Agoraphobia - Anxiety

[Lilacdreams]

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I’ve suffered as long as I can remember with anxiety and panic attacks. I’m now 26 and was diagnosed with Agoraphobia.

Anxiety has always been there, but the agoraphobia has progressed over the last few years. Besides going to work, even thinking of leaving my “safe space” makes me sick to the stomach. Sweats, palpitations, nausea - you name it. I’m feeling so trapped in my own body and haven’t found the right medication to help, plus all the side affects are terrible. I can’t even leave to see my own family and have little friends now because of it. At this point I’m hurting more than myself. I don’t know anyone that can relate to this and hope I find this space to relate to others and hopefully can manage this slowly. 💔

[Ellamaye]

I'm not diagnosed with agoraphobia but anxiety and depression. I feel I do understand agoraphobia to an extent though . I only leave my house under certain circumstances. If its absolutely necessary as in to take or pick up my son. Or food shopping or even if it's a trip . I am fine to get in my car and drive but not ok to interact . Or take part.

[LO0P5]

I'm slowly getting to that point to, recently my anxiety and panic attacks have increased and are more frequent and its horrible, I'm now starting to get a feeling of not wanting to go to work or go a where tbh other than stay in my bed, my panic attacks can last few hours of one after another attacks and I feel so drained and tired after, my really good friend has agoraphobia she's been dealing with it for years, but she's slowly but surely coming out of it so it does get better, I know it dont seem like it but it really does, she now leaves to see her sister n stays with her for few days before going back to hers, so she's getting there, it will get better I promise, she also lost loads of friends n even family over it, you will get better, just takes time, and some people it takes years, you ain't going to just take a pill and be magically be back to normal haha, it takes time, so take that time and just know there's others like this that have come out of it, it might not seem like you will, may seem like you'll never, but eventually you will I promise, I'm just starting so think yaself lucky haha, I'm having anxiety attacks and panic attacks often, I'm slowly getting to the point where I do t want to leave my house because when I'm at home I feel alright, I still have panic attacks at home but not that often, so it makes me feel safe and sound, I haven't been to work in nearly a week now n when I did go in I had an anxiety and panic attack so it makes me not want to go to work, so I kinda feel what you're talking about, obviously I don't understand properly but I understand enough to know how you feel about it, I just feel like I'm going to die, n I need help but no one's helping me, then I feel all sorts, pins and needles in my face, not being able to breathe properly, heart attack kinda feeling, feel sick, feel like I'm gonna pass out, I sweat so bad where its dripping off my nose, I ha e an overwhelming adrenaline feeling throughout my body that pulses every couple seconds is then all that turns into panic attacks, I then have have one after another for about 2 hours I hate it, n when you're at work what do you do especially when you're a lone worker, I just know im not going yo die as I'm still here haha that helps me a lil, but just take a lil Comfort that others have the same if not worse or getting to that point, so we understand

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

I can relate. I lost all my friends from school because my anxiety got so bad I stopped going. My agoraphobia got worse. It was just me and my mom.

But I found a great therapist and starting to see her helped me get out of the house. And my mom also taking me on long drives just to look at the countryside and see the city lights. They always looked so pretty at night. I guess it was my mom's way of keeping me in touch with the world around me. Even though I wasn't out there experiencing it. But support from my mom. And oddly enough I found friends online. Much better than the ones I made at school. I never really fit in when I was in school anyways. But I made real connections. Eventually met some of them in person and still friends with them til this day which is well over 18yrs (God I'm old 😂) I still have a small circle of friends. But at least they are understanding. I do hate those sweats. I'm a heavy sweater, my name should be Wool 😂

The only way out of anxiety grip is to go through it. You set yourself up with "leaving your comfort zone makes you ill" you're going to trigger yourself. With anxiety you have to push your boundaries a little bit at a time. Don't have to go to a club or anything. Start off slow like if there's a park near by. Go to that. Just sit your car for a few minutes. Then go back to your safe zone whether it's home or your bedroom. Make it a routine. Then try adding to it like getting out of your car and sitting outside in the park just for a few minutes. And then go home.

I recommend DARE by Barry McDonagh or Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes.

I'm wishing you healing and peace 🫂❤️

[Scruffy81 in reply to CL3V3R-G1RL]

You see EXACTLY correct about having to let the anxiety kinda take over and ride it out, BUT I have found that I can sorta “ take my mind off what is going on now” by listening to songs I have in a playlist just for these situation of songs that really speak to me and look at pictures of also an album I have that is the happiest moments during myself and my husbands world wide trips and just scroll through them while listening to the music and deep breath. I promise or HOPE if u try this it works for you all too. THANKS FOR EVERYONE HERE😍

[CL3V3R-G1RL in reply to Scruffy81]

I have a journal where I put my small accomplishments. I make sure to write it in there. When I get anxious thinking I can't do something. I peep the journal and look at what I was able to do. Remind myself I'm much stronger than I think I am. My journal says on the cover "You Got This"

Playlist is definitely a good idea. I have one called Chill. And anything 80s and 90s so I can get hyped 😂

[Hidden]

Welcome. I’m new here too. Maybe ask friends to visit you?

[TheBreeze]

Hi Lilacdreams. I’m sorry about the struggle you are in. I do relate. I just moved to a new state and don’t know many people. I also don’t drive alone, which is a big pain. My brother lives close by, but I don’t see him much- he has his own family to concentrate on. My husband still works Georgia, where we moved from, for a bit longer. We also rent a house, so it’s not even my “space”. I feel out of control, even though the move was my idea and will be great for my family in the long run.

But if I don’t get out every other day, I get so nervous and uncomfortable when I do get out. Though I love people and doing things!!

[Shield_Of_Faith]

Hey There, I'm sorry you struggling with this. I also struggle with extreme anxiety and panic attacks for many years from when I was really young. But these days I found myself breaking down my anxiety little by little everytime I try to leave the house. My anxiety is not gone completely but I do see some improvement of it this past year alone. Between my meds and really trying to get out my comfort zone it's still very difficult at times but I'm trying more now then I ever had in the past. I'm just saying there is hope things can get better with the right meds and breaking down the anxiety little by little. I'm not rid of anxiety but after so many years staying indoors, not ever wanting to go anywhere cause of my social phobia and now this past year alone seeing good improvement. There's hope things can and will improve.I hope for you things get better with your anxiety. Because they can. 🙏