[phipps88fan]

Does anyone here have panic attacks with agoraphobia? There are many days in a row that I will go without leaving the house and when I do I have to have my husband with me. I don't know why or what happened to make me like this and it drives me crazy, and my husband. If I have to even think about going somewhere alone I will do anything possible to get out of it. If I do have to go alone I will make myself sick thinking about it until I walk out the door..having a panic attack sometimes. Is there anyone else dealing with something similar to this? Anyone have any idea on how to deal with this problem?

[Squaw]

Originally Posted by phipps88fan

Does anyone here have panic attacks with agoraphobia? There are many days in a row that I will go without leaving the house and when I do I have to have my husband with me. I don't know why or what happened to make me like this and it drives me crazy, and my husband. If I have to even think about going somewhere alone I will do anything possible to get out of it. If I do have to go alone I will make myself sick thinking about it until I walk out the door..having a panic attack sometimes. Is there anyone else dealing with something similar to this? Anyone have any idea on how to deal with this problem?

My heart goes out to you. I have agoraphobia that will trigger a panic attack if I cannot remove myself from the situation. I can't be around lots of people or lots of noise. Everything intensifies and gets louder and louder; no one but me is affected like this. I don't have a problem leaving or going somewhere by myself, but I cannot be where I cannot watch everyone at all times; I was physically assaulted Dec. 6th '09, and since then I feel the need to watch everyone, no matter where I am, in public. It's very embarrassing for me to be this way. As far as panic attacks, I take a seizure drug to control those. It's very helpful. If I can help in any way, please let me know. Bless you...♥ HUGS..............

[phipps88fan]

Hi Squaw, I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I also can't be around many people. It seems like every time I try to go into the mall I have a panic attack. My husband gets very frustrated with me...he doesn't understand what's wrong with me. I feel like..in a way everyone's out to get me if that makes sense. I might leave the house 2 times a week. I literally have no hobbies or interests or anything, just 4 walls. What seizure meds do you take if you don't mind me asking?

[Stranger2]

I also have agoriphobia.. I have to psych myself up to leave the house.. I make all my appointments for early morning..I suffer from panic attacks also.. My meds for that I have to wait until I get home to take because I'm not suppose to drive while on them..My T told me it is very important that if you go somehwere but can't go in then leave but the important part is to make sure you go back the same day so your negative thoughts don't take over..

[phipps88fan]

Can you explain going back "the same time of day" to me.? It doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is for me, if I don't have my husband or mother with me I'm a basket case.

[Hippie]

If someone has a cure for this, please let me know. I panic when driving so my husband drives me everywhere. Am on a myriad of meds but they don't work.
I didn't have a traumatic experience like Squaw.

[phipps88fan]

Hi Hippie, my husband gets so irritated with me also. I don't understand it either. I used to love to get in the car and just drive. Now it's like a nightmare to get me to go anywhere especially alone. I wish I could do something that would help all of us...Squaw and Hippe...so we didn't have to live like this anymore. Hugs!

[Squaw]

Originally Posted by Hippie

If someone has a cure for this, please let me know. I panic when driving so my husband drives me everywhere. Am on a myriad of meds but they don't work.
I didn't have a traumatic experience like Squaw.

I don't think that there is a "cure" but some meds do work. Some people (like me) don't like to take chemicals, but sometimes you have to try them to get help coping. By the way I had panic attacks before the assault in December, it just seemed to put me back where I used to be, before I got help with my panic attacks. I take a seizure drug, Klonopin, and it helps tremendously! Take Care. (((Hippie)))♥

[Hippie]

At least I know I'm not alone in this.

[phipps88fan]

You are definitely not alone in this Hippie. I felt that way too. I thought it was only me and everyone can tell when I'm out in public that I'm terrified to be there. I wish there was a quick fix for this but it's going to take time and support. Hugs!

[BashfullOne]

You sound exactly like me! I can't leave the house alone; I have to have my husband with me, or one of my grown sons. When I do have to leave, pick up my meds, I go to the drive through, and go straight back home! The whole time I panic and have horrible pains in my chest and tummy, I sweat, and shake. I can't be out on our deck for more that 5 minutes alone. I can stay out side for almost 20 minutes when my husband or one of my sons are with me. I use to love being outside - now I just go out in the dark on the deck and watch the starts and sky at nights (spring - fall). I don't know why this has happened - I feel like everyone is staring at me and judging me...it creeps me out till I'm almost crying. You're not alone!

[Rohag]

Probably should check in here...

Yes, among other things, I have agoraphobia. I can handle a small group of people, or people scattered about in a large space, but crowds are pretty much out of the question. Medical waiting rooms are problematic; every once in a while I just get up and hide in a stairwell.

No one has diagnosed me with panic attacks, but I experience two different types of "episode" which so far remain unidentified - they may fall into the gray area between psychology and neurology. Yes, Klonopin is among my meds.

It has been over a decade since I've driven. The sensation of relative motion (rapidly passing cars and objects) and sensory overload are far too paralyzing/triggering.

I regret any of us has to deal with this...thing.

[phipps88fan]

I'm so sorry yall have to deal with this "beast" also. I wish I knew what caused this or what happened to cause this. I don't understand what can do to stop this either. It gets so frustrating.

[yutzman]

I live in two small rooms in my house where I feel comfortable...and only emerge out of necessity....but I've been taking Buspar for about six months now and it helps greatly with the panic attacks.....I can now go to the grocery store or Walmart etc. without white knuckles and sweating.....I've been talking and working on exercises with my Psych who has helped greatly...I hope to move this spring into a more normal environment (we'll see how that goes).....

[phipps88fan]

Hi yutzman, I'm glad you have found something that is working for you. My family doesn't understand...if they get me out the house..why I can't wait to get back to the house. What is sad is my daughter is offering to miss softball practice and school (she likes school) to go with me to a doctor appointment. So now I'm dragging my kids into this. I just don't think I can go alone though. Just makes me feel so guilty. I hope we can all deal with this awful thing.

[yutzman]

Unfortunately this thing seems to be a social disease, involving not only us but all those close to us also. I've been lucky that most of my family and friends understand my plight (but I can't be bothered by the ones that don't), and any sacrifices for me were given out of love. This was a rallying point for my recovery, which took a long time, but I finally found relief......

[Squaw]

Originally Posted by BashfullOne

You sound exactly like me! I can't leave the house alone; I have to have my husband with me, or one of my grown sons. When I do have to leave, pick up my meds, I go to the drive through, and go straight back home! The whole time I panic and have horrible pains in my chest and tummy, I sweat, and shake. I can't be out on our deck for more that 5 minutes alone. I can stay out side for almost 20 minutes when my husband or one of my sons are with me. I use to love being outside - now I just go out in the dark on the deck and watch the starts and sky at nights (spring - fall). I don't know why this has happened - I feel like everyone is staring at me and judging me...it creeps me out till I'm almost crying. You're not alone!

Unfortunately, for some of us, these things happen for no reason, that we know of anyway. Some things we aren't meant to know, at present time. We just have to do the best we can do. Take Care, BashfullOne... HUGS.....♥

[Stranger2]

I have been in therapy for five years.. My therapist got me to the point where I can drive again and I started getting out of the house going to this park about a mile away..Now I make all my appointments early in the morning..It helps to do this for me because there aren't many people out that early..For the past year my agoriphobia and socialphobia have started to get worst again..I only go out three times a month..To get my meds, to go to therapy, and to go to the grocery store.. Then as soon as I get home I take two xanax..They calm me down..When I am out I wear a hat and sunglasses hopeing no one I use to know will recognise me..Try therapy it has helped me in some aspects of my life..

[Parker10]

I can relate to all that you all are saying. I was agoraphobic for many years. Luckily I found a P/Doc who also had assistants called "In Vivo Therapists". These therapists first worked on my "stinkin thinkin", such as "I cannot go out, I always have diarrhea". When it fact, I did not ALWAYS have it, but feared I would. I learned to rephrase my internal thinking.....stopped using the words MUST, HAVE TO, and replaced with "CHOOSE". It gave me back some of the power, to not allow "the beast we know as agoraphobia dictate my thoughts". once I was better with my thinking, the therapists took me out to places I had feared.....those places that I "thought" caused my panic. It was slow going at first, as my brain and body were so used to kicking into the "fight or flight" gear, but slowly, I realized it was my own thoughts causing my panic attacks. One of my biggest avoidances was the grocery store. "Places, nor people" cause panic attacks... our thoughts do. My thoughts were "I ALWAYS have a panic attack in here", or "What IF I have a panic attack and run from the store, who will put my groceries back on the shelf", etc. I over came that "stinkin thinkin" by visualizing those VanDeCamp fish commercials on TV where the frozen fish jump up from the freezer, and focused on laughing inside how foolish it would be to be afraid of them. I also visualized Juan Valdez Coffee commercials - and thinking how funny it would be to see that burro in the next aisle. Once I trained myself to STOP thinking my negative, stinkin thinkin thoughts, I started overcoming more and more places I avoided. This type therapy is one of the best for panic/anxiety/agoraphobia. For me, that therapy was in 1990, and while I DO take medication, I have had not a single panic attack, nor am I agoraphobic (however, I will not fly). **THERE IS LIFE AFTER PANIC**

Although I have not been here much lately, I plan to be around more. I will be more than happy to share ideas and information. I returned to college after my agoraphobia abated and am a licensed In Vivo Therapist (currently retired and taking care of my terminally ill Mother-in-law). Feel free to toss me a private message anytime!

[la doctora]

I have dealt with this issue also. It was really bad for awhile and I missed a week of work just because I was terrified to leave the house and I have no idea why. It isn't just work. Sometimes I panic and beg my husband to go to the grocery store with me so I don't have to drive. Driving is huge for me. I am so nervous and tense when I am driving. Some days I am fine and other days I feel like the world will end if I have to get in the car. My husband gets irritated at me as well. I understand his frustration. It is not a rational behavior I know. I have no idea why I am this way. The other hard thing is the grocery store. I, too, feel like everyone there can see how nervous I am. I feel like it radiates off me like an aura...

[Hippie]

What you guys say is so familiar! Wonder how many other people have this.
It's pretty embarrassing.

[bluestate]

Count me in. I have been dealing with this for most of my life. I am old enough to stay home and lead a pretty reclusive life now, but struggled for years 'out there'.

I pretty well know where mine started, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. This has been with me since childhood and I am well into the social security stage of life now.

I go to appointments but white knuckle them, shop about three times a year. I eat a lot of stock up foods, macaroni and such. Not the healthiest but at least I do have food.

Good to meet you all, although I am sorry for the reason. Sorry you are going through the tightness of extreme fear as I am.

Good luck to you all.

[phipps88fan]

Hi, I'm so sorry you have had to deal with this for so long. When I started this thread I never thought this would effect so many people. I have always felt so alone, like I was in some way a freak for feeling this way. In a way it makes me feel better that I'm not alone but I also feel sad that all of yall have this monster too and I wish I could take it away from everyone and make yall stop hurting from it...if that makes any sense. It's also nice to meet you too. Hugs!

I live by myself and have agoraphobia. It's a drag when the fridge is empty, you're hungry all out of food but going to the mall seems as tempting as a trip to Dante's inferno.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Yes, agoraphobia with anxiety and panic....though blessed and have a good partner

Here now there is a service for mentally ill people and physically ill people who are living on their own.

The big grocery chains will take your shopping list, do your shop and have it delivered to you. Maybe you could call your local supermarket chains to see if they will do that for you?

Good luck,

Rhiannon