Posted by LynneDa on March 15, 2004, at 17:38:39
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » kellyr, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 21:14:23
Kelly - I was just scrolling and reading some posts and wanted to put in my 2 cents of support for you :-).
I'm sure your therapist will tell you and your husband that it may be hard to cure your fear of crowds through repeated exposure without the proper preparation and support. It's the same way for people with phobias to animals, etc. You can't just jump into it, you need to work up to it like Noa suggested. You shouldn't feel badly about your reaction at the parade, especially with it being so soon after your hospitalization. That was quite a big step!
I would think it would be helpful to have an incremental plan of attack that includes small outings (like getting the mail or even just walking down the street to speak to a neighbor), a support system during the time you're out in public, an escape mechanism (that you probably won't need to use if you are supported & prepared), a reward for getting through the event and a decompression time afterward. The meds will support you chemically, but to do any sort of behavior modification, it sounds like you need a plan!
I hope you can work through this with your therapist and that way your husband's good intentions to support you will not come to naught!
Good luck and God Bless {{{Kellyr}}}
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kelly,
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> You were in the hospital, right? Your husband let us know. Thank him for that.
>
> Do you have a therapist or pdoc now? I would ask him about the klonopin.
>
> Also, I think your husband has good intentions, it sounds like. He thinks making you go to these things will be like "exposure therapy" and help you get used to it. I don't think that works as much as people think it will. I don't know though. Also, he is worried, like you said, about you getting stuck staying in the house and not seeing people.
>
> But I think you need to identify a few people-oriented situations that you can be in that are not so scary for you, where you feel safer. Situations without the kind of overstimulation that happens at parades and stuff. Plus--have you discussed PTSD symptoms with your therapist/doctor? You mentioned the rape. It sounds like that created some strong fears for you, too.
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> I hope you're in therapy. Maybe your therapist or pdoc can help educate you and your husband about how to deal with the problems you're having with going out and seeing people, and explaining to your husband some better ways to help you.
>
>
poster:LynneDa
thread:322189
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040305/msgs/324715.html