Agoraphobia and paranoia

[Anonymous]

After Straight I had a form of agoraphobia for a long time.  I was afraid to go places because I was afraid I would get in a car accident.  If some place was too far I got anxious  -- to the point of once having a car full of people turn around and take me home when we were already on the way to somewhere like thirty miles away.

Had other fears too.  Before Straight I pretty much had one thing I was afraid of, and that didn't affect my life in terms of choices -- I only got afraid when I heard a certain sound outside.  After Straight I was anxious a whole lot about getting hurt or being falsely accused and put in jail for something I didn't do.  Sometimes these fears were elaborate in my mind and involved plots by other people.  I now see this as mental illness.  I never saw a "professional" about this.  These fears absolutely affected where I lived and what I chose to do.

On the one hand I will think I am over Straight, and on the other hand I know I am still adversely affected.  I find this annoying. :smile:'

[Anonymous]

I meant for that smiley face with the ' mark by his head to be a smiley face sticking his tongue out.  Try again:  :smile:/

[Anonymous]

dangit how do you make that?

[hedwigfan]

What you're describing is consistent with behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Do you experience intrusive, distressing thoughts or need to check things over and over again before you leave the house?
   If you didn't have these fears and anxieties before, you can probably attribute them to Straight. I remember oldcomers checking and rechecking the alarm clock, doors, etc. I remember doing it as an oldcomer. I remember waking up on days and being terrified to go into group, like maybe somebody thought I was doing something wrong or that I looked guilty and might get confronted. We were all in a constant physiologic and psychologic high alert state in there and many of us are still recovering from it.
  Are you getting some help dealing with these anxieties now? And, how severely do they limit your daily activities?

[ladyjerrico]

I have a very close friend with OCD which isn't related to Straight, he had it since he was little, he is still in recovery but his progress is wonderful. His doctor put him through something called "light therapy" which is fairly new and it uses laser technology to stimulate and remove certain parts of the brain activity which accompanys OCD.
He still has it though, although it doesn't take him a lot of time to wash his hands anymore or check his car locks to see if they were locked or not, he's also on Zoloft I believe and making excellent progress

[Anonymous]

Oh I forgot about that part -- yes I did have to check things over and over, and wash hands and all that.  That light therapy thing sounds cool.

[kaydeejaded]

Hey I am on zoloft! I have OCD too. I have panic attacks in diners for goddness sake. diners!? why I don't know but I actually passed out in one here in my small town and cannot go back. They probably thought I was drunk. Actually I am on xanax to for the anxiety attacks. Straight is so great you get sooooo much for your money :wink:

[ladyjerrico]

Wow, once my friend who I mentioned had an attack here at my home and just started crying because strange thoughts came in his mind while he was washing his hands (I don't want to mention what he was thinking because those who have it might trigger these thoughts), anyway, I calmed him down and told him "It's o.k." he had problems turning off the water in the bathroom, I did it for him. He began to cry and appologize, I told him there is nothing to appologize for and I understand your condition.
I have been around a lot of people with different kinds of difficulty, heck after being hospitalized 5 times for suicide attempts and being with kids my age in my alternative high school with all types of mental conditions, I understand pretty much anything.

[Therion]

Yah I have that too..Other than to go to Drive thru's and to get smokes etc..I havent really left my house in 16 months. (just look at my post count)
 Sometimes I feel like my stomach is dropping and I start picturing wierd people breaking into my house and murdering me..or just all kinds of off the wall stuff...sometimes its just a nervous "something bad is going to happen" feeling.
 It really sucks...I was so young when I went to Straight I dont even know if I felt this way before..I always recheck my alarm clock 5 times or so..to make sure its on...then again to make sure its set to AM...then one more time to make sure its on..Wash my face 20 times a day..
dont keep my toothbrush in the bathroom because I read that germs fly out about 12 feet around flushing toilets...and often get gut instincts that girlfriends are cheating on me (even though they usually are =P ) Picturing cancerous tumors throughout my body...well you get the idea...

But the MHMR wont give me meds because I have been in drug treatment...they cant say I didnt warn them  :silly:

[kaydeejaded]

Same here with the age thing. Being 14 when I went in. I have no idea if it is Straight related or just me.

Who knows, sucks though.

"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."
"Isn't your pants' zipper supposed to be in the front?"
--Hobbs to Calvin

[Therion]

Hmm ...My Sister is "normal" we were raised the same...same Mom and Dad...3 years apart, same schools..same neighborhood..
 I went to Straight...She didnt
 Now shes a doctor...and Im ,well, struggling at best...
 In my mind thats enough for a conviction