Claustrophobia

[AnxiousDad2]

Hi everyone,

This is mt first post. I googled claustrophobia and my government health site recommended this is the getting help section.  

I have been WFH since late 2021 however recently been told to go into the office, I have previously worked in the city and I have always been triggered by getting in lifts but find it fairly manageable. Somehow I have developed a fear of really packed trains and feeling trapped in them. It's quite an intense panic as at least a lift is over with fairly quickly. 

I am in Melbourne so also avoid the tunnel which means I am getting on an already packed train

Anyone have any experience dealing with this type of fear? 

[Ru-bee]

Hi @AnxiousDad2 

Welcome to the forums and good on you for making your first post, I know it's not an easy thing to do.

I do note that you've mentioned claustrophobia which can be common to experience in these situations as you've mentioned.

I'm also wondering if you've heard of agoraphobia? It's a type of anxiety disorder which many people associate it with a fear of leaving the house because that's what is shown a lot in movies and TV, but it can present in a few ways, one being a fear of crowded spaces, particularly ones where exiting may be difficult. It might be worth looking into to see if you identify with this.

Have you ever spoken to a GP about this? These anxieties are treatable through therapy, so I'd encourage you to talk to your GP about this and seeking a referral for a psychologist, if that is something you're open to.

I'm sure there are others on here who will have experienced similar anxieties, I myself do experience some anxiety around elevators and don't love using them when I go into the office though it is manageable. I can hear how much your anxieties are affecting you on a day-to-day basis, so it's great that you're reaching out and addressing these.

[AnxiousDad2]

Thanks @Ru-bee . Could be worth looking into. I am a real home body, also have travel anxiety and have always been not good away from home. I wouldn't say I avoid leaving the house, happy to be out and can be pretty social. My home is definitely my safe place though 

[Ru-bee]

I found this article to be really helpful in looking at the similarities between both agoraphobia and claustrophobia, as well as how they differ @AnxiousDad2. It also lists common treatments of both so it might be helpful to take a look 

[MJG017]

Hi @AnxiousDad2.  I've never really suffered from claustrophobia or had panic attacks.  But earlier this year I had to have an MRI where the stick you head first into that big long tube so only your feet are sticking out.

I woke up in the middle of the night about a week before it and started thinking about it coming up and I started to panic.  I had to turn the light on and even go outside to walk around.  I spent the rest of the morning on my phone to keep my mind occupied until the sun came up.

Then when I had the MRI, I couldn't help myself and looked as my head went in.  I felt the panic return and had to hit the panic button.  I took a few deep breaths and said to try again and this time I kept my eyes closed.  The fact that it was lit up inside, which I could notice through my closed eyelids helped a lot.

I had surgery shortly after and they gave me a numbing injection in the base of my spine.  My arms where out either side of me at 90 degrees where they were hooking other stuff up.  As the spine injection was taking hold, I went to use my feet to adjust myself on the bed and couldn't a I felt that panic returning.  Luckily that' when the general anesthetic kicked in and I went under.

So the things that worked for me were to keep my eyes closed and/or keep my mind busy by doing crosswords on my phone.  It may be a bit hard to keep your eyes closed on a train, but if it works, then why not.

Best of luck to you.

[Ainjoule]

Hey @AnxiousDad2 

I had a period nearly 15 years ago where I had trouble leaving the house and going to the shops because of the anxiety. I know some people have far more significant periods of this than me but it was difficult to get enough groceries at the time. I remember getting into the shops and having a panic attack not many steps in. But what I did to overcome it was a couple of things. First I took medication. And then I made a start by going to the local shop with a list of 4 things that I was to buy. I would get into the shops and take the quickest path through the shops to get my 4 items and then leave back to the safety of my home. Eventually I was able to go to the shops and buy more things. And now I have no trouble going to the shops. But as @Ru-bee says might be worth going to talk to your GP about a mental health plan (and possibly some medication to help). I was lucky to have the support of a psychiatrist at the time, but a psychologist would have helped too.