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My panic disorder has caused me to have agoraphobia

Posted by graciepeanut521 @graciepeanut521, Apr 22, 2023

Hello friends,
I just wanted to hear from others during this time. I have a great support group, but unless you’ve been through it, it’s hard to empathize. I have had a panic disorder all of my life and my panic attacks are quite scary and come in waves. I am 22 yrs old and can not leave my house. I am miserably failing attendance in all of my classes, and at this point, the guilt has turned to sadness. I have been on many antidepressants but I noticed that they all interact negatively with my IBS, so last month I quit my Effexor cold Turkey. I relapsed because, of course, my panic attacks worsened but it sucks because my stomach was finally healing. I am now on Cymbalta and have been for a week, but I haven’t noticed a change in my mood or symptoms. I am seeing a therapist on Monday and she wants to try exposure therapy. While I’m excited to do this, I am terrified. I can barely do anything without this overwhelming fatigue swallowing me up. I take propanol as needed but sometimes it doesn’t help with my physical symptoms. My mind is also on a loop and I can’t seem to get it off of just this overwhelming anxiety. I am wondering when this gets better, and if anyone else has been through something similar.

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sears | @sears | Jun 5, 2023
In reply to @auntbeans "I just wanted to add...when I get panic attacks I am usually driving. But I make..." + (show)
@auntbeans

I just wanted to add...when I get panic attacks I am usually driving. But I make sure I have a cup of ice with or I stop at Wawa and grab a cup of ice and when I chew ice it seems to help with the panic attack. I hope this helps you too.

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A lot of people swear by the ice method. It does work.

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paktoledo | @paktoledo | Jun 6, 2023
In reply to @sears "A lot of people swear by the ice method. It does work." + (show)
@sears

A lot of people swear by the ice method. It does work.

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Thank you for the advice
Pat!

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ricm58 | @ricm58 | Jun 11, 2023

Hi, yes I went through similar symptoms in my early teens.

I'm now 58 and my psychiatrist considers my problems 40% chemistry and 60% the life I had.

In other words, I do have a psychiatric condition, with physical causes. If this had been properly diagnosed in my 20s it could have been very well controlled.

The fact it wasn't, plus my very complex and painful childhood make things worse. Addressing these psychological factors became easier after my psychiatric diagnosis. If I had had decent therapy in my early 20s my life would probably have been waaaaaay less challenging.

Today I have no agoraphobia at all. And far fewer problems with anxiety (because I understand its sources better).

So that's my experience, hope it helps.

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