Fear of motion restriction, closed areas and planes

I think it may be very helpful to get into therapy. There are many excellent therapeutic methods that in the hands of a well trained therapist might help you with this.

I did go to therapy once. Maybe I went to the wrong one or something but I didn't get any help. They just listen to me and write notes and that's it. I am not so sure they understand my fears and I thought many times to consider medications that get me to sleep or escape the issue but friends told me it could be addictive.

@patient2024 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. So many of us have fears. They can surface at any time, can be long-lived or short term. Do you recall if there was something that happened that seems to have triggered these fears? Is your mind thinking always of a way to escape should one of these situations present themselves?

As others have mentioned, perhaps speaking to a professional about how to deal with these thoughts would help. You said you tried once to go to therapy, but it sounds like it wasn't the right fit for you. Try again! Can your primary care doctor help you with a referral? You said you were able to distract yourself before, can you do that again? Living everyday in fear in no way to live, in my humble opinion. So, I applaud you for wanting to figure out how to help yourself. If you are open to share, I'd like to hear what your decide to do going forward.
Ginger

Patient 2024,
sounds like an autonomic system disorder. You might try a stellate ganglion block. The effects aren't permanent but (they say) it resets the autonomic nervous system. It can help to resolve those anxiety producing situations because you'll be able to think them through without engaging your emotions.
It is an injection in the under fluoroscopic guidance. Dr Lipov in Chicago was advancing it for patients with PTSD and anxiety. https://dreugenelipov.com/dual-sympathetic-reset-dsr/ But it is offered in many pain clinics.

CLEARLY, you have a case of SEVERE claustrophobia. I have been claustrophobic my entire life. But my symptoms are restricted to enclosed spaces( crowded theaters, elevators, MRI machines, and airplanes). You are even more severe than me. Don’t bother with benzodiazepines…they work short term, and have a host of negative side effects. The only way that I know that helps is exposure therapy. It is difficult, time consuming, and can be quite fearful at first. But….THERE IS NO SHORTCUT…..you must get the right therapy from the right therapist. It CAN BE DONE. Good luck!

By the way, a few months ago, I would NEVER get on an elevator. But, after going on, over and over and over again, IM ACTUALLY ABLE TO RIDE THEM NOW! I still don’t care for it completely, but I do it. Why? SO MY LIFE WONT BE SO RESTRICTED. Your life will be MISERABLE until you start fighting your fears. It seems impossible at first, but it can be done…..I KNOW!

I can relate to your symptoms, as my mom has many of them. It started years ago and has progressed over the years. It has severely impacted her life and caused much misery to her and those around her. She refused any treatment for anxiety and depression, which spurned her phobias. I would suggest to try to get treatment from trusted healthcare professionals. Sending positive thoughts for your recovery.

Sometimes mental health symptoms seem as if they are not related to anything other than a thought process. But what if things that seem like they are within your control somehow through therapy and similar interactions that are used to promote healing could be a result of a deficiency of a certain element, vitamin, supplement or similar bioactive compound? I think that you might do well to research that mode of healing. Why? Many mental health problems have been discovered to be related to chemistry that can be influenced by nutritionall interventions! I haven't done any deep research on your problem, but over the years have been seeing new information emerging about other mental "illnesses" and learning that deficiencies provoke them.

Yup! It only gets STRONGER the more you feed your fears. She (he) has an unusually strong phobia…I thought I was the only one with these fears. I want, and will get, my life back. He (she) can too.

My mom has and has had multiple vitamin deficiencies. She’s treating them somewhat. Her B12 is now up. She has digestive issues and poor diet. I have no idea how that impacts her mental state. I know good nutrition, exercise and talk therapy have helped me. I used to have anxiety with freeway driving and really dread driving on certain highways, but now I feel fine and confident to drive anywhere. I’m not sure what to attribute it to,