I'm at a point where I'm pretty comfortable doing what I need to function in society.
I can go out for meals with friends and family (99% of the time I like to be the one driving for easy escape). I can appear at legal conferences and depositions. I sleep well at night. I drive easily back and forth from San Jose to visit my girlfriend. I can go shopping at the mall (preferably by myself with a car). I can go see movies (preferably not on opening night). I can go on trips to Reno and play poker in the casinos (though I'm usually exhausted after the weekend). Elevators have rarely bothered me like it does most agoraphobics.
But there are things I'm still avoiding. Like: public transportation, large social outtings where I'm not driving, trips out of town where I've never been, airplanes, swimming in the deep end... that's all I can think of for now.
I'm going to make a promise to myself that I'm going to do one new thing every month. I am not content with staying at the same level. I have to keep moving forward with my goals.
1 comment:
This is going to sound like a cheesy cop-out answer but praying about it can help - I feel like I always turn to that when I am experiencing my highest level of anxiety.
I had serious problems flying back to MI in August last year. I forced myself to do it though because I hadn't visited my friends and family back there in 5 years. It was terrible at first - I was doing okay when I got on (I was flying alone) but as soon as the doors of the plane shut and they started to explain the typical airplane procedures, I massively panicked and was seriously considering telling a stewardess that I had to get off the plane.
In the end though I just gripped onto the armrests and I prayed a lot during and after takeoff. Once we were in the air I was totally fine (and also landing too) and I even got to see the sunrise while we were above the clouds. It reminded me that no matter what happens, God is always in control of the situation and it's okay to have fears but He doesn't want them to have control over us. He wants to help us conquer them and we can only do that when we rely on His strength. So take small steps here and there but keep pressing forward in conquering your fears.
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