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Agoraphobia is about who has control. Control is one of those things that means different things to different people. Control for a type A person is get out of my way, me first. Control for the rest of us is being able to do something because you can and because you want to. It is more than just coping even though coping is a necessary start. Relaxation and coping skills set the stage for taking back control.
Thank you for your reply :-) I don't believe it's physical only because it seemed to come on full force during a very stressful period a few months back. Also, I have become severely agoraphobic, I don't leave my home and certain rooms seem to bring it on also. If I go to the basement, I usually have to run out because I become lightheaded.
Okay, I have had that. Let me see if I can explain what is happening. You know there are certain times and certain situations that trigger anxiety. What you may not know is the extent that the mind can subconsciously try to protect you by blocking thoughts of these moments. Unfortunately when it does that it also blocks normal reaction. In this case function. Which is why you get light headed and feel like you will faint, Because in fact you would if not for built in controls that stop you before you do. In fact the worst I got was to leaning on things or sitting down, and I used to get tunnel vision as I blocked out my surroundings. Not at all comfortable and of course it developed into a fear that people would think I was drunk. I lied and said it was low blood sugar. No one wants to admit they might have something mental going on.
CBT techniques for this would be first to accept that it is real. Second try to stop blocking thoughts that cause it. Yes you probably will panic which you will have to ride out. And third do the ten questions, even if some of the answers are yes. What this does is stop putting the reaction to the triggers back into memory, second it shows you that although panic is unpleasant it is only as bad as you let it be. It passes, it always passes and if you accept this they will get shorter. The ten questions will remove any confusion you might have about this being something harmful.
Some things to watch for are that you don't start holding your breath. A fight or flight reaction or that you don't hyperventilate. A panic reaction. Remember that any attempt to avoid or block what is happening will make it worse.
Now of course this is all irrelevant if you actually have a physical reason for the light headedness. But also, a physical reason could just be a trigger for the other reactions. If tranquilizers like Ativan stop it in it's tracks then it is definitely mental. Problem with Benzo's is that if you don't do CBT with them to clear it out then there is a very good chance it will come back if you stop them.
As for why this is happening now, well that can have any number of reasons. All can be cured and you can live a normal life. I do. And believe me I have a lot of reasons to not.
Davit, it is actually a little of both, I guess. Cloggy head feeling, with a quick bouts of actual dizziness. Not room spinning, but a sense of lightheadedness. I wake up every morning, the first thing in my head as I head to the kitchen is what if I pass out? Of course, I am groggy but I begin to become anxious which set off the pattern for the rest of my day.
Is it light headedness or a floating feeling like you are not quite there. Sort of looking in from the outside with a dizzy feeling when you move. Thought slows down too. This is pre fight or flight and is different from hyperventilating light headedness.
I had a similar situation back in December. It came on suddenly one day, and lasted for probably 3 months. It's still not 100% gone, but I'm getting back to normal as far as that goes. Saw an ENT and a neurologist, and all tests were fine. The onset of this dizziness brought back my anxiety and panic attacks. The prevailing theory is that my dizziness was a symptom of my anxiety, but I'm not so sure, as that wasn't really one of the symptoms I had when I first started having problems with anxiety 10 years ago.
Anyway....I'm back on meds, and the dizziness has gotten much better. Still having problems with anxiety....but other bodily symptoms are giving me trouble and causing anxiety....but that's a story for another day.
Hi,
I have been dealing with a constant lightheaded feeling for weeks now, it's not exactly dizziness, bit more of an off balance feeling. It has gotten so bad, I an afraid of it the minute I wake up, and I barely leave my room now. Has anyone else ever dealt with this?
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