cant go anywhere without a bottle of water - help.

Hi there, I am new to this ... where shall I begin ...
My panic attack/anxiety - whatever you want to call has started to get considerably worse as I am getting older ... im 27.
I basically can not go anywhere / leave the house without a bottle of water ... it started about 5 years ago and I could manage to go places with just a panda pop sized drink and now I am unable to go out without a litre bottle of squash, if it gets any worse then I doubt I will be able to go out at all ...
If I dont have a drink on me, this causes me to panic. I go hot, my throat starts to feel like it gets smaller. I find it hard to breath and also like there is a golf ball wedged at the back of my throat ... im worried that I will collapse of dehydration.
I keep saying to myself if I have a pint of squash before I go out, I will be ok.
I have tried leaving the house without a drink, I take a few steps and the thought of having no drink, makes me turn back round and go indoors again. But if I have a bottle of drink on me, I can be out all day and not even have a sip!
My wife goes out without having to have a drink first or have to carry a drink - if she manages why cant I? She knows she isnt going to collapse of thirst!
Im not a man that likes to take medication, Im worried hypnotherapy will mess with my head ... I dont know how to go about tackling this problem?
Ive searched the web and thought this might be a common problem, but I know of know others that suffer from this same condition.
If there is anyone out there that feels the same as me and has found some way of over-coming this then please give any advice you can ...

Ok... interesting one


How did this habit (???) develop?? can you give your explaination why this might have happened? Do you have to take a litre of liquid?? Do you actually drink any of it? Does your anxiety get worse if you do? Are you any worse in a given situation such as a busy public place, an open field, inclosed spaces, etc??

You do realise that this bottle of water thing could be a god send??? alot of people have phobias that are really beyond their control. I mean this could be an easy one to resolve perhaps.. just maybe

About two years ago, I watched a CPR video, and on it was a lady that had a low sugar attack, and then of course I started fearing that my sugar was going to drop, I had a very bad time with it, I couldnt leave the house without food, and I couldn't go three hours with out eating. I become agoraphobic for about a year. Thankfully I am better, I still have food issue, but nothing like it was. I hope your gets better, I know one thing that had helped me is that I quit dwelling on it, I just took food with me, and I stopped making it a big deal, after awhile, it just got easier and easier.
Good luck,
P.S. I can go for hours now with out eating,,,

hey i have exactly the same thing, i cant go anywere without water to, i think cause when i start having an anxiety attack my throat closes but wen i drink a bit of water it subsides a little strange but true

I have now decided this is a problem that I can not deal with on my own, so I have booked an appointment with a local GP. I ran this passed a friend of mine who is a counsellor, she advised there is a local group in our area where you can sit and discuss panic issues.
Booby pritchard - I have no real recollation of when this happened, its slowly got a bigger issue and the more it plays on my mine the worse it gets. I never actually drink a litre of water, its really for piece of mind. Sometimes when I am out I can go for hours without taking a sip. Its piece of mind knowing its there. It mainly panics me when I am in open spaces. But sometimes it can be anywhere, a panic overwhelmes me, a swig of water allows me to overcome it and 'start again'
Louwho - well done for over coming your issues - you say you go for hours without eating, but do you still take food with you?
danny_boy - finally someone with the same problem as me! Do you know how your issue started and how long have you been dealing with it? Have you thought about seeking any help ...

hi there, im new to this forum today dint no it exsisted i would have joined years ago. i was just reading your problem about the bottled water. i had exactly the same problem. it didnt have to be water but any drink at all just for piece of mind incase i needed it, even tho i never needed a drink. i also never go anywhere with out a packet of mints. i think its crazy but i cant relax not knowing they are there. I got over taking the drink everywhere, but i find myself doing it again as the weather is getting hotter. i find it hard to swallow sometimes and i think if i have a drink with me it helps to clear my throt. its not a problem for your gp, i no its hard as i have gone through this experience, but just try to leave your water behind, just think if you really do need to get a drink there are plenty of shops you can buy one. i hope this helps