I would like to update! (long post sorry)

save_adopt

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
1,000
Purraise
1
Location
New England
I would like to start of with...

... and uhhh...
haha now then ...

Well! Things are looking so much brighter these days! Most all of you know that i have had some pretty bad anxiaty stuff going on that has been pretty hard to deal with. I have been going to the therapist and started taking my "chill pills"
Zoloft.

For the first few weeks on the pill it was rough, i felt exhaused and overall miserable. I wrote in a notebook every night about what my side effects had beed that day. Today i realized i havn't written in the book in a while and got to think ing how i have been feeling lately.

And i really do feel better. I'm still more tired then normal but i can go out and do things. Me and my friends went shopping!!! I'm also not afraid of my boyfriends parents anymore, i can sit in the same room as them and only get an ocasionaly twitch of nervousness, compared to having to leave and cry on the way home.

I hadn't seen joel in a few about 5 days which normaly would tear me appart. But i'm really doing ok! I'm ok that hes going to a different school and that hes working. I dont "enjoy" it but i'm ok with it. Even My going to school seems to be a little bit less nerve racking... haha i said a little... i wont get carried away.

With going to school though... i wrote...well copied from a book that gives you a letter to give to your coworkers...bosses... and im my case, teachers. i would like to post it here and it would be wonderful is you could tell me if it sounds alright. Or bad, or if anything needs changing. But with the letter i have a coupple of questions... I don't yet know if my teachers are male or female so i don't know how i should adress the letter. Also i dont know how to end it, i want to give my moms and therapists phone number incase any of my teachers have questions. Also should i give one to the school nurse?

~~~~Letter~~~~

Dear

\tI want to tell you something about myself. I have a problem with a type of anxiety called agoraphobia. This is not a mental illness, but a kind of anxiety which causes panic attacks.
\tAlthough 5 in 100 people suffer from agoraphobia, few people have heard of the condition. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not afraid of questions, though occasionally it can be difficult for me to talk about it, but sharing this information with you is important to me.
\tAgoraphobia is similar to Claustrophobia, except that panic attacks can be triggered by many things, such as crowds, distance from home, public speaking, and new situations. I can neither anticipate, nor control these anxiety attacks. Because these attacks are extremely uncomfortable, sometimes terrifying, and always embarrassing, I have been avoiding situations which might cause them.
\tI have found help for this problem and am making progress. At this point I am doing some things and want to do even more, but I still need a way out of situations that are frightening to me. I have found that when other people understand that I may need to leave an uncomfortable situation, I can do better and it helps in my recovery.
\tIt is extremely important to me to feel free to leave any given situation at any time, no matter how innocuous the situation may appear. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t ask that you understand my condition, but I would appreciate your help.
\tIn telling you this I am not soliciting your sympathy, but I would like your moral support as I work toward recovery. I realize that the way I confront the problem may seem confusing and even inappropriate to you. Be assured that I have been treated by other methods, but have found that the system I am using now is helping me to recover. By your acceptance, you will be working with me in beating this problem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all the support, and caring thoughts, advice, and love you guys have shared with me. And i really wanted to share my accoplishments (though they may seem small) with you. God bless you all.


Love Megan
 

sar

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
9,787
Purraise
1
Location
The future 'Green' House! (NW England)
I'm so pleased to hear that you're doing well, Megan!


The letter seems great to me! It really explains how you feel and lets your teachers know what's what!


I think it might be an idea to give one to the school nurse too - it'll give you a chance to meet her early on - and she'll be able to be there for you when you need her!


When do you start back?
 

gilly

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2004
Messages
2,365
Purraise
14
Location
London, UK
Well done for getting this far and seeking help for your problem. That letter looks like a good idea too
 

miss mew

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
13,668
Purraise
36
Location
Canada
I'm glad to hear that your treatment is helping. I think the letter is a very good idea to pass out to teachers, anything that they can do to help you feel more comfortable as you work through this will help. I wish you all the best
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

save_adopt

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
1,000
Purraise
1
Location
New England
thank you everyone you have all been wonderful!
 

sunnicat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 20, 2005
Messages
2,788
Purraise
1
Location
Central Illinois
Bravo to you for facing your problem and dealing with it in such a responsible manner!!! I don't know if I would have the courage to write a letter like that, let alone actually deliver it! I am happy that the Zoloft is helping you and most of your side effects are past. Wishing you a wonderful future with continued success! Good luck and hugs!
 

gailc

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
11,567
Purraise
13
Location
Wisconsin
In addition I would carry a copy with you and keep a copy in your car.
Glad to read that the medication is helping you. I've had panic attacks in the past when I can't find one of the cats-but to experience it as you have I really can't imagine.

Good luck with school this year.
 

coolcat

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 30, 2004
Messages
36,938
Purraise
69
Location
The "Dark Side of the Moon"
Originally Posted by sunnicat

Bravo to you for facing your problem and dealing with it in such a responsible manner!!! I don't know if I would have the courage to write a letter like that, let alone actually deliver it! I am happy that the Zoloft is helping you and most of your side effects are past. Wishing you a wonderful future with continued success! Good luck and hugs!
...She told everything about this!
...
 

beckiboo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
7,382
Purraise
4
Location
Illinois, USA
I am so glad you are feeling more like yourself again!
Yay!

I'm not too sure about the letter. On the one hand, we should all be open about what is going on with us, on the other hand, there is still prejudice in the world. There is no need to tell more people about your illness than is necessary. Maybe you can get your therapist's opinion on who should be notified. Or you could keep the letter handy in case you had a panic attack at school, but it is very likely that you will not!

You have done a great job of making sure you got the help you need to function as you need to do. I am so proud of you!!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

save_adopt

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
1,000
Purraise
1
Location
New England
i talked to her, and she thinks its a good idea to give out the letter to my teachers. The reason i would give it right away is if i need to just leave, and i can't wait for them to read through it and decide
 

kluchetta

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
11,023
Purraise
30
Location
Golden, Colorado
Wow, I'm so sorry you have agorophobia. My college private music professor's wife has that and I know it's just SO hard to do anything! Kudos for what you've done so far - impressive! I like the letter, and I think that it's probably a good thing for teachers to know up front - and they'll be less likely to just think you're being "rude" if you have to leave quickly!
 
Top