Wedding, Christening and Dentist Oh My

Hey everyone. So i turned 28 this week. I remember my parents telling me that life really does fly by and I can see what they mean. At times I genuinely do still feel like a kid, especially when I am around my nephews. Luke even tells me I am not a proper grown up just because of the way I act with him. Now here I am 28 years old, still young of course, but feel like I should be around the 23-24 mark ha. I have lost the greater part of my 20s to agoraphobia. I think I can handle the birthday not feeling down about another year wasted this time. As i make progress with going out I can see me getting my life back. Most women dread approaching their 30s or 40s, but I see my 30s as a new beginning. I have 2 years to fight back and give myself that freedom so that excites me.


I got lovely gifts on the day. My favourites being the sweetie bracelet above. Some of you readers probably already have one of these but I am quite a sentimental person and I like the thought of collecting charms over the years for different occasions or from different people, so i was delighted when Gerry gave me the bracelet with the heart attached. I also received the most beautiful bouquet of Pink Lily's from Marie (many of you read her husband Robert's blog) and also some yummy Belgian chocolates. I was very touched. Speaking of Marie I should also mention that she has begun to write her own blog now. Like with my blog I told Marie it could be a good way of dealing with some of her feelings. I know i find it therapeutic and enjoy all the feedback I receive, so if you would like to take a look at it you can find it at http://angel-angelwithoutwings.blogspot.com/ . So far she has only written 2 posts. I don't know if it is because she is a friend of mine but I found myself feeling quite emotional when I read them, especially as Marie has been dealing with agoraphobia since such a young age.


I have been doing well with my walking and driving. Also I have maintained my trips to the shops. I probably go their every second day to try and get used to it again. I make myself stand in queue's etc, when sometimes I do just want to bolt. With the driving I have also been going my usual route which now feels comfortable but making stops to pop into a shop, or pick up some take out and things like that. I feel proud of myself for this. It was only a few weeks ago that I was with my support worker and told her I would like to build up to driving to the chemist and picking up my prescription and as you know I have already been there when I went a little crazy with the shopping. I have been back there a few times now. I still feel the nerves in these situation but I guess that is natural and only practice will make me completely comfortable. Getting the take out on Friday night was interesting as it was dark, Gerry had to park quite far away and since his son was with us, he stayed in the car with him. So i set off for the chip shop alone and once I got there I was told my order wasn't ready. So i waited and waited for probably 10 minutes. I did get nervous. I did have negative thoughts, but i held out and felt great for doing it.


Friday night was one of the first night that I have spent with Gerry's son. I have met him before but my nephews were here too so he was more interested in them. Thankfully the night went really well. It is very important to me that we get on. Obviously I am planning on marrying his dad so I want him to be OK with that decision. We got on great and it went so well that he wanted to stay the night so I would say that was a good result. He's a fantastic little boy, surely he doesn't get that from my Gerry ha.


Oh the jealous ex girlfriend.... she has gone. We haven't heard a peep from her. She threatened to email me and stuff but the email never came. Gerry told her he would go to the police if she didn't go away and that seemed to be enough to scare her off. Hopefully that will be the end of that little problem.


Regarding the engagement i think I may have gotten a little carried away. The engagement is fine but I suddenly went onto looking at venues, picking a date, talking to priests, buying my bridesmaid dresses and ALMOST bought my dress. Thankfully Gerry brought me back to earth and told me the wedding is going to be a year and a half away so i can take it easy. I was having a ball though haha. Also he was very sensible in saying that we should live together for a year first. Ok i know that is the true way of finding out if you should get married but did he really have to spoil my fun :).

My homeopathic meds ended but I contacted the women again and had another appointment just to assess how I have been feeling. I noticed I had been a touch anxious again but wasn't sure if this was down to the fact the meds have stopped or the fact that i was THINKING 'oh no I'm not on those anymore maybe i will get anxious again'. I know this is not the right way to think but how the mind works! Anyway, I explained how i been feeling and that although I have been doing great, I still want a little help. So now I am waiting for my new meds. This is either going to be a completely new remedy in the form or drops which i take daily, or it will be the same meds but at a higher dosage. I really don't mind which it is as since it is all natural medicine it isn't going to do me any harm.

Ok another map. The red is my original safety zone. The Yellow is what I can do now. This includes being able to visit friends for hours at a time, go to the shops, the pub etc. The black dot is out local chapel and this is where the christening i am attending will be taking place. I have now made the trip there 3 times! YEY ME! I am amazed by this. Only last week that seemed like it wouldn't happen, but i am progressing, however slowly that may be. I am getting closer and closer to leaving my town for the first time in several years. This still seems like it will never happen but hey I have been doing lots lately that i never imagined so I know it will come. The bright blue line is a road that is causing me some issues. This is a long straight road that will take me out of the town but it makes me nervous. Once on this road there are no places to turn. So if i panic i cant just ask the driver to take me back. I know this is negative thinking but i can honestly say if i went onto that road, the panic would come. I have over thought it too much i guess. Anyway, the bright green is the other way of leaving the town and isn't THAT far from the chapel which i can get to now. The reason I mention this is because Gerry had a moan today saying I'm not heading in the right direction (towards his house). I tried to explain that although it might not seem it, it is a further than i had been going and once i get used to it i can be round that corner and out of the town in a couple of more drives. He huffed! Ok i may not think RATIONALLY like him. It may be quicker and easier to just go down that blue road and be out of the town without all the twist and turns.... but going the green route means I have plenty of ways to turn if i freak out ha. Typical safety behaviour but surely it makes sense to do what makes you comfortable at this stage....Surely it shouldn't matter which way I am going as long as I get there in the end! Men! haha

Oh and finally the dentist. It is on Wednesday. I am sure I will be a nervous wreck and since i am registering with them that day I doubt I will get any work done BUT i will STILL need to go into the dentist room and sit on that big scary chair. Daunting at the moment but a challenge i am up for. I will let you all know how it goes. Hope you are all well xx

My List

Ok I have completed my list. I have written some things on a piece of card and plan on taking this in my bag whenever I go out. I feel that, since when we panic the mind goes blank, this could help to remind you of what is important. Also I feel it might even simply act as a distraction at the time. My points are -

• You CAN do this
• Don't let it win
• You are doing what you want to be doing
• This will pass
• You are bigger than this
• Think of your future
• You will be disappointed if you give into this
• Tap (eft)
• You will feel amazing when you get through this
• Think of the blog (i like to report news of SUCCESS to show it is possible)
• This is a stupid reaction. You can make this go away
• Breathe!
• You will be so much stronger if you push through this
• This is where you want to be

For many years I have been good at making panic disappear when I am at home. I can relax in my bedroom or i can find some activity to take my mind off it. When I panic now i flee for home to the comfort of my bedroom again but now I want to learn to make that panic go away when I am outside. My mind was quite blank in writing the list but I think I have mentioned the basics, I can add to it later if I need to.

Jealousy

Thing's have been going well for me lately, so I guess it was only a matter of time before something went wrong. My boyfriend split up with his last girlfriend just over a year ago. She had been in touch and tried to cause us some problem's in the past but as time has passed I thought we had heard the last from her. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. For some reason, L i will call her, decided to search for me online. When she came across my profile she seen the photos I have of myself and Gerry and also the fact that it says we are engaged. Since finding this L has been texting and calling Gerry constantly. He has received shed loads of abuse and threats. Her latest threat came when she sent him a text showing that she has found my email address. L has decided that she is going to ruin our engagement and is threatening to email me things about Gerry. Thankfully I am not naive. I welcome the email and I welcome the chance to tell her that no matter what she has to say, she won't succeed in breaking us up. In the meantime we will just ignore her but we have said if she continues to get in touch we will contact the police as it is harassment. It is just a shame that these things happen but I think she has just gotten a shock to see that Gerry is getting married.

I mention this because today I haven't felt so great. I think it is just because the L situation has irritated me and to be honest It did cause a fight between Gerry and I. Tonight Angela popped round and she asked if I would drive to the shops with her and run in and get her a few pieces while she waited in the car. I said yes but this is the first time that I have been on the verge of panic. I got about half way and really wanted to turn back. I was arguing with myself telling myself to just ignore it and keep on going. I knew if I turned back it would make my next drive more difficult. Thankfully I made it to the shops and soon felt calm again. I got what she needed and then we drove home the long way. I feel happy that I went through with it and didn't turn back but it has also given me an idea. When out and about and you feel anxious, it can be very difficult to think straight so I am going to write some sentences on paper and keep them in my bag. For example, remember this is going to pass. You are doing what you want to be doing, work through it and that's more progress. You will be disappointed if you give into this, it is only a feeling etc etc. I thought of this because there have been times when I have been out and panicked and when thinking it over and home I have asked myself 'why didn't I think of that then'. 'Why didn't i tell myself that and I would have felt better' but sometimes your head is just too busy with the panic.

Now that I have come home I feel the most relaxed I have all day. I went out and was the most uncomfortable i have felt in a long time, but i fought it and I won.

Ramble

Hey, I don't have anything major to talk about today but I just felt like saying hello. The weather is miserable and I don't plan on going out today so I have some free time. Having said that, I am considering even a small walk round the block, just to keep up with the routine of going out, even if only for a few minutes.


It was a productive week I guess. I went to Boots, went to the local shops and bank quite a few times alone. I also went to my friend Laura's again and spent a few hours there completely relaxed. Also while at Laura's the Ice Cream van came into her street and without thinking, I asked what everyone wanted and set off to buy our treats. It was only when I was at the bottom of her street that I realised this was quite an achievement as in the past I felt anxious going to the ice cream van in my own street. But here I was in a new place, walking further, In the dark and on my own.


In an email I received this week someone said to me 'Have you ever tried to think of yourself as not being agoraphobic and trying things as a 'normal' person'? To be honest I have been trying to change my thinking recently into that of a non agoraphobic. I have been doing more and more 'normal' things and instead of immediately saying 'NO' to anything I am asked, i am now trying to say 'yes' or at least to TRY instead of just dismissing the idea. I certainly feel a lot less agoraphobic but there is still a mountain to climb.


Reading another blog recently I saw the writer show comparisons to what his wife can do this year that she couldn't do last year and vice versa so i will try to do the same.


In 2009 I can :

• Stay on my own all day and night, this is not so new although I used to feel anxious at the thought of a night with no one in the house.
• Walk to the edge of my safety zone and work on pushing myself further. Although I could manage this in the past, i don't think i was able to do this much in 2008.
• Go to the local shops, bank, chemist, chip shop. The shops i could do about a year ago but like with the walking this stopped. After fighting these last few months, I am able to do this again.
• I can go drives with anyone in any car. I don't have to rely on a 'safe' person. I feel comfortable while out driving and this is completely new. I hadn't been on drives in around 4 years.
• Walk at night. In the past i would make all my effort during the day but at night would feel OK that is enough for today' and I would happily spend the evening at home. Now i go walking at night and actually really enjoy it.
• I can visit other people's houses and sit for hours feeling completely fine. Obviously I was able to do this in the past but compared to last year, this is new. Also this is very enjoyable and I find myself wanting to stay out for longer and longer.
• I can go to the local pub. This never happened at all last year.
• I make plans for the future. I will be attending a christening, a communion and hopefully more events over the coming months. I never made plans in the past but immediately dismissed the idea with 'No I can't do that'
• The winter hasn't bothered me this year. Usually the dark nights and the cold weather depress me so much that I actually seriously thought I had SAD, but keeping busy through the past few months and not going into hibernation has made this little anxiety pass.

I Can't

• Travel very far. This is what I am working on and this year will see me focusing completely on pushing the boundaries. I would say this is my only major problem now. Anything else would seem quite small in comparison. The original problem causing the agoraphobia still exists. I haven't been able to walk or drive very far from my safe place,my home, for quite some time. BUT.... this WILL change (positive mental attitude lol)

So i would say this is progress. Obviously this year started ended well with my engagement and started well with my night out in the pub, so my circumstances have also changed. My Boyfriend is now getting his house prepared for the day that I will move in. I know this is a few months off, but for the first time in years i believe I could have a future in my own home. Not living with my parents, but in my own home with a partner I love. Wow how 'normal' of me. I see this is achievable now whereas in the past it would have only been a dream. I do feel it is a long way off and that I need to be realistic... more importantly, my Boyfriend needs to be realistic. But I hope that, if i focus, i could be living a new life in the Summer and this is very exciting!

I finished my homeopathic remedy this week. The women who gave me it said if i ever felt like trying it again i could get in touch but that hopefully I wouldn't feel the need. I guess I don't feel the need but there is a little worrying thought in my head wondering if this is what helped with my progress in the past few months. I will see how I get on over the coming weeks and If i feel i need a little lift i will contact her. I had moaned so much about not being allowed coffee while on the meds but now that they are finished I am going to stay off the coffee. I still miss it massively but if cutting it out has helped me become less anxious, I may as well just leave it.

I have nothing else to report really. I spent a nice week both at home, and out and about. While at home i do the usual, watching TV, reading etc but i something new. My nephews brought over guitar hero. Well..... I got hooked. Not only would I play this when they were here, but found myself 'rocking out' when on my own ha ha. Call me sad but you need to have a go, it's loads of fun. Bad news though, I have broken it! I have no idea how I manged it but the disk won't play anymore. I considered putting it back and pretending not to have touched it.... but I am not that bad ha ha Looks like i need to go shopping for a replacement. Don't know what I am more upset about, the fact that I have broke my nephews game or the fact that i cant play it anymore ha ha. Oh well it was nice chatting. Hope you are all well x

Shoppaholic

For quite some time I have been aware that i have a major addiction to shopping. I have recognised that when I am feeling down, I go and buy myself some goodies from various clothes shops online. I'm sure I'm not the only agoraphobic who has spent money on pointless purchases for example, many many pairs of boots! Where was I planning on wearing them back then, i have no idea, as I didn't go out ha. I also know another agoraphobic girl who would buy clothes for going clubbing even though she would rarely leave the house. When my addiction first begun i would buy clothes and never wear them telling myself... That's my good clothes, Ill keep that for a special occasion hahaha... what occasion?? Where was I planning on going?? Oh well it made me smile.

I mention this as today I took on another little challenge, a trip to the local chemist boots. The chemist has always been there but recently 'Boots' have bought it over so i decided I should go there and check out their make up and other goodies. I did actually need a new foundation so figured that this would be a nice little trip and since I was driving their with my friend Angela it seemed like a 'normal' girls day out. Well not a day out but a half hour lol.

Angela is the slowest person I know and is late for everything!! I relieved a text at 11 saying she was out of bed and would be over after her breakfast. At 4.30 Angela arrived! This meant I had spent the day sitting waiting instead being out walking and it also meant that I had too much time to sit around with my mind working overtime. However we drove to the chemist which isn't far and my nerves were all over the place. I felt very wobbly and not as calm as I have been lately but I put this down to hormones and the fact i had been 'thinking' about it too much.

Well thank goodness I had money in my purse because I went to town! Make up...I'll have that. Face Cream... I'll have that, Hair Clips... I'll have those. As the nerves passed the excitement took over. Well to be fair I usually only get my hair products etc at the local shop and they don't exactly have variety so it was fun to choose something a little more luxurious. That's my excuse. The bill made my eyes pop but didn't stop me from buying the pictured bag at the counter on my way out. I needed something to put my goodies in OBVIOUSLY!

We drove a longer route home with me feeling quite pleased. I know I am still doing quite well but there are plenty of things I still struggle with and my lovely fiance has made his feelings known that things aren't progressing quickly enough for him, give me a break!

Oh and today I received an email asking permission for an excerpt from my blog to be published. It will appear in a psychology text book for A Level Students. The post being printed is one of my diary entries from just before Christmas and the question put to the students is - How does Lynn's account tie in with what you know about agoraphobia? So i found this quite exciting and after granting permission I was told I would receive my complimentary book in May.

My dentist appointment is on the 21st January. Yikes!!!

Making Plans

I have got the New Year off to a good start by attending the party. The next night i hopped into the car and drove with Gerry to my brothers for dinner. I was a little anxious as we had thick fog, but as the drive takes only 5 minutes i was soon indoors again. We had a lovely dinner and it was great to spend time with my brother, his girlfriend and my nephews in a different environment. Again, it has messed with my head a little that it was so easy and that I was so comfortable. I try not to think about this too much though as i imagine that's where the negative thoughts could kick in. So i am trying to just enjoy these new experiences. We were there for a couple of hours and i honestly could have stayed longer but we headed home for a night with a DVD. Also in the past week i have been to the shops twice on my own. This is something i could do about a year ago but i want it to become very regular again. I had to wait in large queues both times and although I wasn't exactly comfortable, i coped OK.

I don't know what I will be doing from day to day or what challenges i want to face next but all i know is that i am up for at least attempting things which, as you know, is not like me. The one thing I REALLY want to do is make an appointment at the dentist. I never thought for a second I would be doing this. My teeth are a mess! I know i must need at least 6 removed and a lot of cosmetic work done too. To be honest the cosmetic work is my priority at the moment. I have a hole behind my front tooth which has left the tooth looking discoloured. I have been living with it for years but it looks like the tooth is about to give up the fight and crumble. I can't believe that i may once again be able to smile with confidence! I know i can drive to the dentist as it is within my comfort zone, but i think i will struggle with the process once i get out of the car. The waiting room, the dentist chair, the dentist.... this is all new and may be a bit too much. And on top of that I will have to sit there for about half an hour and let them do the work!!! It seems very hard to imagine that i would be able to do this but also i know that if i do, I will feel totally fantastic. I know that if i wanted to i could get medication for this. I have been offered Valium/Xanax in the past when attending the dentist but i don't really want to go down that road. However i am actually just impressed with the fact that I am even considering this! How things change. I called the dentist to make the appointment today but it was closed so i will be calling them on Monday. I will let you know how it goes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

I made it to my first New Year night out in 3 years!! The last 2 have been spent at home so this was a nice change. I was very nervous about the whole thing but determind to at least try it. We got there at 11.00 and to be honest i didnt feel that great at first but thankfully it passed. I had a good night with basically no anxiety and got home in once piece. Happy New Year Everyone. Lets all have a good one x