Anxiety when leaving the house

Yes I do all the time it's a horrible feeling

I have something similar happen when I'm driving.

My very first panic attack occured when I was driving and since then when I'm driving sometimes all of a sudden I start to feel anxious that I might have another panic attack. Something that has helped me is allowing my thoughts to flow through and not try and stop them. The more i try to stop the thoughts from happening the worse it seems to get.

I get anxiety at the thought of having to go to a social event. I work myself up all week. I won't do last minute things because I need that time to mentally prepare myself. Once I'm out I am okay. I am one of those people who talk a lot when nervous instead of being quiet. I often feel drained when I get done with a social event because I am actually quite introverted. I only like to socialize on my terms, truthfully. My 'leaving the house anxiety' was terrible there for a while right after I had my second baby. My two are a year apart. Being a mother can be isolating so it totally played into my fear of leaving the house. There were days I would hate to even check my mail out of fear that someone walking the dog might greet me. I also clearly recall times when I would get sweaty and anxious while in the grocery store. When the cashier would greet me with a simple "good morning, do you have your rewards card?", I would freeze, fumble trying to figure out what to do next, or something stupid would come out of my mouth. I still am like this, but I realized that the more often I put myself out there, the easier it is. It gets worse the longer you go without trying to be social or be out in public. Practicing helps. Ear phones are great if alone. My kids are in daycare part time now so it is helpful as I am more anxious being out with them versus being out alone. I will even sometimes wear just one headphone at the park with the kids and listen to music in one ear while listening to them with the other. It evens me out. I'm so much better about it now than I was 2 years ago. I remember feeling terribly guilty 2 years ago because I was so anxious meeting up with a mom's group at a park when my babies were little that once I got to the park I drank a mini wine bottle purchased from a gas station just to get the courage to get out of the truck. It didn't get my drunk by any means. It was when I realized I had a bad situation on my hands. Now I seek help for my anxiety, I work on my PTSD that most of it stems from. I see a counselor once a week and I do exercises on my own targeted to the PTSD aspect. I try not to introvert TOO long as it becomes harder to get out, but Damn I just love being an introvert. I understand. I don't fear anxiety attacks in public as I don't feel I have social anxiety in that extreme, but I do come home after being in a social environment completely drained and needing to 'recharge' so that I have something to give to my family.

Xanax is helpful when you know you are about to leave.

I only recently joined the pharmaceutical band wagon again and I hate taking medications, but I gave into Xanax and I don't feel guilty about needing the extra help sometimes. Licorice Root Extract is relaxing and Licorice Tea. Sometimes I will make a coffee canister of Licorice Tea to take a long with me if I am out and about.

Hi Samantha, Ive had exactly the same. It's Horrendous. If someone else can go out instead, that suits me fine. I almost feel imprisoned sometimes, do you feel that also. It can become a vicious circle. Is there someone who can go out with you? I would do that to start. And when you are getting ready to go out, don't think " oh God, I'm going out. If you do think that, change you thought to:" have I got my keys, for example. If you are talking to someone at the school gates and are feeling panicky, just come right out with it and say :you will have to excuse me, if I seem a bit strange, I'm having a panic attack because I've had it stressful day. You'd be surprised how, by being open, people will warm to you. It feel like a weight off your shoulders as you don't have to struggle to hide it x please keep me posted. Donna x

I'm in anxiety overload gurgly stomach at the moment been put on amitriptyline to sort it I do go out as it do my nut staying in I can't relax anymore as my kids work now but I have someone call for me to walk to the local supermarket but my legs feel so weak and dumb and body is tense I feel I'm going to collaspe but waiting on results of chest xray and that's what doing my nut enjoy your kids while they are small soon they will be adults but don't keep yourself in xx