Donate for PTSD Donate - PTSD Forum is quite costly to run, maintain and improve. All donations are appreciated.
New To PTSD Forum FAQ's - All you need to know contained in Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
PTSD Forum Extra's PTSD Forms - PTSD Forum provide a PTSD assessment and self analysis form. PTSD Learning - Contains some PTSD learning information and presentations.
Recommendation  PTSD Forum recommends the use of Firefox Browser with Search Status add-on, plus your countries relevant English dictionary add-on. This enables forum members to spell check and remove typical toolbars from their browser.
| | Notices | Welcome to PTSD Forum. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a life threatening, debilitating disorder that can break down a sufferer’s body through anxiety and stress. Further it poses a significant suicide risk resulting from the brains neurological imbalance and chemical depression. Sufferers often live in denial, thus this community is aimed at helping PTSD sufferers help themselves through others experiences, guidance and education. We are here for the sufferer, spouse and families surrounding PTSD. Spouses and family are too often forgotten in this equation, and often they receive all the worst that PTSD has to offer. If you're involved in any way with PTSD, get registered and help yourself now. Non-active members will eventually be deleted. If you are not a sufferer, carer or someone within the mental health industry, and active, then there is little reason for you to be a member of this forum. Non-active members with zero posts are deleted periodically during the year. |  | 
06-05-2008, 04:31 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Over there...
Posts: 43
| | I Don't Want to Deal With People Today When I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, the doctor referred me to an osteopath, for a consultation on diet, supplements, etc., that may help me feel better.
The doctor's office called this morning, and asked if I could make it in today. I reluctantly said, "Yes", but I'm starting to regret it. I really really don't feel like leaving my house today.
I don't want to drive or talk to people. I don't want to hear a condescending doctor, telling me all the things I'm doing wrong, that make me feel so awful.
I'm trying not to let the anxiety get to me, but the closer it comes, the more anxious I feel. Even right now, there are a dozen things I should be doing, and I cannot focus on any of them. I find myself just standing, staring at the wall.
It's all so frustrating. | 
06-05-2008, 09:48 AM
|  | Administrative Editor PTSD | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,198
| | The best thing you can do when like this... is exactly to push yourself out the door and do something outside the house, requires walking, going somewhere, having to talk with people. Doesn't matter how you long you start with... but some is better than none daily. | 
06-05-2008, 01:11 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Florida, USA
Posts: 972
| | Anthony is right! I started out just like you are now and now I am agoraphobic. It was a slow process for me with no one really watching my progress into isolation. Get a
handle on it now before you do end up isolated.
I know it is easier said than done, believe me. Been there, done that, got the Tshirt
Even if you just walk around outside for a little while. Get out daily. That's what
my T. use to tell me. In fact, he made it a rule for me. I had to walk outside
daily. Did not even matter if I went any where, I just had to walk out the door.
Believe me when I tell you that at the beginning even that was really, really hard.
You can do it. I know, because you are in the early stages. Don't let your life slip from your grip and you end up isolated like I am | 
06-05-2008, 01:34 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 667
| | Yes, get some sunshine on your face! | 
06-05-2008, 02:01 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA
Posts: 373
| | I isolate and get like this frequently.
Some of the things I "push" myself to do are:
go to a public park and watch people
go to a mall or store and browse
go to a diner and get a cup of coffee and an english muffin
sit outside in the sunshine and write in my journal
go to a museum or aquarium
go to the public library
go to a city, town, village you enjoy and walk the main street
go to an antique store or flea market
All of these things don't necessarily cause you to interact with people but give you a new space to be in and a different perspective on what you can do with your time other than sitting around stewing and winding up.
Hope all went OK today.
Cindy | 
06-05-2008, 02:32 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Over there...
Posts: 43
| | I get outside on warm days. This winter was very harsh, and we've only just begun having nice weather. I love to be outside, on my own property. We have a big garden and lots of room.
It's being out in public that I sometimes dread. Some days it doesn't bother me at all, and other days I just can't handle it.
I forced myself to go, today. It wasn't nearly as bad as I dreaded, but I still found it difficult.
The doctor I saw suggested that I go back into therapy.
I stopped going about 14 months ago. I had finally had a good week, and at the end of the session, the T said, "You're done. You don't need to come back."
I certainly didn't feel done, but what do you say when your T dumps you?
Now, I just feel stuck. I don't want to go back to that T, as she obviously can't help me. I also don't want to start all over again with someone new. | 
06-05-2008, 06:56 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 98
| | I have not gotten out at all really for the past 6 or 7 months. I'de just go to work, come home and ________? Fill in the blank. Do nothing really. I did'nt go outside, I did'nt get outside at all except to get to my car and drive to and from work. I like to read, but hav'nt read anything lately. I know I need to do this to get on with life.
The past week though changed everything. With passing out at work, though they didnt find anything wrong, it was anxity/stress related, I am not allowed to drive untill I see my doctor again later. This has forced me to bike or walk to work. It's probally about 5 or 6 miles away, and recently the weather has been quite nice.
With this sudden change I was forced into has gotten me outside and physically active again. It's quite nice, I feel a little better, and hopefully it will help me to get out and do more. | 
06-05-2008, 07:30 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ma
Posts: 2,286
| | I find myself isolating more and more also. I go to work, go shopping (if I have to) and go home. I dread being out if I don't need to be. I look for excuses to not go out. I don't mingle with people anymore. I don't do the things that I used to do. If I never had to go out again....I would be happy.
I am not suffering from Agoraphobia either. I just don't want to be out, I don't want to be with people. I just want to be alone.
So I do understand the not wanting to go out. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |