Avatar Posted by HowToLie101 127 days ago (Question)
I think something might be wrong with me. I'm a teen, and I have a fear of people too close to me. Like, sometimes when someone leans into close to me, i get really scared. I think I have this intense claustrophobia, because if Im in some place that is closed, sometimes dark, i start crying and screaming. once, my family members locked me in the trunk of a car as a joke, and i started screaming and crying and hyperventalating. And, when someone is chasing me, even if they are kidding, i get scared for my life. Also, I always feel like someone is in the room when Im sleeping, and I sometimes stay awake for hours at a time eith the covers over my head. And last, the biggest problem, i get scared WAY too easily. If someone touches me and i am unaware, I scream and jump. Part of me thinks I have Post-tramatic stress disorder, but the other part of me thinks thats ridiculous, because nothing life-threatning has ever happened to me...do you think I mmight have something wrong with me?


Answers

Written by Edahn 127 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

I don't like to think of things as people having "something wrong with them." I like to think of it more practically: is there something that's bothering you? Can you make an adjustment?

It sounds like you get very fearful in certain situations that you know shouldn't be that fearful. It's like your have an internal alarm that's getting triggered prematurely. Rather that going off when someone is actually harming you, it's going off when someone is just close by.

What you might try doing is VISUALIZING yourself reacting more calmly in those situations. You don't have to picture yourself having NO reaction, just picture yourself staying cool even though you SEE that fearful response come up. You can FEEL fearful but still respond coolly to it. Try and picture it in as much detail as you can and spend about 5 minutes every morning, first thing when you wake up.

You can also practice some awareness in these moments. When you know that you don't have to be afraid and everything is safe, then don't worry so much about your fearful response. Let it be there, but don't respond to it. Your body might get panicky and heart rate might increase, and you may even get nervous, but you can watch it all and remember that nothing is wrong. Over time, you'll find more control over your reactions and your fearful reactions will dissipate.

If you need more guidance you can always consult a therapist in your area.

:)

Written by Clyde 117 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Everyone gets startled when someone comes behind them and they dont know they are there and make them jump.

PTSD does involve traumatic issues from the past, so you probably dont have PTSD.

You may have claustrophobia.

What makes you feel someone else is in the room with you?

Best,

Clyde


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