Agoraphobia

I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE AGORAPHOBIA. I'M READING UP ON IT, TO HELP ME UNDER STAND IT. AND TRY TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL,SO I CAN TRY TO GET BACK TO LIFE I ONCE KNOW....IF SOMEONE HAS IT TOO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE TREATING IT? I GET SCARED ALOT, I COULD USE SOME EXTRA HELP. THANK YOU THERSA

One thing that I have found is that going to safe places in the community really helps a person first start getting out. The grocery store is my biggest obstacle and for that I just take my time and look intenetly at food realizing that nobody really cares what I buy or what I am looking at. I am definitely a home person and choose to go over to people's houses more than in the community but I am starting to go to a NAMI support group meeting. It is hard to be alone and go outside where other people are but taking walks and starting out gradually can really take this phobia away.

Yes, start with easier things and take a friend along with you if you have one. Try not to give in to the fears.

thank you but i don't have any friends.

thank you. but i don't know what NAMI means.i don't know if there is one in alaska.i will check on internet. thankyou

Here's your state's help page:

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/datab...ullname=Alaska

Well, if I was in Alaska I would be paranoid. I have heard that the sun doesn't give it's light as often and that would certainly keep me inside more often. I think that is why so many homeless and often mentally ill people decide to live on the streets of Los Angeles. I had a terrible winter because of it not being warm out, and now that it's getting there I am ready to do stuff but cold weather and no sunlight makes me shut down. One thing I told a Canadian to do, that I read about for myself was to buy a SAD light, (Seasonal Affective Disorder). You sunbathe underneath it on your bed and it gives you natural Vitamin D, then supplements don't compare to and helps you feel motivated. I am seriously thinking of buying one myself and I live a fair distance closer to the equator than Alaska but still the winter greatly affects me. On another site, researchers from Finland followed a group of pregnant women and the children after birth and found that those taking a Vitamin D regiment, the women, their children were 95% less likely to develop a mental illness and it is beneficial to a patient as well. Something to think about. If I was in Alaska I would certainly buy a SAD light. :-)

my partner also struggles with agoraphobia sometimes. i think it has been helpful to find small community places that feel safer and are an easier way to start getting out in the world sometimes. we go to a small co-op right near our place and that has been an amazing community. very welcoming. i know that's not always an option in some areas... but since large grocery stores can certainly be overwhelming and scary, a smaller local place to get groceries has been so helpful. we even volunteer there, and it's a really supportive place.

i think it's also nice to try volunteering. if you find a place that interests you at all, often people are really happy to meet new people who also like the same things. i also like that with volunteering, you are offering to help in some way you can. i think every person has something to share. and it's ok not to share much at first. it's ok to stop volunteering if it's too much. any help you do give is appreciated and i think that's a nice feeling. but... maybe that's farther down the road. don't rush into things that make you too uncomfortable. but challenging yourself a little will be important to encourage growth and healing.

we also live in mn, which is pretty dark during half of the year. i can't imagine how much more intense that darkness would be in alaska. i agree with Grithnir, a SAD light / full spectrum light can be very helpful. we use one over the winter, and just have it on a lot, especially in the mornings because it can help jump start the day and give a little extra energy. i think it's definitely something that would be helpful if you are spending a lot of time inside... you're missing out on sunlight. the light we see/take in during the day does have an impact on our mood and well being.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ago...4/METHOD=print

I suffered with agoraphobia for years.
It's a tough one to overcome. I did overcome, because I had to.

No one was going to go pay my bills for me, buy my food, take the dog out, etc..

In a way, it was really my dogs that helped me to overcome it------theo

thersalng, how are you doing? Is professional help an option?