First, I want to say that I have watched lots of your videos and appreciate what you are doing here. I have been "diagnosed" with GAD/PD since 2001, but probably had it before then. Lots of your experiences are the same as mine. So much so that I am compelled to make some videos myself - it always helps my anxiety to help others with it. I wanted to add a comment to this video that I have huge problems with driving in thick fog and I think that it is related to your points here. Interesting.
I sure can relate to your situation. I have had this phobia most of my life. The same way you describe it too - lack of trees and lack of hills or mountains make it worse. For me, the more off-ramps or intersections or towns the better off I am. It also gets better or worse depending on what's going on in my life. It definitely got worse after my divorce. Also, like you, I am embarassed by it and it stops me from dating and finding a new relationship.
If you've ever driven through the western part of Kansas/eastern part of Colorado you would see some very flat terrain with few visual cues. The worst I ever experienced out there was after a snow storm. All you could see in front or behind you was tracks on the highway and everything else was white! This even disturbed my wife who doesn't suffer anxiety. Just remembering this triggers feelings of anxiety in me. Goes to show what an 'inside job' this really is.
That is pretty intense! Where I live is a baby's playground compared to the areas you're talking about when it comes to truly wide open sparseness. Fortunately, I can now do the drive that I did in this video with almost no discomfort. I'm ready for a new challenge! And it sure is an inside job. Our imagination is powerful.
There are studies out now that point to a lack of visual cues inherent in wide open spaces that can lead people with weak vestibular systems to develop phobias in wide open spaces, leading to this branch of agoraphobia. I have always had problems with balance. I've had on again off again dizzy spells for the last 23 years that doctors could never figure out. The dizzy problem is a separate problem to some degree, but the anxiety and dizziness feed each other.
They are not as separate as you might think. The reason that comment caught my eye is because I longer see anxiety as "anxiety", but rather vestibular dysfunction. In my experience, it wasn't that doctors couldn't figure it out, it's that they diagnosed me with everything under the sun pertaining to the inner-ear. In the end it turned out that my jaw joint was the problem. I clench my teeth in my sleep which ends up affecting my inner-ear. Have you seen to an ENT doctor at all?
I haven't, but, my dentist awhile back tried to sell me a mouth guard to wear at night. He noticed wear patterns on my teeth that suggested bruxism - teeth clenching. I didn't realize how often I did it, but once he mentioned it, I notice that I do a lot. I will look into this. Thank you for pointing me in that direction. If I can get rid of the dizziness, I've won a good part of the battle.
I'm 17, and when i was about 12ish my parents got a devorce, during this time i had massive panic attacks in any situation outside of my house for several months, simply going to my junior high was a battle, and then it just left. Would you happen to know why or what can bring it on.
Separation anxiety perhaps? Have you been diagnosed? Sometimes extremely stressful situations can 'break' us to where we develop these problems. Or, it could be a chemical imbalance that developed or was already there and then the divorce simply pushed you over the edge. But it's hard to say the cause. You would have to see a professional therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc. Many things can cause or trigger our anxieties and panic.
I don't like wide open spaces either...one year when I was spending time at a hotel, it took a while for me to be able to walk through a parking lot to get to the store for some food...it was a big one. Does being inside the car help at all? I'd feel more secure that way.
Unfortunately, the car does not help. If I was inside a van with no windows in a flat landscape, I'd be much better off. It could be the lack of visual cues in sparse landscapes that's part of the problem.
That's not anxiety or agoraphobia....
bigdttu 6 months ago
@bigdttu Huh? Of course it is.
bwelmhouse1 6 months ago
@bigdttu I was diagnosed with it.
bwelmhouse1 6 months ago
First, I want to say that I have watched lots of your videos and appreciate what you are doing here. I have been "diagnosed" with GAD/PD since 2001, but probably had it before then. Lots of your experiences are the same as mine. So much so that I am compelled to make some videos myself - it always helps my anxiety to help others with it. I wanted to add a comment to this video that I have huge problems with driving in thick fog and I think that it is related to your points here. Interesting.
shelzmike 8 months ago
I sure can relate to your situation. I have had this phobia most of my life. The same way you describe it too - lack of trees and lack of hills or mountains make it worse. For me, the more off-ramps or intersections or towns the better off I am. It also gets better or worse depending on what's going on in my life. It definitely got worse after my divorce. Also, like you, I am embarassed by it and it stops me from dating and finding a new relationship.
kenotube 1 year ago
Iv'e had this before.
200twistatwista 2 years ago
If you've ever driven through the western part of Kansas/eastern part of Colorado you would see some very flat terrain with few visual cues. The worst I ever experienced out there was after a snow storm. All you could see in front or behind you was tracks on the highway and everything else was white! This even disturbed my wife who doesn't suffer anxiety. Just remembering this triggers feelings of anxiety in me. Goes to show what an 'inside job' this really is.
SubieTurbo 2 years ago
That is pretty intense! Where I live is a baby's playground compared to the areas you're talking about when it comes to truly wide open sparseness. Fortunately, I can now do the drive that I did in this video with almost no discomfort. I'm ready for a new challenge! And it sure is an inside job. Our imagination is powerful.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
"It could be the lack of visual cues in sparse landscapes that's part of the problem."
This comment intrigued me. What would lead you to think that? A gut feeling, or something else?...
TheMoney28 2 years ago
There are studies out now that point to a lack of visual cues inherent in wide open spaces that can lead people with weak vestibular systems to develop phobias in wide open spaces, leading to this branch of agoraphobia. I have always had problems with balance. I've had on again off again dizzy spells for the last 23 years that doctors could never figure out. The dizzy problem is a separate problem to some degree, but the anxiety and dizziness feed each other.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
They are not as separate as you might think. The reason that comment caught my eye is because I longer see anxiety as "anxiety", but rather vestibular dysfunction. In my experience, it wasn't that doctors couldn't figure it out, it's that they diagnosed me with everything under the sun pertaining to the inner-ear. In the end it turned out that my jaw joint was the problem. I clench my teeth in my sleep which ends up affecting my inner-ear. Have you seen to an ENT doctor at all?
TheMoney28 2 years ago
I haven't, but, my dentist awhile back tried to sell me a mouth guard to wear at night. He noticed wear patterns on my teeth that suggested bruxism - teeth clenching. I didn't realize how often I did it, but once he mentioned it, I notice that I do a lot. I will look into this. Thank you for pointing me in that direction. If I can get rid of the dizziness, I've won a good part of the battle.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
Well done on confronting your fears. Great video.
and0rod 2 years ago
Thank you. :)
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
I dont think you would like south Louisiana at all :) when the sugar cane is cut down there is miles of open spaces
doof1025 2 years ago
I didn't know they grew sugar cane there.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
I'm 17, and when i was about 12ish my parents got a devorce, during this time i had massive panic attacks in any situation outside of my house for several months, simply going to my junior high was a battle, and then it just left. Would you happen to know why or what can bring it on.
cuddles103 2 years ago
Separation anxiety perhaps? Have you been diagnosed? Sometimes extremely stressful situations can 'break' us to where we develop these problems. Or, it could be a chemical imbalance that developed or was already there and then the divorce simply pushed you over the edge. But it's hard to say the cause. You would have to see a professional therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc. Many things can cause or trigger our anxieties and panic.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago
I don't like wide open spaces either...one year when I was spending time at a hotel, it took a while for me to be able to walk through a parking lot to get to the store for some food...it was a big one. Does being inside the car help at all? I'd feel more secure that way.
joyfulseraph 2 years ago
Unfortunately, the car does not help. If I was inside a van with no windows in a flat landscape, I'd be much better off. It could be the lack of visual cues in sparse landscapes that's part of the problem.
bwelmhouse1 2 years ago