I am very claustrophobic--subject to panic attacks. As I age, I worry about bei!
Question:
I am very claustrophobic--subject to panic attacks. As I age, I worry about being paralyzed.?
Sometimes people are totally aware but are completely paralyzed like poor Christopher Reeves due to illness or accidents. My ultimate horror is to wake up on a respirator and being unable to move.
I would rather die than endure the stress and abject despair this would cause me. I would go insane.
Are there instructions or any measures I can take to lighten my worry? I especially fear the physical trauma of dying--I've seen family members die in agony in a hospital.
Answers:
Certainly, fear of dying or severe injury are common aspects of chronic depression. I would know, I have had similar fears myself and I only recently overcame them.
Two things: Death is inevitable. No matter what happens, we're all going to die one day so worrying about it doesn't make any sense. It's like worrying whether the sun is going to rise.
Secondly, go talk to a doctor. A low dose of anti-depressants coupled with a bit of therapy is likely to do you wonders (it certainly did for me).