When things get tough for me, when I have arguments with family members or other issues I'm dealing with, I often feel like running away. I don't mean running away in the cosmic sense of denying what I'm feeling. I mean I physically want to leave my house, get in my car and keep driving, or walk away if I don't have my car, and just keep walking forever. It's a very strong feeling, I really struggle to not give in to it. I have taken off a few times, usually just for a few hours. It seems to calm me, though I inevitably end up hurting myself (I get ill, or put myself in some danger without meaning to) and making my family worry. I am trying very hard not to do it anymore.

Anyhow, I'm just wondering if anyone else has this urge to run off when upset. Thanks.

Interestingly enough Evie, I have 'run away' at times. This usually happened when I was down and couldn't handle facing the problem or situation any more at that point in time. At times I have just gone outside and sat in the car. I also find driving very soothing when I am upset and need to get away.

Oh that's interesting. Though you don't hurt yourself when you run though? At least it doesn't sound like it. I seem to space out and not care what happens to me. Like for instance, when I ran off shortly after my brother's death, I walked all night on the highway, and then hitched a ride with a trucker. I was totally numb and I didn't care what happened to me. I know I was in shock from Brian being dead but I seem to always do that, just kind of dissociate or something when I am running and I end up sick or in danger.

No, I didn't hurt myself and was fully aware of what I was doing between the tears. It usually happened in situations where I felt abused either verbally or physically....thankfully it hasn't happened in a long time. Admittedly I have had similar feelings to get out if I was somewhere else where I felt awful..it's an urge to get away, not a thought to leave.

Okay I think I see what you mean, thanks. I think when I do it, I feel helpless and trapped, and running is an escape. I totally go on auto-pilot though, which is pretty scary for my family.

I have a lot of trouble not running when I'm at the therapist's office. For me its a way to great rid of the energy. I need to get out, get away. Running fits with the way I feel. Its like an explosion of energy.

Going for a walk/run or drive is good for me. Sometimes I need to be outside too, in the countryside, free, away from everything.

The urge to run is related to my stress level. They go up at pretty much at the same rate. It's actually been a couple of months since I've felt the urge to run.

I'm getting better at talking to my husband about it. At first he kind of freaked when I told him. I had to tell him just because I felt like running didn't mean I was going to. Now when I tell him, he talks to me and helps me to deal with what's stressing me out.

Lisa

Unfortunately, running was something I was extremely good at for a very long time. Any time an issue popped up I was gone, in the physical sense. I would move, quit jobs,divorce husbands--whatever I saw as a threat, real or not.

Any time I found myself in stress I would run. Running was my answer to everything. Since therapy and meds have finally gotten my urge to run under control and my life in so sort of order, I have only felt the urge to run a couple of times and was able to reason myself out of it. Thank goodness

Eve I don't have PTSD but my whole life I would run whenever I got upset or just felt I had to get away. When younger from 10 - 15 it was to a place I had in the woods that was "mine" a place that felt safe and "away" from everything. In my teens I would run to friends houses sometimes for days or weeks. I didn't graduate high school because of a time I ran with a friend to Massachusetts. I came back later and went back to high school for the last half of the year. Then I got pregnant and ended up running again with friend after a traumatic time period to Fl. and again didn't graduate high school. I didn't come home until I was almost 6 months pregnant and only then because I had to realize what I was doing was going to affect my child and not just myself from then on.
Have you ever thought to work with this feeling by making some sort of safe place to be able to run to? rather then trying so hard to fight it? I know it can be almost painful to fight it sometimes with an almost claustrophobic feeling if you make yourself stay. Anyways just a thought as to how you can work on dealing with it.

I use ro run away or drive around to avoid arguing. I had a safe place in a park, I often visited. My type of running became moving. I have moved 26 times which added up to every 2 years. My husband and I finally bought a house and he asked me if i feel like moving again can we just paint making the home look different. This spring was 2 years living here. I told him I was getting bored which meant moving. He immediately painted. This spring will mean more painting. At least I get the house remodeled.
sunnydaze