Does “claustrophobia” cover a fear of being unable to move? I seem to be developing an aversion to situations where I can’t move. Like flying, I start focusing on my inability to walk around/swing my arms, etc. Or when reading the thread by and about blinkie, our recently departed Doper friend with Locked In Syndrome, I get panicky. So, it’s both a fear of being unable physically to move and a fear of being unable socially to move (you can walk around and swing your arms on a plane, but you’re gonna piss people off).
Well, I have claustrophobia, and I too am freaked out by everything you have just described, ergo…yes, yes it is. 
Locked-In Syndrome is literally my worst nightmare. I’d rather be tortured to death than be trapped in my body, unable to move or communicate.
Yeah, I think we’re in the same boat there.
What, if anything, have you done with your claustrophobia? I know I use that term casually for anything from minor to major fears which isn’t accurate, so I don’t know how advanced your issues are.
Mine is so mild it doesn’t really affect my day-to-day life (insofar that I’ve noticed – if I have coping mechanisms, they don’t have much negative impact. For example, I don’t like crowds so I go to the grocery store at night rather than the peak times, which is at worst only a little inconvenient).
I discovered I had it when I went for an MRI about 10 years ago (I even started a thread about it! here), and since then I’ve been fortunate that I have not needed to be placed in such a small space since then. I would absolutely need to be sedated if I need to go for one again.
I don’t have any problems with MRIs or similar spaces, so long as I know I can get out. That’s why it seems like a different issue than claustrophobia itself. It’s like I don’t have a fear of heights; I have a fear of falling. Heights without risk don’t bother me at all. Tight spaces where I can just get back out? Not a problem. Tight spaces where I’m stuck and have no escape? Freaky and horrifying.
Roller coasters sort of freak me out for that very reason. I can usually handle it for the duration of the ride but when I hear of people being stuck on them for over an hour when they break down I get edgy.
I don’t have claustrophobia, but I have the hyperactive-impulsive kind of ADHD. I had to fly for a work trip last month, and I never had before. I did okay on the way down even with long flights and layovers, but then when we got on the plane to come home, I buckled myself in and thought “I can’t do this.” “This” was sit there in one spot for 4 hours. Obviously I was able to get over it because I had to - renting a car and driving 2200 miles home would have ultimately been worse - but not being able to get up and do stuff somewhere else was really hard.
I’ve found that once triggered it tends to keep me in an elevated state and then fade away.
When I’m sleeping and have trouble breathing then it triggers claustrophobic dreams. The more problem I’m having breathing the worse the dreams become until I’m wedged into a tight spot. I’ve learned to recognize these dreams and wake up. I use to wake up in a full state of anxiety and have to get dressed and leave the house. Now I may have to turn the lights on and watch a little TV to get my mind off it. It would go away in minutes but I’d still be a little anxious. Drinking water would ramp it up or taking a shower with water pouring over my head would re-trigger it.
Aaaaanyway, the reason I responded to your post is because you said it bothered you to contemplate being stuck. That sounds like you’re walking around in an elevated state of anxiety. Is there ever a time when you can just think of tight spaces without it making you feel anxious?
So I’ve developed this in the last few years and am still understanding it. I started with being uncomfortable in binding clothes (think sweatshirts) and have in several years graduated to trouble flying (to the point I got off a flight on a puddle-jumper in the rear row a few years ago). And it’s freaking horrid: fearing being bound, unable to escape. I’m doing better with flying lately, mostly through talking myself through my discomfort beforehand, as well as never traveling except in an aisle seat. But I’m still figuring out what my triggers are. My advice is to look for those: what triggers your fear of being shut in, unable to move?
I’m claustrophobic too and I think part of my fear is being unable to breathe. I need sedation in an MRI. My logical brain knows there’s plenty of air, but there is a large mechanism an inch in front of my face which triggers a fear of blocked airways.
I don’t like being in a room with stuffy air, an elevator, airplane. I’m uncomfortable in a car with the air or fan shut off and windows shut, even in cold weather. I’ve learned to manage my fear for the most part, now if the elevator became stuck, well forget it. :eek: I can’t get out! People breathing up all the oxygen. The air feels stuffy and hot. OMG!
One time i was so panicky, I kicked someone in the jaw accidently because they threw a heavy comforter over my head & body and held my arms down. I was in survival mode because my breathing was impaired.
I can remember a few times where I was semi-smothered as a kid and it really stuck with me.
So, for example, crawling in a tight tunnel. It doesn’t matter if I’m stuck or not, if the tunnel opening is small enough where my lungs may not expand properly then nope, not gonna do it!
It seems to me that a *deliberate *kick was warranted.
I have this issue to but it’s more people holding my hand lying on me or generally physical contact where people are hanging onto me I’m a way I can’t move … I have a tick that I get only during these situations makes cuddling my spouse or holding hands very annoying at times I Want to be able to do it without thinking about it … But I start twitching all the time … I’m not sure if it is related to a fear of commitment or some childhood trauma that I experienced