipolar too and I can tell you that it's can take a long time to get the meds right. Don't be suprised if they get changed more than once. I missed so much work last year that I didn't even qaulify for FMLA. This year I started on Depakote and Zoloft and am doing much better.

Do see about getting an anti-anxiety med like Xanax or Klonopin to help you get through the shopping trips.

Answer 2

Those are panic attacks: see the treatment at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on page 8, and the fear of having one causes agoraphobia, addressed on page 27. Also read section 10: if you never had the panic attacks before, they may be related to the cocktail of medications you are taking. I'd consider viewing the 1-800-therapist website, and using the locators in section 1, to find a psychologist (they don't prescribe, so are less influenced by pharmaceutical reps to overprescribe). Taper off medications with medical advice, after reading section 2. If not bipolar type 1, I'd try the Lithium Orotate, enhanced with Folic acid, and maintain the multidimensional treatments for depression, in section 2. If type 1, an antipsychotic will also be necessary.

Answer 3

Whether or not you are living with "bipolar",
the intense episodes of fear and physical response in public is called a PANIC ATTACK.

I used to get them in libraries. When my illnesses were the strongest, I found it absolutely terrifying to go into libraries.
Experiencing the symptoms you describe is no fun!
As I met with a Counselor for therapy sessions, it wasn't so much that we addressed the panic attacks, per say, or any of the other physical symptoms. What we did do was to go back in my history to find what traumas and injustices I had experienced that changed how I dealt with life. These were the life changing events and relationships and traumas that had piled-up, and I had never healed from. As the therapist coached me through my hurts of then and now I experienced a number of emotions and worked hard to sort out what was true from what things people told me that were false. Was I really "a piece of trash", "stupid", "liar", "incompetent" ? Was I believing myself to be a victim? In our talks in the counseling office I was able to understand that all of these were false messages. .........And then I began to heal my mind and emotions. The depression was still with me, but my physical symptoms faded into the distance, one by one. I tried and struggled so hard to just come someplace close to "normal". Layer by layer I have found healing, symptom by symptom. With appropriate medication even my depression is under control.........and people around me consider me to be happy and "normal". My panic attacks have faded away as the healed me emerged.

Consider that you have some more healing to do. Your worries are keeping you hostage in your own house. Seeing your therapist over a period of time can give you the opportunity to work toward the day when you will be free
to go anywhere you please....free of fear.
Work with your psychiatrist too. By continuing you daily medication, this too, is a way to lessen some of your symptoms. Getting that break, you are more able to address some of the other needed areas of your mental and emotional needs.

Answer 4

Agoraphobic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraphobia

Unfortunately like all phobias\ fears you will need to confront it to over come it, I use to have panic attacks a lot as a young adult (a fear of death) eventually I learned that there's was not a lot I could do about dying and realised that there are better things to worry about. I know that doesn't help because I know how these fears are hard to overcome but you need to think rationally and ask your self what it is that you fear about being out only then you can begin the long process of overcoming that fear.

Answer 5

Sounds like social anxiety to me and its causing you to have panic attacks. You need to get in a support group for that. The more you're around people the better you'll feel about it. Isolating yourself is only making matters worse.

Answer 6

Are you on a medication for Generalized Anxiety Disorder? If not, ask your doctor about something that can treat those symptoms. There's no point in suffering when there are so many medications available to help you.

Answer 7

Because your Fears are holding you back. Your Dr. is Right...-as SOON as you can summon the Courage to face your OWN Shadows, THAT's when you'll start getting Better. And NOBODY can do it for you... -Good Luck.