Oh I feel so down today....... Went out to Costco yesterday and managed to have the biggest panic attack yet! I feel so scared because I used to have agoraphobia 20+ years ago and overcame it and forgot about it. Now I am having panic attacks all over the place and don't want to go out. I was managing to go out in the first few weeks (feeling wobbly but kinda ok) I am now not sure anymore where the Labs ends and the anxiety begins. I do still feel quite unsteady on my feet, but if I try to even walk round the block my legs shake and I go dizzy. I know that I am getting myself in a right state but I really don't seem to be able to get a grip. I seem to have a little rat gnawing in my stomach all the time!

I am so scared that the Labs will have gone, but I will be left with agoraphobia again.

Please can anyone tell me that they have been through this and out the other side!

Lizzie.

I have MdDS and have found that using a walking stick helps give me confidence 1) because people make allowances if that see you with a stick and 2) gives me something to hold on to all the time.

On the weekend due to sheer necessity I went to my local Asda's to do my month's shopping - alone for the first time in over 19 months. At one stage I started to get very anxious that I was going to have a bad turn so - as I don't care what people think about me - I just turned my face into the shelves and shut my eyes until I calmed myself down

I don't know how helpful this is but it worked for me

Hugs
Mandy S

Hello !
I just wanted to add to your thread !
The agoraphobia will only come back if you allow it too !
I am in the same boat as you, I started anxious, added dizzieness, wich increased the anxiety and panic ! eventually turning into the agoraphobia ! its quite a visious cycle isnt it

I was housebound for just 4 months but that was long enough for me ! I push myself daily to go out if even its a drive to get a coffee (although Im still not driving much only5 times since and not far) but each day.....

I have bagan cognitive behavioral therapy and I am learning steps to take , maybe you can find a therapist in your area before it becomes a problem ?

Mind of matter is really the key , and I know way easier said then done thats why its important to just take baby steps and pat yourself on the back each time and remind yourself how many times in the past you did it ! and that you were just fine ! panic/anxiety is scary but it can NOT hurt you ! its not a lecture , I have suffered from panic for more than 18 years myself , its a battle ! but there are so many keys and tools you can use to retrain your brain and thinking patterns !
I wish you well

This is a common problem for many of us sufferers! I feel exactly the same as you do!

I am currently practising a technique called mindfulness meditation - it's a process where you can relax your mind and dispel anxious thoughts. An ex-agoraphobe friend recommended it to me and I thought it was worth a try. I can send you a CD if you want.
There's also a really great book that I'm reading called 'In Stillness Conquer Fear', written by Pauline McKinnon who also used to be agoraphobic until she discovered meditation.

I hope you find something to suit you! And hang in there!

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"Look to your health; and if you have it, praise god and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy." - Izaak Walton

Have you tried propranalol pills ? they have cut my anxiety levels in half , dont get me wrong i still get bad but it doesnt last as long now.

I also do the meditation , an when i did it dialy it really helped , but it is a struggle , your not alone.

Anxiety seems to be a definite symptom of these dizzy disorders. I completely understand how all of you feel. I turned mine into a health anxiety, which is miserable. I had a panic attack at work, the first one ever, and was lucky that it didn't turn into agoraphobia, as I obviously have to continue to go to work(LOL). But I agree with what everyone has said, that it is mind over matter, retraining your brain how to think, things like that. I did find the once the anxiety eased somewhat, my dizziness did too. Keep yourself busy, try the techniques mentioned, whatever it takes. I saw a therapist a few times, which helped. I was also seeking constant reassurance from my mother and boyfriend, which eased a lot of it too. Good luck to you and hope you are well.

I have suffered agoraphobia/anxiety/panic disorder years ago aswell, I got over it (or learned to cope), with this return of Lab/vertigo its all flared up very strongly, before it was in my head but this time there is a reason for anxiety so feels abit too much to deal with.I myself am not sure where lab ends and anxiety begins!

I am trying my old anti anxiety techniques to basically get out of the house everyday and at least have a little walk round the block, I am having to do this with someone though as feel very unsteady on my feet, am using a walking stick which helps, the dizzies have been going on since february and some weeks are good some bad but the anxiety seems to be getting stronger lately.

My sicknote for work covers me until next thursday but I cant see myself being ready for that for months (its not a sit down job, alot of lifting and carrying), it makes me anxious just thinking about going back to work, I fell on the floor there with a very bad dizzy spell and couldnt get up for ten minutes when I last worked, I felt very pathetic and still feel embarrassed about it.

Will go back to docs on monday as he returns from his holidays and will try get a sicknote (and ask about the refferal) but not sure how long it will be before my workplace lets me go, its been over two months off work so far.

Hi Remus

I feel for you. I went into work today just to do a couple of hours as my audiologist suggested. Didn't sleep most of the night worrying about it, then felt so anxious I could not concentrate, had a really bad panic and ended up lying on the floor in my office terrified that I was going to faint. Hubbie had to be retrieved from work to get me and as the manager of the company I feel like a feeble person.

This probably isn't much consolation for how your feeling I know - but this can bring down anyone. The lack of control of your body is a scary feeling. Keep on with that walking!

Lizzie

Oh Vixen have you checked your PM's.

Lizziew you have my sympathies

When I first had a huge vertigo bout at work in february , my fiancee had to come get me aswell, I was lying on one side by the taxi rank of the Trafford Centre (a shopping mall) with lots of people staring and only one person actually offering assistance,my fiancee turned up then took me to hospital, complete nightmare it was! I was seriously panicing and didnt know what was happening, thought it was like a stroke or something.

back to the present, it was an ordeal at the ENT clinic yesterday and after I got home I had the biggest panic attack I've had in years, had to give myself an internal "damn good talking to", as usual 20 mins later and its worn off.

One thing I did notice that when I had the hearing test, once I had the headphones on I felt extremely dizzy and could here all those high frequency cacofany noises going on

Just wanted to put in on this thread ! I have suffered panic/anxiety with agoraphobia since I was age 19 Now 37 yrs old ! out of all the reading I have done

A book I would totally recommend that is short and sweet and to the point is called

" Been there " "Done that" do this ......... incredible and very simple , I read it in one day ! and very truthful

Along with that book I have been taking CBT group therapy and would highly recommend it !

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Michelle