Sudden Agoraphobia

[ListlessLife]

So I've been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, ADHD-PI, and PTSD All have been generally present since childhood. I've managed to stay surprisingly ok with life in spite of those things, mostly because of medication. I'm currently on Duloxetine, Sertraline, Clonazepam and Adzenys.

Lately, however, I've started to suffer from a fear of leaving the house. It's less than 30 days since it became a problem, but it's become severe remarkably fast. Has anyone else experienced a sudden onset like this? Does anyone have any suggestions? Advice?

BTW, I've emailed my psychiatrist, but I'd still like to hear what others think.

[Agora1]

Hi ListlessLife, Agoraphobia can feel like it's come on fast but actually has been building up for a long time. When it gets to the point of being so overwhelming, it takes on a new form where life itself is scary. It's no longer about the issues that brought us to that point. Our brain has a way of wanting to keep us safe and makes us think that anything outside our front door may be a danger.

The sooner you address this irrational fear of the outdoors, the sooner you will not be held prisoner for months and years on end. ( I was Agoraphobic for 5 years) It gets very easy to hide away in our home. I had a therapist who worked with me during that time. Home visits and phone sessions were my only tie to getting help. I was terrified of leaving my home. By her patient, supporting ways, I was able to go forward eventually but lost 5 years of my life.

I'm glad you found this forum. I didn't have any forum or friends or family to help me. Everyone disappeared after a while. It can become a very lonely disorder. Coming onto the forum you will find many others who suffer through the fear of Agoraphobia. It's a step by step process in trusting in yourself that you are safe in going out once more. There is nothing outside that isn't with you when you are indoors since the fear stems from your brain feeding these negative thoughts to you.

Along with getting professional help, let us help you not stay stuck. As for having these issues since childhood, those issues need to be addressed. Until they are, the anxiety stays present and active in your mind. Medication is only a surface bandaid , the real cure lies in dealing with what happened in your childhood that paralyzed you with fear at such a young age.

We are but a message away. We care xx

[scottmccarlie]

I'm Duluxetine aswell, I know if I don't take it is suffer withing cold sweats and terrible dreams at night. I also have a slight fear of leaving the house, but just put it down to anxiety.

[Loramay]

I also have agoraphobia and although I can go to medical appointments on my own, if I have to. Mine came on quite quickly as well at first I didn't realise that it was a problem as I had broken my pelvis and spine so I was fairly immobile and moving hurt. But I had been suffering with depression and anxiety for a few months and I had stopped leaving the house after my rescue dog pulled me off my mobility scooter (I have been disabled for a number of years but I had worked until the depression and anxiety) and into the road (this was 3 months before I broke my pelvis and spine). Everyone wanted me to stop walking the dogs after this and quickly realised that within a month or so I wasn't leaving the house so decided to get me another rescue dog a shih-tzu that I could walk to get me out of the house. This hasn't worked as I still don't leave the house, I have walked Shandy twice but she keeps me company and the other 2 dogs love her, typical males.

I am now having therapy and take antidepressants and I was supposed to be joining an art group within the therapy group but I fell 3 weeks ago and they think I have broken my pelvis again, so I am back at square one immobile but at least this time I know what caused it.

I find it is the threshold of the door that is my sticking point and if I can get over that after a few minutes I start to calm down. So I am trying to do that a couple of times a week and just standing on the doorstep then maybe on the path by the gate etc. To see if that helps.