Hi Libby/Julie,

Don’t be embarrassed. This is SO common it’s almost unbelievable. My dentist told me that a few (!) of his patients would come in with their therapists, friends or meditation tapes.

What I would do is have OTHER people make your doctor appointments for you like a parent or secretary would and hang out with you while the doctor is there. Meditation tapes, darkened room, calming incense, music, candles. Have DH give you a massage right before. Foot rubs are good too. Then when the doctor leaves you have a nice meal and a glass of wine.

Anyone who has been through a panic attack KNOWS how powerful and overwhelming it is. No shame. No embarrassment. None!

Blessings,

Inky

Hmmm. It seems what you are most afraid of is your fear, or rather your reaction to it. It’s sort of a compound fear. If your mind is anything like every other human mind, it is not nearly such a rational place as we all like to think it is. Phobias of all sorts are common. Sometimes their roots can be discovered and dug up (e.g. some social phobias) others are harder nuts to crack (e.g. fear of heights). I am a very rational person and like to think I can reason my way through most anything. Yet when it comes to emotions it just doesn’t work that way. Although thought can help, the cortex is just not in the drivers seat when it comes to emotions. Anyway, my point is perhaps start by accepting you have the phobia, you may have a panic attack, but that is ok, you will get through it and life will go on. What not to accept is any shame about it. It is just one of the things you have to deal with. Others have other things they have to deal with. I read book this a bit back and found the concepts helpful. https://www.thehappinesstrap.com/ I particularly liked the metaphor of walking off the battlefield and letting the war go on without me. Since then there has been quite bit more published regarding the ACT therapy idea. You can probably find what you need on the WWW without buying the book.
Good luck.

Dear Julie:

When you feel your face getting hot, repeat to yourself the thought: I felt this before and it didn’t kill me. I felt it before and survived it. I am feeling it now and I will live to tell about it (here, on your thread) later.

As you feel it, your face getting hot, stay with the feeling, pay attention. Don’t try to escape from the feeling. Notice how your face feels, then notice how different parts of your body feel; then place your attention back to your face and notice: did the feeling change, is it less hot?

anita

Dear Julie:

This is Friday. I wonder how it went..?

anita