Re: Agoraphobia, anyone?

I have been experiencing agoraphobia for many a year now........HOWEVER...It's getting ridiculous! I cannot leave the apartment to even go to the lobby to get my mail; cannot answer the phone (even though we have "caller ID")cannot return phone calls; have been canceling my appts w/ my T because my eating disorder has re-activated & I feel too gross to even get dressed for the day; I don't have any friends left because I always decline going out; it is extremely painful to even make this post....because I don't believe that I can be helped; I feel worthless & hopeless.... I even stay up 3 nights in a row because I feel the bedroom is confining! I need to sleep!
Any ideas, folks?

((((((((((((((((((((((DAYZEE)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

((((((((((DAYZEE)))))))))

Sleep is most important. You must try to rest a little. Easier said then done I know. I dont think you should rush yourself into doing something that will set you back further. I once stayed in bed for 2 1/2 almost 3 weeks because I just couldnt drag myself out of it. I was depressed, scared, lonley and any other bad feeling you can think of. I took things very slow. One day I would set a goal to go and brush my teeth ( i know, its gross). The next day I would set a goeal to shower or bathe. I set a goal to go downstairs to make me a sandwich. Little baby goals. These are things that we actually very hard for me to do beleive it or not. But after doing it, it made me feel a little better about myself to know that if I push myself a little, something can be accomplished.
I will harp again about the sleeping. I always found that exhaustion from not sleeping enhanced everything and made it worse. Take a Xanax or a Tylenol PM and lay down, put on some relaxing music and drift off into LA LA land.
Please keep me posted on how your doing

Take care of yourself.

Now go

DAYZEE

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. Are you able to go out with a "safe person" ? I think it is really important to get to your therapist at least. Have you tried any of the programs for agoraphobia like Terrap? Or are there any anxiety clinics in your area that could help you? It seems like you really need specialized help for the agoraphobia. Are you on any medication?

I was agoraphobic for several years and I know it can easily take on a life of its own. I hope you can get some kind of effective help soon. I've had the unable to answer the phone thing too. It's really hard for people to understand who haven't experienced it.

I think you need sleep too. I hope you can get some and then maybe you will have the energy to work on the other problems.

i used to have a really hard time with it....i was given EffexorXR and it helped but the side effects kicked me while i was down.....i'm on a ton of stuff now for bipolar.....but i still have shades of it. i recommend the above post.....that's how i did things.....okay, today, i'll sit on the front porch for 5 minutes...tomorrow, i'll bathe...the next day i'll not wear gown all day....really small steps. thank god that my daughter was with me and kept me fed and tried to make me go to bed around 2 a.m. every night........good luck........

Hi dayzee...I do know how this feels.

Back in 1994 when I got very depressed I was aggressively treated with medicine. In that time I went through huge changes mentally and physically...very quickly.

In a few weeks time I was unable to walk one block alone. Then for me to walk from the house to the car was extremely difficult.

The only time I would go out was to my therapist 2x a week.

My husband at the time would force me to go see my son or to try to get me to do things and it was literally painful.

I didn't want to talk or see anyone or go anyplace.

I can stop and think and remember this overwhelming feeling. I can compare the feeling of walking alone 1 block to suffocating.

It's been years and many changes have occured. I'm off of many of those medicines. In that time my body also has taken drastic changes. I guess you could say externally I look way better, but internally it's now a minefield...sorta like an old war zone w/a few old minefields scattered about, but nobody knows where or when they will come out or be stumbled upon.

I don't think I've been any help except that I do know how you're feeling and it was something that developed and it was something that did get better after time.

I hope you are feeling better.

If you ever want to talk I'm here.

Take care
Eva

Dayzee9,
Hello, I understand what you are going through and my original reply must have been too long because it went away when I was almost finished. Just to say I know how difficult it is only feel the number one thing right not is to get in touch with your T so your tx can resume for both the eating disorder and the agoraphobia. The sooner you are able to 'get out' the less likely full blown the agoraphobia can become. I am sure you have worked very much with a lot of effort, and you can do it. Try to begin with contacting your T so you can get going again with your tx and soon back on track as easy as that sounds I know it is leaps and bounds. Take it easy~ and be safe. Thinking of you~ Chris

Eva.........you have been a great help! Cuz I know those feelings you went thru. I have it in my paranoid mind that WHEN I can get out of the apartment, that if I wear sunglasses (cloudy days, and at night)people can't see me! Ain't that a hoot! My husband said I used to cut off the circulation in his arm when we'd just walk to the bus stop!

But thanks for relating....it helps me in a lot of ways you couldn't imagine! (((((((((DAYZEE9))))))))))))

Yo! Soledad Believe it or not, I am on several meds to "help me be able to get out" It's really confusing b/c I used to get drunk to be able to get out..( so aren't I just changing "meds") And then I'm paranoid if I don't walk in a very straight line! (I wear sunglasses day or night & pretend I'm marching back in the good ole' Army!) I know I need the sleep....I find it kinda humorous when people suggeset going OUT to a GROUP to cure agoraphobia, it just doesn't sound right?

But hey! Just thanks for replying to my post...I don't get out much............... (((DAYZEE))))

((((((((Chris)))))))))))))))
Thanks for responding!

I have phone phobia ( and I also used to work on a crisis line! I've come a long way! but I'm trying to just get downstairs to the cab (driven by a stranger for a long period of time) to get to my T to discuss the ED problems lately & no sleep...I must look like an idiot! I feel like an idiot. With my sunglasses on (so I'm "invisible") I cannot even breathe until I get to my appt. Then it takes 1/2 hour of my 1 hour session to calm down, so we can drag out the ED problem "alter" to talk about why she's starving us....never get a chance to talk about the agoraphobia! And that's usually the only time I can get out! I also live in public housing where everybody has nothing better to do than sit in the lobby and watch everybody else come & go and I'm not supposed to get paranoid???? Ahhh...

Just thanks for taking the time to even respond to my post! ((((((((((DAYZEE)))))))))))))))))

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Yo! Soledad Believe it or not, I am on several meds to "help me be able to get out" It's really confusing b/c I used to get drunk to be able to get out..( so aren't I just changing "meds") And then I'm paranoid if I don't walk in a very straight line! (I wear sunglasses day or night & pretend I'm marching back in the good ole' Army!) I know I need the sleep....I find it kinda humorous when people suggeset going OUT to a GROUP to cure agoraphobia, it just doesn't sound right?

But hey! Just thanks for replying to my post...I don't get out much............... (((DAYZEE))))

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I hope you find something you feel willing and able to try It does seem kind of ridiculous to suggest going out to find help to be able to go out I guess.

I do the sunglasses thing myself sometimes. Someone suggested that I take a camera with me to public events so I can hide behind it and still watch other people!

I don't know if you're "just changing meds" or not. I know there is a lot of controversey about medicating anxiety and phobias vs behaviour therapy or desensitization but I think go for whatever works for you! It sounds like whatever meds you are on aren't doing the trick though so maybe you can get your psychiatrist to change them!

Good luck

yvw (((dayzee)))

I wear very big sunglasses too. I dunno if you caught my pic online here, but I have a lot of hair.

I cut it awhile back and freaked because I couldn't hide "in" it. ... lol it. I felt so exposed.

Also, if you didn't catch my pic I took it down...paranoia set in ...lol.

I wish that my glasses came along with this feature to them... That would come in handy.

Anytime you need something...I'm here...you sound like you have an awesome sense of humor.

Take care .

Soledad...((((((((((((Thanks!))))))))))))))))))))))))))

GREAT INSIGHT!!!

Peace, (((((((((((((((DAYZEE9))))))))))))))))

DAYZEE9~~

My old Case Manager always called the people in the 'LOBBY POLICE"