Since coming out of hospital on the 31st December, I've started being scared to go out the house. It's not so bad that it's stopping me going out (I had to go to the drs today and was fine) but I don't go out much anyway. The problem is more the worrying I do whilst in the house. I'm constantly worrying that something will happen to me. That someone will attack me or shoot me or something when I'm out. I feel safe in the house most of the time although do worry about someone breaking in, but out of the house I feel really nervous and scared, and really paranoid. Not sure what to do or what will help me. Just driving myself crazy imagining all these things that could happen to me.
I've been having similar feelings, but for different reasons I think. (fear of panic or something happening to me health-wise)
I'm having a lot of issues going out and I've let my life become too home based, so like you say I worry excessively when I have to go out. Some days for me even getting to the doctors (5 mins away) is a real struggle, other days I can go a lot further and not feel too bad.
I also feel safer being home, but like you I do worry about people breaking in etc.
The other thing that really scares me now is driving, which to me is a bad thing as cars are my "hobby" and driving is always something I've loved doing.
I did have a course of CBT to help with the panic side, which helped to some extent, and I feel that I can deal with the symptoms more now, but it doesn't stop the fear beforehand.
I guess I can get around when I need to, but everything seem such a big challenge, which it never used to. Though I can try to convince myself that things aren't going to happen to me, I still get the feelings in the first place.
Sorry if this is a bit rambly and probably not very helpful, but I guess I'm saying I can relate to what you're feeling.
Thanks Poorcoper. I'm sorry you are feeling the same way, but it is nice to know someone can relate. Maybe I will talk to my mental health worker about it, although she'll probably just think it's not bad enough to do anything about though.
If it is interfering with your everyday functioning then it is bad enough. I really do encourage you to talk to your mental health worker about it as leaving it may make things worse.
"Recovery is something that you have to work
on every single day and it's
something that doesn't
get a day off."
So I spoke to my mental health worker on Friday and well, she said they're going to support me by encouraging me to go out on my own more, but if I'm honest, I didn't feel like she was taking me seriously as she said that when she has been out with me I haven't shown any signs of having any difficulty. That just made me feel like I'm wasting her time and making it up but I'm not at all. I can't help the fact that I do struggle and I should be able to talk about it.
I find it really annoying when mental health people think that you should be a mess on the floor before they think that anything is wrong with a particular thing. If they helped you when you first mention something, maybe it wouldnt get to that point.
Unhelpful post - sorry. Just when I read things like this, it makes me annoyed at the mental health services/people, and Im sure its very frustrating to you too.
Maybe it would help if you kept a diary of how you feel before/during/after you've been out so you could explain better the particular difficulties your experiencing and maybe then she will understand better how she can help.
From a different point of view though, I suppose maybe she did understand what you meant and how you feel, and she thinks that maybe she shouldnt catastrophise it because it might you feel worse - the fact that she's said that your team will help you more with this particular problem may suggest that she is actually taking it seriously.
Remote control - you make a good point that she probably did take me seriously if she said the team are going to help me with it. I suppose I just felt like even though she said they were going to help me that I didn't deserve the help or something. It is pretty frustrating as I've felt like this about quite a few of my problems. Good idea to write it all down. I've written things down before and it has always helped.
Startingagain - I did explain that it's only when I am on my own and she said that they can't really help me with it as it's not as if it would help them taking me out places. I guess I have to tackle this one on my own but would like some encouragement from them.
What about if she agreed to meet you some where? Rather than her coming to the house she could meet you at the end of the road and then eventually at the place you are going to.
Do you think it might be from spending time in the hospital? I was talking to my care co-ordinator the other day and we both agreed that spending so much time in a cocooned environment during my last admission had really affected my anxiety levels when out in public. Just thought I'd put that thought out there.
sticks and stones may break your bones but words can tear your heart out.
Yeah I do think it's because of spending time in hospital. I think because it's such a safe environment, everything outside of hospital seems scary! Having said that, I had anxiety before I went into hospital, too.
What about if she agreed to meet you some where? Rather than her coming to the house she could meet you at the end of the road and then eventually at the place you are going to.
Actually she did suggest this I think that'd help. x
