Hi, A few months ago I tried to post the same story, but it was not approved by the moderators, for reasons incomprehensible to me. I make a second attempt to publish it and possibly get useful advice, because since then my situation has worsened many times! In short. A middle-aged man. About 15 years ago, I had episodes of the same problem that faded over time without making any purposeful effort. When did the problem resume? About a year and a half or two ago. I think it was started by strong turbulence on a plane. Let me write a little about the problem itself. I started to be afraid to get in any vehicle, especially when there is a lot of acceleration, which is paradoxical, because that's exactly what I liked before. For example, I had a lot of fun, when the aircraft is gaining speed before take-off. I shivered with pleasure, and now I'm dying of fear? !! Fear is expressed in a strong heartbeat, restlessness and fear of ... getting wet, which will expose me while I am among people. It's not really wetting, but I'll write this because I suspect that my real fear was the reason my topic wasn't published a few months ago. I can't judge for myself what I'm more afraid of - the journey itself and the acceleration, or the fact that I'm going to get wet and exposed, which has never really happened. Episodes do not always occur. I can travel quite calmly and suddenly panic.
At first I was afraid to get on high buses (for example on 2 floors), because there the seating position is much higher than the other vehicles and the very swing left and right scared me. Now I am afraid of absolutely any vehicle, at least of a train, because I have a toilet and this reassures me that I could go, if necessary, without exposing myself. But there is still anxiety even there. The only thing I managed to find on the Internet for such a problem is a condition called technophobia - fear of acceleration, but I'm not sure that this is exactly my problem and how I can handle it on my own without a psychologist/psychoanalyst.
I would be happy to receive serious and useful opinions. My mind is well aware that it is not normal to be afraid of such a thing. The problem is that my subconscious is obviously of a different opinion. I need help because I obviously can't cope on my own at the moment, on the contrary - my condition is getting worse. You understand that this is a big problem because in today's world we travel constantly. I have already turned down several offers to travel with friends, stopped buying plane tickets, and loved to fly at every opportunity. This is becoming a big scourge and I still have to deal with it somehow! I haven't told anyone close to me, because that would bother me, even more, when I have such episodes. My partner feels that sometimes I get restless, but for now, I manage to divert her attention, I'm supposed to be fine or rather I show that I don't want her to ask me what's going on.
Thanks! I stopped buying plane tickets and loved to fly at every opportunity. This is becoming a big scourge and I still have to deal with it somehow! I haven't told anyone close to me, because that would bother me, even more, when I have such episodes. My partner feels that sometimes I become restless, but for now, I manage to divert her attention, I'm supposed to be fine or rather I show that I don't want her to ask me what's going on. Thanks! I stopped buying plane tickets and loved to fly at every opportunity. This is becoming a big scourge and I still have to deal with it somehow! I haven't told anyone close to me, because that would bother me, even more, when I have such episodes. My partner feels that sometimes I become restless, but for now, I manage to divert her attention, I'm supposed to be fine or rather I show that I don't want her to ask me what's going on. Thanks!
Answers 5
Well, yes - you need a psychologist or psychotherapist. If you still decide, you can inquire about the so-called cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy or self-hypnosis for phobias for self-therapy. Self-hypnosis can be quite effective, I have used it for my phobias. And for me, after a turbulence in a plane landing, when we circled for an hour and a half over the runway in an attempt to land, a similar phobia was triggered. I haven't recovered completely yet, and every time I cross the threshold of a plane or an intercity bus, my heart rate speeds up a little, but I'm dozens of times better. Another option is to drink a sedative, such as magnesium and l-theanine, before contact with such vehicles.
So am I. It was as if he described me. I found no cure or pills or psychologists. I have a family too. I don't go on vacation with them. It rains alone. So 12 years. If you saw me, you would never guess. I look good, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I play sports. I have a beautiful wife, but this hell with the trip, I was a fan of airplanes ... I hope you find a cure.
I understand you. Apart from vehicles, does this condition appear in other places where it does not exist, or is the toilet difficult to access - institutions, for example? Actually it does not matter. There is a lot of talk now about panic disorder - I dragged mine for 20 years out of shame and ignorance. Don't bother! A psychiatrist and an antidepressant brought my life back, no matter what the opponents of AD say, to be glad that they did not fall into such hell. Positive thinking, sports, hobbies, etc. help - but not enough, unfortunately. Share with your wife and act as soon as possible. It doesn't go away on its own, don't hope. Success!
From the author: Hello, I'm glad that the first 3 comments turned out to be useful. Honestly, I am surprised that there are other people in a similar situation. On the one hand, it is encouraging that it is a known and studied condition. On the other hand, the fact that some of you have been suffering for so long is worrying. Weighing the pros and cons, I still felt an idea better that I was not alone. During my last plane trips I drank a few valerians, but I was still very worried and even with the slightest turbulence I became very ill. Still, I felt a little dizzy, so it obviously worked, but it's not a solution. In recent days, I have noticed that I have the feeling, albeit in a very light form, even when I look at photos or videos observed from high or fast motion. I came up with something that could be useful, even if it is minimal, namely to play on TV videos from YouTube with similar situations - rally races, skydiving, etc., watched by a first person close to the screen. For me personally, this is an interesting experiment, you can try it too. My condition has manifested itself several times and in ordinary everyday situations, yes. Among many people, in a restaurant, in a supermarket, in the office of a company and that's what I remember at the moment, but maybe there were 1-2 more cases. It's unpleasant, but not so bad. Another thing I remember is that these episodes coincide with periods when I didn't have much social contact. The first episode, from 15 years ago, was when I was a student, I didn't work, I didn't go out so much during the sessions. Maybe it was then, I'm not sure. Now I work as a freelancer from home and I don't go out again. Before that I traveled every day by subway for about 10 years, and now I do not dare to get on. The other day I had a very strong attack between 2 of the longer stations because I can't get off when needed. What is the manifestation for you? What is your fear?
It says number 2. For me, the phobia transforms over the years. More than 2 years ago I gave up cigarettes and started active sports in gyms. I don't have much data, but I drink vitamins, eat tasty and more or less healthy. I do not take supplements. In 2 years it seems that the fear of vehicles has disappeared - only the planes I have not tested them yet. But I gained a new horror. When I go to a new place and I can't sleep. I only fall asleep with pills and it's a pain. Kel benefits that I can travel. I just came back from a two-day break. Very "rested" after 2 days of waking up. Arrhythmias are almost my daily routine, but in 12 years they have not worsened and I have not died. If it was a heart problem to have cracked in the barbell halls. I have a folded bile, and hence a stomach problem, and also reflux sometimes. This is probably where the extrasystolic problems come from. I observe something interesting - the panic attacks in question always appear at an event that leads to inevitability or "need" - you wait in line at the traffic police for registration, or in front of the cadastre in Sofia or for a plane, or an important meeting, or movie or hotel tickets registration - no movement - I will be left without registration, or without a sketch or will burn the expensive ticket / registration. One psychologist said that this was happening because I wanted to subconsciously control the situation and that this conflict could not happen and blah blah. I can't sleep in foreign places because I feel like I'm going to fall out of bed or I'm not comfortable. At home I have a super comfortable and big bed just for me - the woman sleeps with the child in the other room. And I'm spoiled. Now I'm going to buy an awkward couch and I'm getting used to it. When I traveled, I had the sensual, that if I get sick no one will help me, because there are no ambulances 10,000 meters in the sky. It helped me a lot that I said to myself: Are I bursting with panic - aren't I? At most I should stop trying. I'm not afraid of death anymore. Now, when I receive attacks, I get very angry and I repeat to myself: Mri was, let me see you, mri disgusting and it passes me by. Another time I shared with the woman that if I got into a conflict situation with another person and brought me to a panic attack, it is not known if it will come to life, the anger and adrenaline are very high. Definitely my fear attacks turned into insomnia in foreign places. It is very painful. And sometimes I take very strong sleeping pills and it still doesn't catch me. It is interesting that the alcohol (even a beer) relaxes me, but after 2 hours insomnia begins even at home. Only strenuous exercise gives better sleep, but if you overdo it, again insomnia muscle fevers. Abe has been suffering for 12 years, but I am determined to heal. I also took anti-depressants, but they were apathetic, erectile dysfunction, and I'm creative and quite temperamental, and that drove me crazy and I took the antidepressants. Xanax 0.5 mg helps me slightly during a crisis, but above a certain level of the crisis nothing helps. And I tried to get drunk - it just got worse. The fight continues ...