Fear of motion restriction, closed areas and planes

Posted by patient2024 @patient2024, May 10 9:17am

I have multiple fears and recently in my life (I am early 50s) surfaced and I am unable to untangle them. From the fear of elevators to long flights and most importantly if I am motion restricted like having to open my mouth for long times at the dentist, uneven tooth filing, being tied up or just thinking of being in an ICU and motion restricted for example. I look at people in the street sometimes who are on wheelchairs or coming out of eye surgery covering one eye and I feel this is impossible for me to tolerate. Just recently, I couldn't even tolerate to get laughing gas at the dentist and left. I thought many times while on the plane to leave it after they locked the doors - I managed to find a technique to eat or work on my laptop to distract myself. My heart races and I sweat, and it helps when I have a family member with me. I just feel I won't be able to tolerate what people see in hospitals in the future and I told my wife I'd rather die than submit myself to surgery and wake up and I find myself restricted or have something in my nose or mouth. I am miserable - I went to a physician and she kept telling me to watch YouTube movies and take breathing classes..none of this works! Appreciate any help I can get from similar patients or someone who went through this and overcame this challenge.

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@lizziel1

I have the exact same problem. I panic if I know I can’t leave a place or situation. i.e. a MRI, plane, dentist chair, elevator, jail cell, etc. I used to get panic attacks if I was stuck at a red light! It’s very debilitating.
I have PTSD from childhood abuse. I think these fears stem from a felling of not being in control.

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I find your post extremely interesting. I also have a diagnosis of extreme PTSD due to childhood abuse. I have mild claustrophobia. I have learned some techniques to help me. If I have to fly, I book an aisle seat. Being able to be "free" on one side and being able to look down the aisle helps. I have to drive a van so I don't feel so restricted inside a car. If someone else is driving me, they are helpful in allowing me to sit in the front.

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