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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oceanblue on February 28, 2007, at 2:53:40
I've had social anxiety / phobia for many many years, perhaps since I was 8 or 9. I do remember suffering severe panic attacks from public speaking and reading aloud in school as early as the 4th grade.
I just turned 40 last month, and these phobias continue to this day, the social anxiety peaked in my early 20s when I found it difficult to do much socially, but I somehow stayed in college and now I manage to live life without thinking much about the occasional pain and embarrassment -- you learn to let it roll off your back a lot. I also learned a lot of tricks to avoid situations that are difficult. My wife doesn't even know I have a problem, I tried to broach the subject on occasion but she says "your just shy"...
About 20 years ago I sought help for several years in counseling, even trying hypnosis and acupuncture, but nothing offered even the slightest improvement. A number of new phobias have come and gone through the years, I had a wave of them in my late 20s, including fear of flying, elevators, escalators, driving over bridges, and swimming in deep water. I think they all are still related to the social phobia, in that I am terrified of having a panic attack in public -- and all of these are situations where there is no way to quickly escape.
All but the last two phobias -- bridges over water and swimming in deep water -- have dissipated over the past 10 years. And I should mention at this point that I love swimming and am a good surfer, or at least I was in high school. And I have been going surfing again recently and have fallen back in love with the ocean, but even today I simply cannot paddle into water over my own height -- I get very panicky about 20 to 30 yards from the beach. But I've decided that this is the year (my 40th birthday present to myself) that I get back in the water and feel comfortable surfing, snorkeling, and swimming again.
Honestly, given the choice of "fixing" the social phobia (that is, being more comfortable at parties, dancing, becoming a leader at work) and "fixing" the water phobia -- I would choose the latter because I simply love being in and around the ocean so much! The most frustrating thing about this lingering phobia of water is that it is the one environment where you simply cannot afford to panic. Being on an elevator and having an attack is one thing, embarrassing as it may be, but in deep water if you panic you really can die!
I am planning to see a Dr. about prescribing something for the phobia, but I'm not sure which route to take... I would really rather go with something "as needed" like klonopin, as opposed to a daily. But would one be able to take a benzo -- and would it even work -- for an activity like swimming? Or would I be too "groggy" or otherwise impaired?
Anyone else have advice for, or experience with, water-specific phobias?
Thanks so much for listening!!! I haven't talked about this to anyone in years.
Posted by med_empowered on February 28, 2007, at 3:06:36
In reply to Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work?, posted by oceanblue on February 28, 2007, at 2:53:40
I had a point where I was afraid of being in public, too, b/c of the social phobia--and this included going to the beach, even though I love to swim. So, at the time, I was taking 2mgs/klonopin a day. It was great. I could take it, go swimming all day, whether the beach was busy or slow, and enjoy the h#ll out of it. I lost 20lbs and really enjoyed myself again.
So yeah, Klonopin can work wonders on this sort of thing, even if you need to be alert for swimming and what not.
Posted by laima on February 28, 2007, at 8:39:15
In reply to Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work?, posted by oceanblue on February 28, 2007, at 2:53:40
Personally, I'd be scared to get into deep water on a strong benzo like klonopin. It's an anticonvulsant, too- what if you end up uncoordinated in the water, in addition too groggy?
Posted by Quintal on February 28, 2007, at 11:31:07
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work? » oceanblue, posted by laima on February 28, 2007, at 8:39:15
Yes, benzos could cause muscle weakness and reduce muscle strength due to their relaxant effects. Beta-blockers might also reduce your ability to exert yourself when swimming. I don't know how far this translates into real life problems though.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2007, at 11:36:09
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work? » laima, posted by Quintal on February 28, 2007, at 11:31:07
When I lived at the beach I was on xanax but didn't do much in the water afraid of what's under it that I can't see and no med can get rid of that fear cause it's real. Love Phillipa
Posted by Crazy Horse on February 28, 2007, at 12:17:55
In reply to Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work?, posted by oceanblue on February 28, 2007, at 2:53:40
I would recommend either Parnate or Nardil..both great (the best in my opinion) for social phobia and GAD. A benzo such as ativan or klonopin could also be very helpful. I would also encourage you to get more CBT (counseling). Best wishes.
-Monte
Posted by laima on February 28, 2007, at 23:43:36
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work? » laima, posted by Quintal on February 28, 2007, at 11:31:07
Well, I'm sure it would vary for people- and factors like how much klonopin is used, how strong of swimmers they are would likely make a difference. I'd just hate to think of somehow ending up in the water uncoordinated and fuzzy. I've also noticed klonopin can cause some kind of muscle wiggely-weakness.
> Yes, benzos could cause muscle weakness and reduce muscle strength due to their relaxant effects. Beta-blockers might also reduce your ability to exert yourself when swimming. I don't know how far this translates into real life problems though.
>
> Q
Posted by Quintal on March 1, 2007, at 6:41:54
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work? » Quintal, posted by laima on February 28, 2007, at 23:43:36
Sorry Laima, I was just making a general comment and ticked the 'add name of previous poster' box by force of habit. It wasn't aimed at you specifically. I agree taking a potent benzo like Klonopin and then going swimming in deep water is not a wise thing to do, especially if the benzo is taken p.r.n and the person has little tolerance to it.
Q
Posted by laima on March 1, 2007, at 9:34:06
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work? » laima, posted by Quintal on March 1, 2007, at 6:41:54
Oh! Whoops. I suppose I might have guessed that by the content. Geez, I personally don't even recommend taking a potent benzo and getting into a warm bathtub...> Sorry Laima, I was just making a general comment and ticked the 'add name of previous poster' box by force of habit. It wasn't aimed at you specifically. I agree taking a potent benzo like Klonopin and then going swimming in deep water is not a wise thing to do, especially if the benzo is taken p.r.n and the person has little tolerance to it.
>
> Q
Posted by Declan on March 1, 2007, at 19:54:40
In reply to Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work?, posted by oceanblue on February 28, 2007, at 2:53:40
Your phobias sound well-defined, do you think?
(On the other hand you mention being uncomfortable at parties, which sounds entirely understandable.)Maybe D-cyloserine with desensitisation treatment would be good? Experimental though.
Posted by rjlockhart on March 3, 2007, at 14:23:26
In reply to Re: Aquaphobia... klonopin or anything that will work?, posted by Declan on March 1, 2007, at 19:54:40
Being on Dexedrine at the beach was wonderful. I rather didnt go swim in the water, i just got a tan just laying there, but dexedrine sometimes makes you feel more confident, and plus it increases strenth.
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