Sudden emet induced claustrophobia?

[x hannah x]

Ok so a while ago I posted here saying that I came close to fainting when someone wrapped me up in mummy bandages and I couldn't breathe properly/was panicking. Anyway just before it happened I felt this really intense feeling of n* that I'd never had before, like really extreme car sickness and it freaked me out. I still don't know if it was the bandages and the tightness that caused the n* and fainting, or if it was panic that caused it.


I've alwaysbeen uncomfortable with small spaces like elevators or trains because of the uncertainty of being trapped with other people and not being able to get out when I want etc. and it's pretty much connected to my emet. I can deal with being in a small room as long as it's not locked (even ina smallbathroom I would rather hold the door shut than lock it) and I don't have too much problem with small rooms and lots of people as long as there's room to breathe.


So what's weird is that there are certain situations now that I can't handle like I used to. For example a couple of weeks after the fainting/panic attack thing we had a school picture taken and we all had to stand on a big set of metal steps and I was fine with it until I started thinking "If I feel sick up here, I can't get down because there are people all round me" and I could feel myself starting to panic and getting that scary n* again, I had to breathe in and out and close my eyes, I'm even doing it in the picture which is sort of funny. It happened the other day too, I was in a hall listening to a lecture feeling slightly sick but not worrying about it because I knew it was just because I was full, but again I started thinking "If I need to get out I can't, there are too many people around" I couldn't focus myself out of it that time and had to walk out and stand outside in the rain to try andcalm down.


There have been loads of times like that and it only came back to me today because we had a school fair thing and there was a game where you could put on a sumo wrestlers outfit and attack your friends, it looked fun but as soon as I got into the costume I felt like it was pressing on me (which it wasn't) and again I felt really trapped and had to think myself out of panicking.


The thing is, I haven't had a real full blown panic attack with hyperventilating and getting hysterical for a long time and these near escapes are making me nervous, I'm ok with getting upset and scared to the extent that I can internalise some of it and hide it from people. but I don't want to keep feeling like that. I suppose what I'm hoping is that someone else understands what I'm talking about and has some ideas about how I can deal with these situations?

[swheeler25]

I have felt that way a lot lately. I haven't had a panic attack in many years until about 1 month ago. Now, when I get into tight situations I feel trapped just like you do. I am a teacher and the other day all the kids were surrounding me and I had to leave the room. I got dizzy, n*, and started to panic. I realize that all these feelings are my body trying to tell me that I am stressed to the max. It is my inner mechanism telling me to slow down. I don't know how much you have going on in your life right now, but I have a lot! My emet has been crazy lately because there have been so many sv* going around school. That has really added to my stress. I think you are experiencing the same thing. I'll bet if you take a look at your life you might be overwhelmed about something. When I feel "the need to run" like you do, I take deep breaths and breathe from the belly. Don't cut your breath off at the chest. Breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose. Say to your self " This will pass, I will be ok." It usually works for me, but sometimes I just need to get out of where ever is making me feel nervous. It's okay to leave the room if you have to. Maybe you just need to slow down. Kim

[hippychick]

I understand exactly what you are talking about. This is why I ended up agoraphobic. Unable to go on any form of public transport because I always felt so trapped. You can get past this though. My most recent triumph with it is I went on the London Eye!!!!!!!!! And yeha I was thinking....I can't get out if I'm sick I can't get away but with deep breathing and calming thoughts you can get through it. Don't get nervous with near panic attacks, get triumphant that you are beating each of those panic attacks down. You COULD have panicked and you didn't. That's amazing. Be proud. Keep breathing that's all I can say. I also have an aromatherapy stick as I find the sharp smell of it cuts into my anxious thoughts.

[laneyb]

I get like this quite often but not to the point of a full on panic attack.


Whereever I go I have to make sure I know where the exit is, like a few weeks ago I went to a new hairdresser (highly recommended and the haircutwas fab ) but panicked the whole time becos it was busy and the exit was downstairs!If i go to a big store I always check the exits first, Im like this whereever i go....... its very annoying!!


I do like the deep breathing technique tho, in thru the moth and out thru the nose and find that really helps along with some good ole rescue remedy.


Laney xx

[x hannah x]

Thanks for the advice and support everyone. And Hippychick I'm so envious, I can't even imagine going on the London Eye!


The breathing and exit plan is a good one, I was wondering what everyone does when they get to that point when it all seems to be building to a point and all you can think is that you have to get out, because it seems like I get that feeling a lot lately and I don't know how to calm down once I get to that point, I just run away.

[marieb73]

Yeah I get this a lot. It's a reason I almost withdrew from classes last semester. I freak out in class, and sometimes just in buildings. It's anxiety related, as the emet is too. [img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]If I am feeling really bad I take a Dramamine. It's my cheapo version of a Xanax.

[x hannah x]

We don't have that stuff in the UK though, and I don't really like taking medication if I can help it.

[hippychick]

Sometimes I get that feeling where I HAVE to get out, even if I'm in my house and I feel sick I have to go outside. Sometimes it wins and sometimes I win. Kinda fdunny I used to be too scared to go outside and now when I'm scared it's how I feel better

Another thing I do Hannah is I break time down. So say I have to be in a situation for 10 mintues that I hate I will think to myself "Ok just stay for 2...that's all just 2 and if I'm still scared then I'll go" then after 2 minutes just set for another 2. Just take it minute by minute, don't think what is ahead.

When you feel the "I'm trapped and can't get out thoughts" begin in your head just breathe. Sometimes also couting helps as it's repetitive and it clears your mind. If all else fails then get out of that situation BUT if you do have to get out I would say return as soon as you can. Go back, do it again. If you don't then it'll seem scarier for next time.

Trust me, I never thought I'd be the kind of person who can be on the London Eye. But it was only half an hour and although I had a few "OMG" moments I just focused on how good I would feel when I had done it, how beautiful everything was up there and how happy my friend was we did it.

Focus on what you CAN do, what you want to do and also how good you'll feel when you've done it. When you're up there and the fear sets in just picture in your head how amazing it's going to be when you're done and you can say...I was scared...but I did it!

[x hannah x]

Hippychick I actually love you, you are so good with all this stuff. (hugs) And thanks to everyone else too for listening to all my craziness.

[suze]

I am EXACTLY like this! A few years ago I couldn't walk the length of the street without a panic attack, I couldn't go on public transport, even talk to someone one-to-one. It was terrible and I would be exhausted every day after endless panic attacks. I teach and there were many times that I had to make an excuse and leave the classroom..I would deliberately leave something in my office so I could say, "oh, just excuse me for a minute, I've left my such and such in the office..." then I would run back to my room and shake. I think the sprint used up the masses of adrenalin and I would usually calm down enough to return.


I'm much better now mainly because I've learned through experience that nothing has ever happened to me when I've felt like this. That doesn't stop me sitting near exits in cinemas etc. - I always case the joint to know I can get out if necessary. Remember, in the majority of situations, you're not as trapped as you think you are, there's usually a way out.


As for the London Eye - I've done this too! I was fine until I got to the top, and then I thought, s***, I can't get out, and it's another 15 mins until I can. It was a hairy moment, but brought on by myself cos I thought about it too much. Still, some deep breaths helped and I made it down intact!


Just listen to your body in these situations, learn how your body reacts when you feel trapped and you'll soon recognise the feelings of panic and be able to stop them in their tracks.

[samara's on tv]

Hey, hippychick said something about aromatherapy. I always wear perfume that reminds me of somewhere else, a good memory. Like I wear this stuff from Bath and Body Works called "Sweet Pea" and it reminds me of highschool (Cause in highschool for one of my B-Days a friend got me a bag of Sweet Pea lotion and hand sanitizer and perfume and that smell carried me through that great year) so I just smell my wrist and remember the fun time I had and voila, I feel 100 times better. I know how you feel I get the same feeling too but I HAVE to take the train everywhere, and busses. It happens to me a lot.


~Monica

[emetojackie]

I too try to wear a perfume that I really like the smell of, I have this one perfume which reminds me of when I was younger and I'd always wear it on really special occasions so when something panics me I smell that (try put it on my sleeve or collar).


I can see where your coming from, but with me I always used to look for ways for peole to get out if they were to V* and make sure it was ways where they wouldn't be near me and ways where I could run out and be as far away from the person that V*ed as possible. I've become better with it all the older i've got.. and you do learn with ways of dealing with it.


I think hippychick mentioned the whole timing thing, like timing how long you have in that situation and breaking it down.. something I do a lot so it must help.


I hope you find something that works for you xx