Replies to 'Fears, Phobias and Anxiety Disorders'

I too suffered panic attacks and paralyzing fear for over five years after being a victim of kidnapping and attempted murder by a man I left after a bad relationship. I hid myself away behind closed curtains for years, only venturing outside when I had someone with me. I never spoke to people I didn't know, and I would sweat uncontrollably when I was left alone with a male in a waitingroom, queue or elevator. I was medicated (and still am on anti-depressants) and eventually institutionalised. I didn't take a step forward until the man who assaulted me was jailed, which was when I moved to another State and changed my name. When I changed my "identity" I kept telling myself that the old me had been left behind in the last town. I got a job, made some friends and finally started to live in the "outside" again. That sounds easy huh? Not so. It's baby steps every day. And five years of baby steps amount to a whole hang of a lot of steps. The nightmares still happen frequently, but I'm learning to overcome those. I still stop breathing everytime I see someone who looks similar to my attacker, but I'm slowly starting to listen to the rational side of my consciousness that tells me they aren't the same person. It's a long slow process, but it really can happen. We can only be victims if we allow it. I don't like the "victim" tag. I prefer to now think of myself as a survivor. I overcame something and went on to become stronger than I was before. You can too. Find your smiles again and hang on to them, for nobody can take those away from us unless we let them.

hi,

 

things WILL get better! anxiety and phobias are a terrible thing to have to live with on a daily basis. I suggest maybe going to a therapist or psychologist to get to the root of the anxiety and work on your past. Psychatrists tend to focus more on the physical aspects of disorders rather then the root of them. I saw a therapist for about 3 years for terrible anxiety and I did alot of deep exploration about my past and family life and my anxiety is much better now, almost non-existant.

 

hang in there tho. i think once you can explore your past and the feelings you have toward it, and maybe be at peace with it, some of this anxiety will subside.

 

let me know if you'd like to talk about it more :)

 

good luck, things will get better!

I'm so saddened to read how oppressed you are because of a traumatic experience.  I would like to invite you to seek Jesus Christ.  He can heal you from all disorders, phobias, etc.  He bore all our sins, pain and sicknesses on the Cross of Calvary.  If you would just give him a chance.    I mean if you've been counseled for so long and there's still no real change for the better, what have you got to lose?

 

Just like He healed me, He can heal you.  And He wants to.  Because He loves you.  That's all I wish to say.  Please meditate on this before you respond back.  Should you wish to know Him personally, I'd like to help you find your way to restoration.

 

A believer in Jesus Christ,

Roz