Those with anxiety disorder..do you drive alone and/or stay at home alone?

I can relate to you on this and I find it quite embarrassing to talk about but all the same I have been suffering with anxiety for a number of years. I live alone and I have read countless books on how to rectify and improve my situation and some books have helped put me in the correct frame of mind. I also received counselling in the past and this helped me a great deal. Once my counselling had come to an end though I felt that I was left to my own devices! Well, I don't suppose I could continue to see the counsellor forever as some things just have to come to an end. My greatest fear and the time when I feel most anxious is when I am in crowded situations. I don't like this situation that much and I have to just silently walk away, I need an escape route. I'm thinking that there is help for you and the best thing you can do for yourself is to communicate with others that share the same issues as you and you have made a good start with this I think. You are lucky in that you have a husband who can support you through the difficult moments. Unfortunately I don't have anyone so I have to support myself and read self-help books and the like and I guess they then become my teacher, my mentor if you like! I try to remain positive each new day now and I try to do a lot of what I enjoy and that is regular cycling! I really push myself quite hard when on the bike and I suppose I release a lot of the anger and stress by doing this activity on a regular basis. I really wish you well. I don't know if you have read any self-help books on this particular issue but I would recommend that you do this as they are a great source of information or even do some research via the good old Internet. Good luck. Andrew

The biggest problem that we all face with phobias and disorders is the most obvious one, in order to overcome 'it', we have to face it, and we don't want to: "I know you're scared of snakes, do you want to hold this snake?" Duh!! The problem is in the brain, it knows it's scared of something and it's as simple as that, now if the brain can be taught that it there is nothing to fear, then things can sometimes get better; BUT, if not, then you have to work around it as best as possible. If the exposure therapy was working, try that with a friend, relative, or your husband. The counselor was an aid, not the therapy itself, give it a go, and see how you go.

I have severe depression with anxiety attacks. I have had depression since I was in my mid to late teens as well. I have my good days and my extremely bad days. I usually stay(with the help of my meds) somewhere in between. It took alot of work to find the correct medication for me. I would hate to see how I handled things without the meds. You must by this time know your own limits. I would be sure to have planned ahead and have plenty of stimulus to keep you occupied. If you know when people will be there I would work mentally toward that time. And having available contact by phone or email with someone is very important. If you really want to work on trying to be alone I would do it for a very short amount of time at first and then work up to more time alone. But always have a back up plan.

i also think maybe i have that problem :( bcs im always feeling nervous. if im not distracted watching tv or in the computer i start to feel very nervous. so i guess i understand your problem. i guess that i also have a problem but about anxiety disorder i dont know. but the truth is that sometimes i feel so nervous that my body is like i feel it is weird inside you know? and my heart beats sometimes not normally. im sorry that you cant have a lot of freedom :( about your hubby is really cute that he is good to you :) at least you have a good loving guy cheer up and if need to talk just message me^^

I have driving alone anxiety issues. If I don't know the place, or where it is, or the parking, or what street to take. When I drive alone, I'm scare that I am going to die. Idk why, but that it. I do bring my bring my phone. IF I know where the place is I try to psych myself out to drive, and get there safe as possible. I'm not scared of myself but from the other drivers. I wasn't driving, but was in a very bad car/truck accident,the driver of the truck was drunk, and hit us, because he needed to get home before his wife go there. Its sucks, I don't trust other drivers, and it makes me wonder if the person in front, on the side, or behind me is drunk. I have anxiety about being home alone, but I also psych myself out. I do something, ie, mylot, cooking, cleaning, and have my DH call and check on me when he has a break. I think it is the mind of a person, I do have anxieties, but I somehow, figure out that anxieties can not rule my life.

i cant stay home alone either i always have to have some one with me, i have problems going out into public, and really anywhere thats not my house. i have an amazing boyfriend who deals with me and my amazing mother to help me out. they completely understand for the most part and they dont get upset when i cant do something. they stood by me when i had to drop out of school. and when i had to get my ged. they try to never leave me alone. i can drive by myself most of the time but if i feel like its going to be a bad day then i dont attempt to or if i feel like my meds are messing with me too much then i wont.

I also have that it is very hard, but you know it's like you have to take one step at a time and move slowly up from there. For me right now my biggest challenge is to drive alone I am really afraid to do that don't really know why, but I am. I guess that I am afraid that I will crash or something along those lines hopefully I can learn to get over that so that I can continue on with my life and not have to depend on others. We all will get over our fears with due time.