I'm 22 years old and I've had Anxiety agoraphobia and depression for four years now and no amount of drugs or therapy has helped at all. (Which is why I've stopped both)
The past year I've been having upto 10 episode a day where I'll have a flashback of a memory of something embarrassing, or something I perceive to be embracing, during this my body freezes up my chest feels like it going to explode and feel a sudden dread, hate towards myself.
About 2 months ago I managed to reduce these to lasting only about 5 seconds maybe more by rolling over and trying not to think about it, but recently the more I do the the more they occur. Its relentless.
I spend my entire time indoors, stepping outside is a challenge and it's only ever with my partner, who I can't properly talk to out of shame.
I no longer talk to most of my family as I can't bear to face them, I've abandoned my friends and them me seeing as this changed me so much.
These episodes are now just throwing me over the edge and my biggest questions are:
what are they and how can I stop them from occurring?
You can talk about what's happening without giving details. Put on two radios or radio and TV so there's no white space for you to fill in but distracting Yourself is probably best. You can even tell people youre trying to think happy thoughts
Yeah basically ur anxiety of facing others is destroying you. And I think that you trying to not think about the flashbacks is the problem.
I feel worthless around certain family cos in past they have made me feel that way but me being me, haven't confronted them so they think nothing's wrong.
This has destroyed my confidence, if I ever had some in first place. So I've spent my adult life in therapy and in meds. I'm too scared to say boo to a goose. I don't wanna upset people I don't want people to dislike me. Very tiring.
If you can try therapy to get some of your past embarrassment feelings out this could be the start of your recovery so u can own ur feelings.
Meds can take years and longer to work especially in conjunction with a therapy.
Look into compassion focused therapy. I'm doing it now. It helps.
i've been agoraphobic and suffered from anxity for the past 10 year's the last time i was social i was14 year's old and i'm now 24 and during the past decade i have barly left the house since then, and like you therapy didn't help when i briefly attended when i was 15 and since i haven't been able to do much about it. Wish you the best.
Thank you I will look into it. It's my biggest problem at the moment as well as my self confidence. I'm in the same boat with my family and any sort of confrontation with anyone.
Thank you for the advice Phil.