So want to get back out in the world

[June_2022]

Has anxiety and panic ever stopped anyone from going anywhere for months at a time? I have been unable to go anywhere for several months now. Any advice on how to overcome the fear and be able to leave the house would be greatly appreciated.

[Agora1]

Hi June_2022, I'd like to Welcome you to our support community.

I was drawn to your post because I spent a good number of years struggling

with Anxiety that went into Agoraphobia. (5 years homebound)

Don't make the mistakes I did by catering to my fears. It just enabled me to

stay stuck, afraid to take that first step outside.

It's not about having support as much as it is about believing in yourself and the

power you have to overcome this fear. Meditation and Therapy helps but only

so much. They are a way to break that cycle but unless we provide Action behind

that break we will and do stay stuck.

I read and researched everything I could about anxiety so that I could understand

in how to override that fear.

One step at a time helped me immensely. After all there was no rush after being held

prisoner in my own home for years by my fears.

I've been here for the last 7 years to pass my success forward in helping others take that step.

Life is Amazing. I have control again. Know that Anxiety lies to us making us believe that

our home is a safe place. However, we can still get the panic attacks in our home as well.

That's when I realized that it wasn't about where I was but how I was thinking about life

itself. Fear was all around me and yet there was nothing to fear. (except fear) lol

I'm happy you took the first step today in coming on this caring and safe site.

Together, we survive because we have unconditional support from our virtual family of

friends. xx

[Celinesnana]

welcome to a safe space and one that I hope helps in your healing. Couldn’t have said it better than Agora1! No rush. Baby steps. Make a plan to walk one block, then two. Go into a nearby store, then go back and buy something. Small victories builds confidence. I wish the best for you!

[Darkhouse]

I definitely walk the lines, a month here, a month there. I had a therapist explain it to me as "The Walmart Theory", which still kinda makes me laugh, but it's true even today. He noticed it when he was dealing w veterans dealing w PTSD. He drew a "map" of their average social area: grocery store, block they live on, front yard, rooms of the house. They would start by saying that going to Walmart was too stressful, all the people and the noises and the lights and activity, it was just too much, so they stop going there. So, he crossed off "Walmart" from their map. Then, they'd be walking around their neighborhood, and the cars driving by would be too much, so they'd stop walking around. He next crossed off "block". Then, they'd notice people driving and walking by when they were just out front of their house, so they started staying inside (this is usually when he started seeing them...) so he crossed off "front yard". Each of these steps was making the person's life a bit smaller. Now, the person may notice the road sounds are louder in the living room, so they start staying in their bedroom... Now they're crossing off rooms within their own house. That's what this anxiety and panic is doing, it's robbing us of options, of space, of experiences, and it's not going to be happy until we're walled off in a corner of our home not going anywhere or doing anything. So, my therapist encouraged me to go to Walmart. Not to necessarily buy anything, not w a list or anything like that, just go, be, at Walmart. Do it a few times until my brain and body realized that it was going to be OK. Now years later, when I feel the agoraphobia setting in, I know I HAVE to make myself leave the house, if even for a minute. He encouraged me to people-watch at Walmart (he really liked Walmart, lol), but you start to realize that contrary to what your anxiety is telling you, that everyone is looking at you, that nope, unless you're 10 feet tall and on fire, everyone else is just trying to buy their diapers and diet coke and get going again. It sounds super-hokey, but it's helped me a lot over many years...

[Dusty1234]

I have been there, mostly when I was younger, but it still can sneak up on me. I had a few places that I could go, like to my sisters to watch her son. He gave me a purpose to try because I loved him so much. Anyway, I knew I really needed help because my world was becoming way too small. I kept chickening out calling the local clinic. Finally, my sister called and made me an appointment. I would work on it all week long. I'd plan my route, my clothing, bus fare. I finally found that if I used concrete goals as a distraction, it really helped. I would count how many steps it would take to walk in each cement block. I would count how many white cars I would see on my way to the office. I still do things like that. When I'm having a rough day now, I count the steps on the way down my stairs (there are 36) Then I stand there for at least 30 seconds, but usually longer. This might not be your coping mechanism. Apparently, counting is my thing. lol Take it slow like everyone said, and take pride in any and every step you make. Post it here and we will celebrate it with you. If you have a particularly rough day, post it here and we will encourage you. You don't have to do this alone. It is nothing to be ashamed of, it's just your challenge and you are not alone in it. Sending positive thoughts and know you can do it!