Hello, just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Michelle, I'm 33 year old female from Michigan.
Had my first panic attack on my way home from work about 5 years ago. Since then, I've had to quit my job b/c I couldn't drive to work anymore b/c of the panic attacks. Now I can't drive anywhere by myself, won't drive on highway even if accompanied, but can handle short drives if an adult is with me, and I can't go into supermarket/mall, etc... alone. Luckily the job I quit, hired me about 6 months after I quit, to work from home, which is great, but I never leave the house, unless I go to one of my 2 in-laws' houses which are next door and 1/2 mile away.
I thought my fear was just driving, but I realize it's being away from home. For a while I had a lot of anxiety just going to church, even with my family there. I'm fine now in that situation, probably because I continued to go every week regardless of the panic and have overcome it. I don't think I could go there by myself, though. My husband or mom drive me where I need to go - dr appt, hair appts, grocery shopping. I have a real hard time if they want to drop me off at the grocery store, but am ok to be dropped off at dr or hair salon. I guess it's because of the small size of those locations, or feeling safe because I know my hairstylist and doctor?? And the grocery store is bigger and I might not find someone I know in there??
My goal is to get back to leaving the house on my own and driving on my own COMFORTABLY so I can take my kids to the park and library, go shopping on my own, and take my kids to school and on field trips next year when my oldest will start pre-school. It's hard to tell your kids we can't go to grandma's house (15 min away) when they beg you take them there.
Sorry this intro got a little long. Any advice from anyone will be appreciated. Look forward to talking to people in the same boat as me and helping each other through this.
