Embarrassed

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have a quiet embarrassing problem that I need advice on. I am a VERY self

conscious seriously overweight lady. Have been this way all my life so it is not

some thing new.

 

I suffer from social anxiety and get panic attacks when out in pubic

especially in the grocery stores. So I try to shop at 2:00 or 3:00am for fear of

crowded stores.But there are no health stores open at this hour either.

 

My questions is how do I learn to over come this so I can go in to the

nutrition stores or even down the health food ails for that matter.

Am I the only one here with this problem?

Katie

 

 

 

 

 

Get on board. You're invited to try the new Mail.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi there Katie.

 

I don't suffer from agoraphobia myself but I have had friends who had that

problem, so I

can sympathize Perhaps you might consider taking this particular question to

a group

that would specialize in this kind of anxiety - I did a quick search and found

several

groups on that deal with and advise agoraphobics. If you go to:

 

 

 

and type Agoraphobia into the search box, you would come up with something very

like:

 

/search?query=agoraphobia & submit=Search

 

And then you could select something suitable for you. I am not able to suggest

one group

over another at this time.

 

As for not being able to get out to the health food stores, that's a bit of a

problem but not

unsurmountable. You could always order on line, phone to have products

delivered, or

simply buy similar (not as good I know, but still . . . ) products from your

regular shopping

centre - when you pick up your other groceries. Additionally, I imagine that

you're very

keen to get over this lifelong problem so that you can get outside and _walk_ to

get some

exercise and feel better about yourself? It would indeed help. Best of luck with

this - not a

nice thing for you to have to deal with! Enormous hugs to you, my dear.

 

Love, Pat (Co-Owner, Vegetarian Slimming)

 

> I suffer from social anxiety and get panic attacks when out in pubic

especially in the

grocery stores. So I try to shop at 2:00 or 3:00am for fear of crowded

stores.But there are

no health stores open at this hour either.

>

> My questions is how do I learn to over come this so I can go in to the

nutrition stores

or even down the health food ails for that matter. . . .

[Guest guest]

Hi Katie,

I have to wonder from your post if you think your anxiety is from agoraphobia

(or some similar issue), or directly related to your weight? I myself have about

80 or 90 lbs to lose (luckily I am active and strong, and it only looks like 50

or 60- ONLY, HA!) and I know I am very self concious about " what others will

see " in my cart and self concious buying things I know I " shouldn't " (even if

they aren't for me - I couldn't even buy my husband's cigarrettes while

pregnant, afraid someone would think they were mine).

I actually have an easier time in the health food store, because I figure IF

anyone is paying any mind to me (and people really pay less attention than we

all think they do), then maybe at least they will think " well at least she's

making an effort to eat right " . Not that it should matter, but somehow, on some

level, sometimes it does.

 

Anyway, if I'm way off base, I'm sorry to drag the conversation off track.

 

Beth

 

Patricia Sant <moorcroftblue wrote:

Hi there Katie.

 

I don't suffer from agoraphobia myself but I have had friends who had that

problem, so I

can sympathize Perhaps you might consider taking this particular question

to a group

that would specialize in this kind of anxiety - I did a quick search and found

several

groups on that deal with and advise agoraphobics. If you go to:

 

 

and type Agoraphobia into the search box, you would come up with something very

like:

 

/search?query=agoraphobia & submit=Search

 

And then you could select something suitable for you. I am not able to suggest

one group

over another at this time.

 

As for not being able to get out to the health food stores, that's a bit of a

problem but not

unsurmountable. You could always order on line, phone to have products

delivered, or

simply buy similar (not as good I know, but still . . . ) products from your

regular shopping

centre - when you pick up your other groceries. Additionally, I imagine that

you're very

keen to get over this lifelong problem so that you can get outside and _walk_

to get some

exercise and feel better about yourself? It would indeed help. Best of luck

with this - not a

nice thing for you to have to deal with! Enormous hugs to you, my dear.

 

Love, Pat (Co-Owner, Vegetarian Slimming)

 

> I suffer from social anxiety and get panic attacks when out in pubic

especially in the

grocery stores. So I try to shop at 2:00 or 3:00am for fear of crowded

stores.But there are

no health stores open at this hour either.

>

> My questions is how do I learn to over come this so I can go in to the

nutrition stores

or even down the health food ails for that matter. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Pat

I did take your advice and I have signed up in a support group on line so we

shall see how that goes.

I thinking of starting to go walking daily. So do you think that a mile a day

is a good start? and how often should I increase it.

I have NEVER had a real exercise routine for any length of time so I have

little idea as to how to start and what to do. I am on a very tight budget and

can not afford the gym so if you or anyone can give me a sample of exercise at

home routines I would love it greatly.

Thanks so very much for your help.

Katie

 

Patricia Sant <moorcroftblue wrote:

Hi there Katie.

 

I don't suffer from agoraphobia myself but I have had friends who had that

problem, so I

can sympathize Perhaps you might consider taking this particular question to

a group

that would specialize in this kind of anxiety - I did a quick search and found

several

groups on that deal with and advise agoraphobics. If you go to:

 

 

 

and type Agoraphobia into the search box, you would come up with something very

like:

 

/search?query=agoraphobia & submit=Search

 

And then you could select something suitable for you. I am not able to suggest

one group

over another at this time.

 

As for not being able to get out to the health food stores, that's a bit of a

problem but not

unsurmountable. You could always order on line, phone to have products

delivered, or

simply buy similar (not as good I know, but still . . . ) products from your

regular shopping

centre - when you pick up your other groceries. Additionally, I imagine that

you're very

keen to get over this lifelong problem so that you can get outside and _walk_ to

get some

exercise and feel better about yourself? It would indeed help. Best of luck with

this - not a

nice thing for you to have to deal with! Enormous hugs to you, my dear.

 

Love, Pat (Co-Owner, Vegetarian Slimming)

 

> I suffer from social anxiety and get panic attacks when out in pubic

especially in the

grocery stores. So I try to shop at 2:00 or 3:00am for fear of crowded

stores.But there are

no health stores open at this hour either.

>

> My questions is how do I learn to over come this so I can go in to the

nutrition stores

or even down the health food ails for that matter. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-new Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

 

 

[Guest guest]

katie brown wrote:

>

>

> I have NEVER had a real exercise routine for any length of time so I

> have little idea as to how to start and what to do. I am on a very

> tight budget and can not afford the gym so if you or anyone can give

> me a sample of exercise at home routines I would love it greatly.

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie,

 

Whatever activity you can do for as long as you can in the beginning,

even if it's just 5 minutes, is a good start! What I first started with

exercise I couldn't do more than 10 without being very uncomfortable and

winded. Now I can do a whole hour. Four years ago I almost flunked a

stress test but now I'm sure I'd do fine.

 

I highly recommend any of the Leslie Sansone workouts. She is the woman

who is on QVC sometimes selling her workouts and gadgets. You don't

need the gadgets, just one of her videos or DVD's. Her workouts are

easy to do, it's mostly walking in place. I'm definitely " aerobic

exercise video challenged " but I *can* do Leslie Sansone's workouts and

really enjoy them. The moves are mostly walking in place, side-steps

where you step to the side and back and then do it with the other foot,

and kicks and knee lifts. The best thing would be to have the DVD, I

think they are around 20 dollars or so.

 

Exercise will help you. You will feel better and have more energy and

also sleep better, I predict!

 

Laura in MI

[Guest guest]

> Thanks so much Pat

> I did take your advice and I have signed up in a support group on line . . .

 

That's fine I only wish I could have been more help in advising which one

would be best.

Perhaps you might like to let me - or us - know sometime which you found useful

(you

could send to me privately if you prefer) so that it would be easier to advise

members in

the future

 

As for the exercise -

 

> I thinking of starting to go walking daily. So do you think that a mile a

day is a good

start? and how often should I increase . . .

 

Hmmm. I think ANY walking that is more than usual is a good start. If it's only

to the end

of your driveway (or whatever) and back, that's a good start Build up a bit

at a time -

there's no hurry and you need to feel comfortable with the exercise of walking

AND with

the experience of being outside more than you have been, yes?

 

This is how I view walking: It's an easy, inexpensive (well, no expense, except

for the price

of having shoes repaired), means of locomotion AND it actually is simple and

effective

exercise, muscles - most of them throughout the body - and bones (because each

step is

weight-bearing) benefit. You can regulate your speed according to comfort and

need as

well as regulate distance you go _without_ having to measure up to some exercise

expert's

idea of what you should be doing or what you should be aiming for or look like

or all that

stuff. (That's not to say we don't need inspiration - but I'm saying that for

simple walking

it's not needed.) Furthermore . . . <adjusts position of soapbox>

 

Furthermore, you can do it alone, if you wish, lost in your own thoughts or

accompanied

by your own music or looking at trees or buildings or grass or dogs and cars or

other

people - or not - as you wish. Most important, it gets you out of the house. You

can start

by going when others are not around so much, then gradually change. To the

corner,

around the block, around the block several times - it's all exercise, it's all

(in time) fun,

and it helps you to map out 'safe' areas for yourself.

 

<steps down from soapbox (I never feel perfectly comfortable on one of those

things

anyway, since I suffer from or am recovering from acrophobia. Really.)>

 

As for affording the gym, don't worry. As someone has lovingly pointed out,

there are

excellent videos to help you right in your own home But - but - but get out

if you can a

bit at a time as well, okay? I'll be thinking of you with your phobia every time

I deal with

mine! Huge hugs.

 

Love, Pat

[Guest guest]

> Whatever activity you can do for as long as you can in the beginning,

> even if it's just 5 minutes, is a good start! What I first started with

> exercise I couldn't do more than 10 without being very uncomfortable and

> winded. Now I can do a whole hour. . . .

> I highly recommend any of the Leslie Sansone workouts. . .

 

Good advice, Laura And isn't it amazing what help is out there!

 

Love, Pat