I'm glad to hear your seeking treatment. I'm also about to start with a CBT therapist this week and I'm also trying to follow the program here on Panic Center. This forum is a good resource because there are a lot of us out there dealing with Panic Disorder.
Eating has gotten a little better for me, because I'm focused on eating smaller meals more times a day which is basically it's own form of exposure therapy, but every time you challenge your fear it gets less stronger.
Good luck with the coffee shop and let us know how it goes.
I have a similar phobia where I fear eating and drinking in public. I fear that my hands will start trembling when I am eating or drinking and that this will make the people I am with feel uncomfortable,or have pity on me. I also feel that in this kind of setting I would not be able to make my excuses to leave and would feel trapped in the situation.
I have been taking 20mg of prozac for 2 months now and it is my first experience with this sort of medication. My doctor recommended a CBT programme, so here I am!
For exposure therapy, I plan on going to a coffee house by myself and just sit with my jittery hand and hope that I will eventually be able to settle into my surroundings.
Currently dealing with a Phobia where when I eat I get panicky and occasionally have a panic attack. It started about 7 or 8 weeks or ago, although I've had some good days and then of course bad ones.
At first the Panic was just that I was afraid of having another Panic Attack, but now it almost feels like it's morphed into just feeling like I'm afraid feeling full.
It's been tough on me, because of course I need to eat. So I muscle through it as much as possible, but I'm losing my confidence.
Currently, I'm taking Luvox (237 mg daily) and recently started taking a half an Ativan most days to help me relax. Also I have a very good psychiatrists who I see at least once a week and a supported ann loving wife. On top of that my job is fairly low stress and I enjoy going to work.
I'd love to hear from others. As anyone else struggled with this?
