![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kellyr on March 8, 2004, at 19:59:57
went to a ST.Patrick prade sun. everything seemed ok but the min. we got by all the people i started to have a panick atack, i haven't had one in months like this, i get very nasty to my husband and kids all i want them to do is to be quiet, but my husband wouldn't and he always got to be the center of it all. I know i shouldn't change them so how can i get over this fear of people?
Posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 18:31:57
In reply to THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME, posted by kellyr on March 8, 2004, at 19:59:57
Hey, Kelly. Good to see you again.
Don't try to force yourself to not be afraid of crowds. Accept it for now. Crowds make you panicky (me too). Not the end of the world. If being in a crowd like at a parade is going to induce a panic attack, perhaps the best thing is to not make yourself go to that kind of situation.
OK, maybe you want to be able to go, and I think over a long time frame that can be a goal to work on--treating the panic symptoms so you can tolerate certain difficult situations that you really want to be ablt to tolerate. But in the short run, it seems like a tall order to ask yourself to go to these types of situations.
I allow myself to choose not to go to big crowds. One of the best things I've ever done for myself!
Posted by kellyr on March 9, 2004, at 20:48:55
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » kellyr, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 18:31:57
My husband drags me to theses things, thinking it's the best thing for me to get over it is to keep going to places that make me have PA's. If i don't let him push me to do theses things then i might not do anything to do w/ people at all, and i'm so scared of people now that it's hard for me to leave the house now without having a PA, even to get my own mail,but i well get it if it's not dark out there(don't want to be rapped again). but
I am getting better w/ it but sunday i took one step back. should i go back on Klonopin? or do it on my own?
Posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 21:14:23
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » noa, posted by kellyr on March 9, 2004, at 20:48:55
Kelly,
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.
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.
Posted by gardenergirl on March 10, 2004, at 0:46:21
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » kellyr, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 21:14:23
I second everything that noa said and add my hugs for you. Take care!
gg
Posted by kellyr on March 10, 2004, at 14:33:03
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » kellyr, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 21:14:23
I got out of the hospital last week,it's on the last posts. It's so nice to have my shoe laces back after being in the hospital for over a week.
I do have a therapist, I just started seeing him in Jan. of this yr. so we just started working on some of my problems w/ people, and he wants to see my husband and I this friday about something.
I also see a nurse of meds. I'll ask about Klonopin the next time I see her.
Posted by noa on March 11, 2004, at 18:26:27
In reply to Re: THOUSANDS OF EYES ON ME » noa, posted by kellyr on March 10, 2004, at 14:33:03
Good luck at your appointments tomorrow!
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,
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.