I appreciate the how open everyone was. Maybe just the nature of the symptom keeps it from coming up very often. Thanks for you kind words Davit, I think I'll be here for a while.
It is hard to tell what sort of success rate the site has because some people get better and leave, just like it is hard to tell how bad people are. I'm sure too that there have been a few that just come cause they are lonely. Some start medication and give in to just doing it, some find a good therapist doing the same thing. Some go back to work. And some like me stick around for two reasons. I'm a success and I want to help. I have total faith in the program. It works if you work it. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it. And what you need. You may not have the drive that I had. The need to be rid of this dragon sitting on my shoulder controlling me. Shari pegged anxiety and panic as dragons and we had different sizes and colours for them. I am still in contact with her, she is a success storey and has gone back to school. I right now am probably the best success because I have gone totally free. It does not make those not, lesser it just means anything is possible if you want it bad enough. Success is what ever you are satisfied with. To me success is being able to function without attacks, Medication has nothing to do with it. In that sense we have a lot of successes. There are people that do not have panic attacks anymore but are still working the program for the added reinforcement. There are people here that do not have panic attacks anymore but stay so people like you can see it really does work. Your next question is probably going to be time frame. Well that depends how seated the panic is and how well you can believe you will get better. Some have done the program more than once. It is twelve weeks to gain the knowledge and skills you need, how long it takes you to be able to use them and how much time you can put into it dictates how long you will need. How long did it take to learn to sing, to play an instrument? Same sort of thing.
Main thing is that yes it does work. It may take a while but if you don't do it it will take for ever.
Still it is your choice but we would like you to stick around and do it and join those of us that are free.
I have more of the phobia that Davit described. I'm currently semi-housebound because of the fear of having an "accident" when out in public. The frustrating thing is that I know it's all in my head since I've never had an accident and the urge lessens or disappears once I'm out of a public situation.
Have you ruled out any physical causes? Just asking because I fairly recently found that a medication I'd been taking for years was causing chronic digestive issues. My GI tract is doing much better nowadays, but I'm still hypersensitive to anything going on in my belly.
Sounds like CBT will be perfect for you (yes, it does work) since it will introduce you to methods of thinking and behaving that will help you to gradually face and overcome your fears. As for me, I've made substantial progress in the few months of working with the program though I still have a ways to go.
Thanks for posting your question and welcome to the program.
Welcome and please read all the great support you have received! Shared experiences and knowledge is what we offer and we are glad that you came to us!
Take a look around and start reading all the great knowledge!
I think you mean something different than sunny or Juanita think, since I used to get it. There is a list of the common symptoms I would get when I had an attack in my blog. I would be sitting on the toilet with a blanket around me freezing and nothing happening. Up and down, pacing and running back to the toilet. A couple of other people have mentioned this also so I would say it is common. Anything that is not a normal occurrence is a symptom, even if you are the only one it happens too. There are some of course that happen to everyone, like the racing heart. Most are directly related to fight or flight.
Maybe this is what they mean by having the .... scared out of you. I remember a while ago there were a couple of people on here that were afraid to leave home without having every available toilet mapped out in their head, but that was a phobia. I think you mean as part of the actual attack. With me the urge went with the attack.
I just started today. Actually I rarely have to go during an attack, it is just the feeling of needing to get there. It's the same if only one bathroom is available and occupied, my anxiety spikes. Glad to know that it isn't that unusual. So, I am a housebound agoraphobic. Honestly, does this program work? I'm willing to put time and effort in, I was just wondering about the success rate.
I think its a pretty common symptom of anxiety and panic. Like Sunny mentioned I think the muscles get squeezed when we are tense...leading to the urge to go.
I'm sorry to hear that you are having a rough time of things, this is the place to learn how to rid yourself of panic. The members here are all friendly, and we are here for eachother. I have been here 11 months, and I just stumbled on here while I was looking for anxiety cures. I've come along way. If you read some of the older posts you will see how this program really works. How far are you in the program?
Feel free to post anytime..vent away....ask any questions..its all good here.
Hi Paul: Yes, I used to be like that. I no longer have panic attacks but when I did I often felt like that during and after. I think our muscles tense right up during these times and everything gets squeezed. perfectly normal, have heard about this a lot. It's the same for stage actors too, they often have to "go" before performing. Even someone having to give a speech, if they are nervous, need to run to the bathroom just before. Do you have to when you are relaxed? if not, probably because the organs are relaxed too.
Does anyone feel the need to run to the bathroom during an attack?
This is one of my most common impulses during high anxiety. I haven't heard much about it from others, and was wondering if it is common. (it never gets listed as a symptom)
