Reader Response: Your Opinions Wanted for an Upcoming Article
For many people with panic disorder and/or agoraphobia, things once taken for granted, like going to into a store, become anxiety-filled events. Some enjoyable activities, like going to concerts or movies, may be avoided altogether. It is not uncommon for sufferers to experience a sense of shame, weakness and embarrassment as their self-image is redefined by fear. The symptoms of panic disorder, and the many fears that go along with it, are often confusing for the friends and family of sufferers.
Having panic disorder and agoraphobia is often difficult. Explaining it to others can sometimes seem impossible. If you could tell people about what it's like to have panic disorder and agoraphobia, what would you say? Please leave your response for an upcoming feature article.
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Hi Sheryl. I recently started a blog about my avoidance due to agoraphobia / panic disorder. Feel free to check it out and rip anything you might think is appropriate.
HOpe this helps!
Brian
This is my second serious bout with panic disorder. Most of my friends tend to wander away when it starts up again. My family is exhausted. What I would tell people would be to please care about me. No one cares and that hurts more than the chest pains, more than not being able to breathe, more than the fear of taking the medication, more than the doctors laughing at me when I say that there is something wrong with me. This pain is not normal.
What I would say to Sue or anybody suffering from Panic Disorder is that people do care. I care deeply for your situation without even knowing you just because I have struggled with it for over 3 years and I know it’s hard. I know people might try their best at understanding you but sometimes they’ll go in denial because they don’t know how to help you. I’m sure your family does love you but they might not know how to help you.
Now, on having panic disorder what I would say to people is to never give up and keep confronting their fears little by little, because we can learn how to stop it the same way we learned to live with it.
All my encouragement and peace to all of you who know what it is to suffer from it.
There is hope!!!
I am trying to deal with my 27 year old son who is battling this problem. He has the problem of self medicating with alcohol. He has seen a Psychiatrist that has him on Paxill and Cholonopin (I know spelling is wrong). He is having great difficulty in ceasing the alcohol even though he knows that is is exaserbating the episodes. He seems to be in denial as to alcohol “misuse” as being a problem in itself. I am at a loss for how to help and frustrated at being unable to find a resource comparable to alanon for this combined problem. I think it is almost impossible for a person to do this alone, but they really have to be the ones to make their choices. Right?
Hi Chris:
I am sorry about your son. I have had this disorder for over 20 years. I lost my son 33 years old possibly due to self medicating with pain pills for years of back problems and anxiety pills and depression meds.Lots of accidents. We tried everything. He would not listen and the police would not listen. I wrote an article about Our Adult Addicted Children and it was put in the paper to help others. Yes it is up to them and their choices affect the ones who are left here to go on without them. I know I tried everything. I would give anything to turn back time. Michigan needs programs to take our Adult Addicted Children against their will into rehab when things get out of hand. The police need to listen to families when they are trying to stop the over dosing and unsafe driving. Not give them another ticket. He would not go to NA meetings or probation as the judge ordered him to do so. After all being an addict is very expensive. Dr. after Dr. and er visits. Yes, there were days of real pain but very rarely took the pills as directed. I am telling you so maybe it would help in some way. I would give anything to have him back healthy.