Monophobia

[Roj5]

Morning.... I have been on BT since the original version, posting in the Epilepsy/ Hydrocephalus forums for my son, and in the depression forum for myself....

I had thought after time and councelling that I had gotten to the bottom of the issues, and diagnosed with SAD, placed on Fluoxetine November-February.

Now the serious problem. Recently I had to stay overnight away from my home area and friends/ family. This would continue from July-October and the anxiety really built up in me.

Inevitably I crashed mentally away from home with anxiety, couldn't sleep and had a bad day at work. Having informed my Manager everything has blown up due to Health and Safety.

The distance is unsafe to commute for me, and the anxiety issue (I broke down in tears) is considered not in my health interest or the company. The Manager said "You [I] are [is] unemployable."

I never realised how bad the issue was or would be, but this could it appears cost me my job!

The Monophobia is a self diagnosis on the basis I can not be left alone or out of familiarity without assistance...

I would love to hear advice or people of a similar situation as to what to do and to keep the job I love.

Thank you.

[Nana4&cntn]

Hi Roj5,

My name is Kathy and I have had anxiety issues for the last 25 yrs at least. My anxiety will shoot up when away from home. You had many pressures on you before you even left home, then to be in an unfamiliar bed and surroundings along with the pressure of work.

I don't know the type of work you do, however, ADA prohibits firing someone due to a Disability. You fall under this catagory due to your depression and anxiety is often something that accompanies depression.

I do think if you haven't pointed this out to your employer I would do so. If it continues to be a problem I would seek an ADA attorney.

I am so sorry, I am assuming you are in the US, I need to go back and check if you state where you are from.

Take care and try to stay calm, I know that is easier said than done. I hope some of what I posted helps.

Kathy

[tic chick]

hello roj*smallrose,

it sounds like agoraphobia to me. this is the fear of going outside or to different places. it does usually stem from general anxiety.

i also have had SAD for about 30 years. it is so predictable from mid-november until mid-march. if it's bad, i take paxil. usually a lot of exercise helps, like an hour of bicycling on my stationary bike, or walking ouside if the sidewalks are not snowy or icy. i can take the cold.

i think taking vitamin d3 (cholecalciferol) and fish oil capsules helps with the depression in the winter.

i would go back to the counselor, if you have stopped seeing her. i also don't know where you live, but in the usa it is illegal to fire anybody over a disability.

once i stopped having panic attacks with the help of klonopin, the fear of going places stopped, because i wasn't afraid of having a panic attack outside of the house and feeling out of control.

take care of yourself,
jeannie

[Naominjw]

My one phobia (is that what a monophobia means?) does not interfere with my work, but easily could have if I had been exposed to it there. I would not have a suggestion for you about that.

However, about the anxiety and phobias in general. My younger daughter was put on an SSRI antidepressant for the symptom of "depression" which turned out to be just that--a symptom--not the illness. The antidepressant in turn, caused anxiety attacks. Things escalated, she became unstable, was given another medication which then lowered her cortisol, and she subsequently developed PTSD & numerous phobias.

From my experience with her I have a couple suggestions.

Check out the possibility of a psychiatric service dog. http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html

Get your cortisol, progesterone, and thyroid -- free T3 & free T4 , thyroid antibodies, etc. -- levels checked.

If you have a disability and cannot drive yourself look in to obtaining transportation via the transportation for disabled. That transportation is not just for people in wheelchairs. It is also for people with a disability that prevents them from driving or using the bus.

Your manager cannot fire you for a disability. However you may need a diagnosis that shows that you have this disability.

-"Naomi"

[Roj5]

Many thanks for your replies, and the information provided :)

I live in the UK, and thankfully it transpires that on my Application form I checked anxiety&depression as an illness I either suffered or suffer from.

My manager whom started shortly after me, mentioned that this should have risen in the interviews and lead to me not being employed. Fair comment, as the contract I signed states I may work from home time to time should there be no work in my area.

I will work away from home, but under health and safety I am deemed unable to perform this....

Their stance changed knowing this on my form, so acceptance is inevitable.

I am more moving to a solution and way forward, because inevitably I will be alone one day :(