confused

[linz89]

Hi I'm new to the forum and was hoping for advice. I've been off work for 2 weeks as I can't handle leaving the house alone or answering the phone. Even thinking about going out gives me the shakes and palpitations. I've been to my GP and have been put on fluoxetine and atarax. I've also been sent to a stress course that I'm starting tomorrow. I'm scared that everyone thinks I'm exaggerating or going crazy. I don't know who to turn to or how to cope with the panic.

[Raina Walks]

i went through that in 2009....i also could not be left alone...i needed to be around someone i felt safe with all the time...

for me it was happening because all my fears from childhood and adolescence suddenly came forward and were haunting me...i had to slowly address each one...i wrote about it a lot....i remember praying a lot...the 23rd psalm and ended up in hospital where i was afraid of everyone...the nurses, doctors, the patient in the next bed...i was afraid of my reflection inn the mirror...i would start to shake uncontrollably...

What helped was Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and my willingness to face my fears one by one but it took years... i am still working struggling with a few fears...

needed time off work to do the work though...

wishing you luck in your journey....there is hope that this is not permanent...and more people have gone through that than you can imagine...so don't worry about what people think of you right now.....it is what you think that matters most in the moment...

[calypso]

Hiya Linz and to the forum.

You are getting a lot more support than many on here, which really pleases me. You will have to give it time and try to do all the exercises etc you are given in the stress course. But that will be a bandaid on your fears, and long term I would suggest you find out why this has happened. I agree with Raina, look into CBT with a good therapist. xxx

[linz89]

thank you. It nice to know that I'm not alone.