Agoraphobia

[NataliaKings]

I have been suffering with agoraphobia for almost 20 years now. Whilst my difficulties are nowhere near as bad as they used to be, my travel is still restricted to places that are located within a 20 mile radius from my home. I am desperate to overcome this problem and would love to hear from others who have had agoraphobia.

[Yankee_Doodle]

I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you. As you said, though, you have made progress over the years so maybe in a few years time you'll be travelling the world! I think the key is to hold onto hope that things will change for the better. Believe in your ability to change!

[Pingu]

Hi

I have been suffering with agoraphobia for nearly 14 years and in that time it has fluctuated in its severity. At the moment it is terrible I can only travel a couple of miles from my house. At its best I traveled about 50 miles. And it was the most amazing thing. I went to the seaside. I know how absolutely terrifying it can be but you are up to 20 miles and you will see further improvement. Whether you ever travel the world its difficult to say. Keep imagining that you will. If you are like me though you will want it now. You will be fed up with waiting and practising going slightly further sometimes. Sending you a big internet hug.

[paula50]

Hi I have been suffering from agoraphobia for 38 years , i could not go out at all once , i got help with learning to go out starting with short walks then supermartets and bus's which i then found i cope and that was my freedom i have been abroad a few time to which l loved so it can be done. but now i have gone backwards as i am stuffing with panick attacks agin quite bad so i have stopped going to far away from my home but i do still go out as i i know in time i will get better in and i will be back on the bus's i will not allow myself to be stuck at home all day ...Paula

[Hidden]

Hi here I am.i m like you.can t go more far then 15 mins journey from my house and I m not happy.few days ago I tried some exposure which failed and ended up in a massive panick attack in a high street.i m still recovering from this.it s really though and I do understand how you feel.sometimes I miss somebody who can understand me and I think this is the right place for us.hugs

[idontknow]

Don't give up. I suffered from Agoraphobia for about 8 years in my twenties. As I mentioned in an earlier post, getting treatment at the Maudsley was what finally fixed it - basically gradual exposure to more and more stressful situations, accepting that I would get panic attacks - almost welcoming them in the belief (instilled by the therapist at the Maudsley) that once the panic had subsided that I would be fine. Really an unlearning of how I'd got there in the first place. It worked for me and I've never looked back. I took a job in my 30s which involved travelling up and down the country and staying away from home, I've traveled all over Europe and while I've had the odd panic attack, I've been able to convince myself that once the panic subsided, I'd be fine. It was hard throwing the thing off, but once I'd managed it, my life improved beyond belief. From my own experience, its all about getting the right kind of help, together with a feeling of being so fed up with the Agoraphobia wreaking my life, that I was prepared to really push myself through all of the initial pain to get free of it.

[Hidden]

This is weird, but I have extreme fears of other people's energy/vibrations. Has anyone ever felt like this before?? Some people's energy gives me anxiety or headaches.