Hi all,

I started going to therapy last summer for my elevator phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. It's the first time I've ever had any kind of professional help.

We've been taking exposure therapy slow, one step at a time, which has been nice. About two months ago, I got into a glass elevator (which is less scary for me) for the first time in almost 10 years. It was terrifying but I did it. Since then, I've gotten in the glass one maybe 7-8 times and got in a regular one once (that one was extremely scary).

But over the past two weeks, I've become even more discouraged than ever. I'm still super scared, negative thoughts keep creeping in. I keep finding reasons why I'll get stuck in one (e.g., the power could go out, the help button doesn't actually work on this one, etc.). I can't imagine ever living a life where I don't feel extremely uncomfortable in one. Like, even if I'm okay with one today, it's not something I encounter every day so the fear will come back. It's like I have a lifelong illness and no matter what I do, it will always have an effect on me.

I talked to my therapist today and he was very understanding but now I feel like a total failure. We're going to focus on the GAD for now but I don't know if I'll ever be okay with elevators.

I just want to live a normal life but this elevator thing is killing me. At least with GAD, I can manage it and a lot of other people struggle with it so there's more understanding about it. But I can't get over my fear of elevators and I feel so hopeless that I'll ever be able to get in one without having a panic attack or shutting down completely.

Are there any resources or anything I can do to help with this? Either the fear of elevators or the failure I'm feeling. It's been such an emotional day and I just don't know what to do anymore.