Hi all.

Since I was 14, I've been struggling with agoraphobia. When I was about 17, it wasn't so bad. I started going to school full time and began a friendship with someone I had a lot in common with up until last year when we finished our studies. So since then, about a year later, I've been alone and have only left the house for therapy, 2-3 visits to the vets with a relative or for a doctors appointment. There have been a few odd occasions where I've walked the dog, but it proved to be too much.

I'm having difficulty finding a reason to leave the house. Typically, for a lot of people, this might be going to work, grocery shopping, school or to meet up with friends. I haven't got any of these priorities at the moment - I'm currently looking for a job but so many require a drivers license (the jobs that won't make more miserable than I currently am).

What type of things do you guys do to get yourselves moving/out of the house?? I used to love hiking, I still do, but I feel so concerned about getting jumped by yobs. My mother and I have decided to start walking the dogs every day in the country side BUT this isn't exposing me to civilisation - it's like a different version of home, isolated with family members in an enclosed environment but surrounded by trees.

I really would appreciate any suggestions. I have only the support of my family and therapist. I'm working on this with my therapist but there's an inconvenient inconsistency between sessions. She's suggested going to the grocery store, which I've done, but in all honesty what difference will a 5 minute mundane grocery store visit make??

Am I making any mistakes??