You Be The Therapist

Often the freshest perspectives and the keenest insights come from the most unexpected sources. From time to time I will post a new challenging problem based on a composite of case material from my own practice and invite you to offer your opinion as a guest therapist. The collective wisdom of all the responses will then be posted on The Answers Page.

My life is filled with fear. Anxiety and panic are the defining features of my life. Shopping malls and shops are a source of pleasure for others, for me they signify terror. I am an emotional time bomb, and the ticking is getting louder and LOUDER."

I wasn't always like this, although it is difficult to imagine what live used to be like, before. Before the worry and the fear. Now whenever I go out of my home I worry "what if". What if I have another panic attack? What if this time its really a heart attack, what if I really am losing my mind? What if, what if, what if! I can't do anything without worrying What if. When I leave home I constantly check the location of the nearest hospital or police station, "just in case".

Why is this happening to me? I'm a nice person. I don't yell at people, I don't even get angry. I sometimes feel that I give more than I get, but life isn't supposed to be perfect. For the last two years I have been experiencing panic attacks and suffering from a condition known as agoraphobia. I have been to a variety of Doctors who either look at me like I'm a lunatic or try and get me to take nerve pills. My family has been understanding, but they don't understand. I don't even understand. Why is this happening to me?

Fearful

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