Fear of Walking

LegacyUser

I know people probably won't believe me or will think that I'm lying, but it's true: To a certain degree I have a fear of walking. I'm a student and I've visited a Psychiatrist before and when I told her, she gave me a strange look as if I was lying, and I asked her how I could go about treating this; she told me that she didn't know what I could do except to try to walk without fear. I couldn't believe a health professional told me this advice.

But to what extent do I have this fear?
Not everywhere. I can walk around my house...but I'm still a little bit anxious that people look at the way I walk and find it strange. So I tend to walk around the house in a fashion where I'm least likely to be seen walking if that makes sense.

My main problem is outside. I find it so terribly difficult to walk without a jumper or a jacket on me. I feel that the jacket/jumper covers my arms to some extent that people won't notice them as much. I tend to walk with my hands in my pockets, or if there's not many people around, 1 hand in one pocket.

When I see people walking in front of me walking on the same side of the footpath, I take out my phone and use it while walking...pretending to text message. Then when I pass, I put the phone back in my pocket. I don't have a physical disability with my arms nor is there anything on my arms that people would look at.

I find it difficult to walk downtown, and I prefer to get a lift down so that way I don't have to walk home. This is the most crippling part. The restriction I feel when I want to go somewhere and do something. It's unbelievably difficult to walk naturally with my two arms outside.

I remember being in school, I was the same, I didn't ask to go to the toilet deliberately because I didn't want to walk in front of the class. And it's not as easy to say "Oh, it's easy, snap out of it!"...but I've tried so many times, and I feel so so so anxious, sweaty and panicky. In Primary School, I remember being the same; hands in the pockets. I don't know what to do...the psychiatrist didn't seem to believe me nor when pressed did she know how to cure me. I've googled around and haven't found anyone that has this fear. The most similar are agoraphobia etc. But I'm a naturally sociable person and love to go out and meet people. The ONLY thing that's anxious-driven is the walking. But I'm a people person.

I hope this all makes sense. I've no idea, and have been like this as far back as I can remember (around 6-7 years old). It's embarrassing and stupid-sounding and I've told no-one except the psychiatrist. I don't have any other issues. What on Earth can I do?

Kevster

Hi, I think that you are possibly looking at this from the wrong angle. I mean, it is probably not the fear of walking that you have, per se. Rather, it is the fear of exposure that you associate with walking - i.e. when you walk, you feel as if you are expose to the world and everyone focusses on you. Walking with your hands in your pockets obstructs a natural stride too, and this could make it seem more mechanical and awkward.

What I suggest is that you remove the hands from your pockets, practice 'swinging' your arms naturally like everyone else does, and then try to take your mind off yourself while walking. Focus on things around you, but not how they are/might be focussing on you and you alone.

Kevin

LegacyUser

maybe try walking with while listening to an ipod or mp3 player or radio on your phone. might take your mind off it? i hate going for walks on my own but i put on headphones and then its grand .

kiffer

Like Kevin said... sounds like you are not afraid of walking but of exposure... My advice (for what it's worth) is to not refer to your problem as "Fear of Walking" because as you've found out even the psychiatrist didn't take it seriously/didn't understand ...

The anxiety comes from people watching you walk? You're not afraid of walking... your afraid of people looking/watching and some how judging you/thinking that you're strange?

Go back to the psychiatrist (or to a different one) and say it like that... "I get really anxious when I think people are watching how I walk..." is different to leading with "I'm afraid of walking".

Did someone make fun of how you walked at some point?

Try thinking/talking about it as more of a social anxiety problem rather than a fear of walking because you're not worried about falling over and hurting yourself are you?


On a lighter note: wait till no-one is in the house and skip up and down the hall until you're used to doing so, then get a friend you trust to come over, make them skip up and down the hall, then see if you can both skip up and down the hall together...
I mean skipping is the silliest you're ever going to look moving right? If you can do that with a friend you can walk normally with strangers right?
Take it gently like some sort of simple exposure therapy...

Miss Fluff

Ambulophobia = Fear of walking

There is a whole site dediated to here

http://common-phobias.com/ambulo/index.htm

Dublinstiofán

Get a big dog, you wont be afraid of walking anymore.

Kevster

Unregistered wrote: »

maybe try walking with while listening to an ipod or mp3 player or radio on your phone. might take your mind off it? i hate going for walks on my own but i put on headphones and then its grand .

I used to use earphones too as an 'aid' to finally get over my social anxiety while out walking. However, I didn't want it to become a 'crutch' forever and I eventually began walking with my head high, arms swinging naturally, and no earphones in my ear. I went from hiding in the toilet at home to being perfectly able to walk in big crowds. It took a few years though.

RHunce

just walk it off op lol joking

but seriously try not to focus on what everyone else thinks of you. i mean like youre not looking at them so why would they look at you? just walk confidently with your head held high and arms either side

LegacyUser

Hi Op,

Thanks for raising the issue, it is interesting to understand these things and see what other people are going through.

Do you have any idea yourself where this stemmed from, how far back do you remember experiencing this kind of anxiety while out walking, how old are you as a matter of interest.

Did you ever experience something traumatic while out doors that may have helped you form a paranoid feeling while out walking, because when your out walking no one who goes past you would have the faintest idea that you do not want to show your arms and you are consciously putting your hands in your pockets, so you can take comfort in knowing that no one would have a clue you are experiencing any discomfort, you probably just look like a normal person walking down the road.

If it is really bothering you then you have to deal with the negative voice in your head and start talking to yourself like i am safe while walking, i love walking, i embrace walking, my arms are comfortable when i walk, i am comfortable when i walk, the more you put 'out' that you are safe and secure the more this will come back to you, if you continue telling yourself you are afraid of walking it will continue, You have the power over how you feel and it would be nice if you were more comfortable when walking because its a nice thing to do, out in the fresh air,

is it associated with being on your own and being lonely, the reasons people like to walk are, it is relaxing, you can take in fresh air, you can slow down and think about yourself, maybe thats it, when you slow down and think does it makes you uncomfortable??? Alot of people find that can happen, the present moment can be scary and people tend to stay busy to avoid having to 'sit' with themselves because then we start feeling, and people can be afraid to feel because hurtful feelings come up, and no one likes pain.

Other than that it is not the worst problem to have if you like the rest of your life and like to socialize, maybe you will grow out of it?

Zaph

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

Get a big dog, you wont be afraid of walking anymore.

RHunce wrote: »

just walk it off op lol joking

OK guys, I know you're only joking but this is obviously a very real issue for the OP so please don't make light of it.

Thanks