Nice to meet you. Thanks for sharing your progress, it is very inspiring and great job at getting so far and getting the job. As everyone has mentioned, I would try to have someone take me or go with me if it is just the one time. let us know how it goes!!
Hi Elusivebreath: Welcome. I like Red's advice, if you have the time, try and drive a few extra miles out every day and have that back up plan using rest stops to do the 10 questions and maybe even a relaxation exercise, deep breathing, etc. I once took a course in a different city and was nervous about the heavy traffic especially since I didn't know exactly where the building was in the middle of the city and where I was going to park, all those sorts of questions. Just about 4-5 days before I asked someone to drive me to this building so I could have a look and see where the parking was and what the traffic was like at the time I needed to go. When I attended the first day I was still nervous about the driving, but I knew exactly where I was going and where I was going to park. That took a lot of the stress away for that day. Could you try something like that? You could add to that with the driving a little further every day as Red suggested until the day you go. Hope this gives you some ideas to work with. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
First of all I want to say welcome to the program and support group and Congratulations on the new Job !!! I understood you to say you have been dealing with panic and agoraphobia for many years now. Its sounds like you have made tremendous progress. I was wondering if you have a safe person who could drive you to for that ONE time to get your paperwork done and and get your badge? If not you said you have 4 days before you have to been there. Is it possible that you could drive 5 extra miles for that 4 days, that would be your 20 miles. This way you would not have to do your exposure work all in one day. There is a 10 question list in chapter 3 Challenging your anxious and negative thoughts that you could read over tonight and take it with you on your exposure trips in the car. Maybe you could pull the car over at every rest stop and go over the list if you need to or if the anxiety/panic gets unbearable. You could also do some of the breathing exercises at that time to relax. These relaxation exercises are here on the site in your tool box. I am agoraphobic my self and I find your story very inspiring. Let us know how it goes? I will be rooting for you all the way.
Is this a one time thing. Just to get the job. If so I would explain to your doctor the situation and get just enough valium to handle it. That is an acceptable use of medication. I would also keep pushing the boundaries after you get the job because you just never know when you might have too.
This is a difficult situation and I can see you are concerned. Try to use the section on exposure work to help you through this and even consider getting advice from a counselor. Exposure work does usually take time though. Keep in mind that your health is always of utmost importance.
Would it be possible to have a safe person with you the first few drives?
Hi everyone, I'm new here, but not new to panic (unfortunately!). I've had panic disorder with agoraphobia for about 14 years and for awhile I was completely housebound. Over the last few years I've made a lot of strides and now can freely travel with four interconnected cities.
Today I was offered a job for the county, that I have been trying so hard to get, BUT the county seat is in a city about 20 miles out of my range. I have to go there to do my initial paperwork and be photographed for my badge. Now, I know the value of "practicing" to get to new places, that's how I've gotten as far as I have, but now I have only 4 days to practice getting to an area I haven't been in in 14 years!
Any thoughts or advice? I really need this job, and I have considered explaining my situation to the woman who hired me, but I would really rather not start out that way and just get over there to Martinez ONE time!! Today I practiced and got a few miles further than usual, but I'm just worried that it's going to take too long, since I only have a few days before I have to be there.
Any advice/thoughts/positive wishes are appreciated!!
