Claustrophobia...

scbonnell04

I tend to be slightly claustrophobic but not in a way that's ever impacted my daily life.  As my belly grows and my general comfort level decreases I find that I'm getting claustrophobic in all sorts of situations.  This weekend when my husband put his arm around me, today in the car when I had on my coat and my seat belt, etc.  I've also become super protective of my personal space.  I'm sure it's just hormones and general discomfort but it would help to know I'm not alone.  Anyone else out there dealing with this?  How are you coping other than just coping?  I'm thinking I probably need to start doing yoga or something to help regain some of the control I feel like I'm losing. 

doozer1345

It's funny you bring this up bc I've always had claustrophobia but it's never been debilitating. I don't like large crowds. We recently went to a friends house to stay for the weekend and for some reason they thought bc I am pg that I would need the heat turned up (??). Well, the room we stayed in was much smaller than I'm used to sleeping in (although this has never been an issue before), the vent was right above where we were sleeping, and the door was closed. I woke up in a sheer panic! I had to sleep with the covers off, the door open, and beg for DH to tell them to turn the air down. I don't have any advice but just wanted to tell you that you are not alone.

ETA: I thought I was going to be crushed and die. There was no rhyme or reason for it at all.

JessicaB0627

I have never been claustrophobic but I do notice I get irrationally bothered by people being too close to me lately. I have to tell DH to get out of my face all the time because I feel like I can't breathe when he gets too close. Large crowds bother me as well. 

You are not alone. I just hope it goes away once the baby is here!

kbrands7

Similarly, I have slight/specific claustrophobia. Fully crowded planes or cars (only sitting in the back) tend to make me panic that there isn't enough air-- this usually ends with visualization techniques to bring down the anxiety and/or taking my inhaler after having a stress induced asthma attack.

My instinct to protect my personal space in almost all situations is definitely stronger when I'm pregnant. It's less pronounced with this pregnancy than with my first though. If you can be politely direct with close-talkers, then do it. As far as crowds go, you can try to avoid peak shopping times. Like I mentioned before, visualizations have been extremely helpful to me in controlling anxiety and many take 20 sec or less. My favorite ones are in the Hypnobirthing book. 

doozer1345

ochoa88

So not alone! I also do not have clinical claustrophobia but cannot be bundled tight or get too hot. I have had hot flashes almost this entire pregnancy but this last week has been the worst, accompanied by insomnia  (uncomfortable to sleep when too hot), and sleeping in tank top, shorts, with the window open at 15• outside---nuts! Midwest winter here and a few weeks ago we took older kid and nieces to an activity. Car is not exactly compact but made hubs pull car over before leaving town so I could take my bulky coat off, put it in the trunk....as well as put some other items unnecessary to be up front in the trunk. Being too hot was not working, and coupled with seeing/feeling too many things around me with a full passenger load was more than I could handle!---but resolved by de-cluttering the space.

scbonnell04

It is so good to know I'm not alone and that I'm not losing it.  (Even though I still think I am at times.)  I may have to pick up a hypnobirthing book.  I'm sure those visualizations could help me through many of my stressful mommy moments!

kbrands7

@scbonnell04  This is the book I used.