[maniaccreations]

It traps me in my house days sometimes weeks at a time. I force myself to go out to my therapy sessions and to get groceries. The only other times that I go away from my safe place is if my children need me for something. I spent the last 3 years inside of my house without being to go out without being on high dose of Xanax to get me into any vehicle just to get the doctor which was two blocks away. I moved back to my home town thinking it would help me get out and socialize more and I was wrong. I have been able to go to the store compared to what I did before. I am hoping now that I am seeing my old therapist again that I will be able to get out and try to live a more active life. I have been told many times it takes small steps to get there but there are those that don't understand agoraphobia at all. They say we are faking it and they say we just don't want to travel for the holidays or go on vacations with other family members which is not true at all. I know agoraphobia can be hard to deal with because I tried to go and see my in-laws and I was like a cat in a car and I had to beg my husband to bring me back home while he took the kids to get their Christmas gifts one year and I sat in my living room and cried and kept saying that I was a worthless person because I could not make one simple trip away from the house.

[Callmebj]

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you avoid situations that you're afraid might cause you to panic. You might avoid being alone, leaving your home or any situation where you could feel trapped, embarrassed or helpless if you do panic.
People with agoraphobia often have a hard time feeling safe in any public place, especially where crowds gather. The fears can be so overwhelming that you may be essentially trapped in your own home.
Agoraphobia treatment can be tough because it usually means confronting your fears. But with medications and psychotherapy, you can escape the trap of agoraphobia and live a more enjoyable life.


You've not mentioned whether you are addressing this problem with therapy. I know going anywhere is very, very hard for you. Can you do that; and have you seen about medications at all that might address this for you? It will take you being willing to take some steps to breaking this cycle. If you have a safe person to be with, it should help quiet a bit in venturing out. Tough phobia for you and hope that you
can break this cycle. Best to you. bj I don't think you are faking.

[maniaccreations]

I am addressing agoraphobia in my sessions with my T. I usually have to coach myself ALOT to go to the appointments that are scheduled for the month and the one day a month for groceries. I have my husband with me all the time. My anxiety is so severe that I have troubles driving.

Depakote 500mg x2 a day and Celexa 20mg

[Bill3]

Have you had panic attacks in public?

[maniaccreations]

Oh yes all the time. Some so severe that I have had to return to the car to calm down and want to go home right away without finishing errands in town.

[Bill3]

Is fear of panic attacks the only reason that you are reluctant to go out? Or are there other reasons as well?

[maniaccreations]

I fell back and injured my left leg in 2008 in a store parking lot. Ever since I have had troubles keeping stability when I walk. My left knee likes to slip and makes me feel like I am going to fall again.

[Bill3]

Oh my, with panic attacks and your left knee, no wonder you are concerned about going out. How do you manage to get to T or out for groceries? I suppose that being with your husband helps.

[maniaccreations]

I was given Lorazapam to help get out when I really need to.

[Callmebj]

Originally Posted by maniaccreations

I was given Lorazapam to help get out when I really need to.

Does that help a great degree with you? (Lorazapam) I certainly am hoping that you can work up to breaking up this and feel easier in public. Panic attacks can make one feel incapacitated as you well know. I have had them multiple times, but gaining the knowledge after year of having them, to find they are not terribly effecting on the body, helped a lot. It helped me to know that and they became manageable to me. There is I believe some information about physical health that contributes to the
panic attacks. I believe I read it was an increase in the system of lactic acid.

Have you looked at the information concerning panic attacks and your chemical makeup? I did go on a high healthy diet around that time and went bonkers buying vitamins and for years mixed up a protein shake to ingest several times a day. This helped tremendously for me, and at least I was able to function as a mom and wife.

Take Care, hugs, bj

[IndigoRose]

I relate to this SO MUCH. For me, it started by working from home. I still do, but there are days I cannot follow through on my plans to go grocery shopping or do anything other than lock myself up in my room with a book or work.

I'm bipolar, and my anxiety levels got worse once I knew all the pain I was experiencing was from Fibromyalgia. That can increase a person's anxiety tenfold. The more life trauma I have experienced, the worse my anxiety has gotten.

How are you handling the situation with your knee? Is there a brace you can wear so you feel more stable?

I emphathize with you more than you could ever know, and wish you the absolute BEST.

One of the things I struggle with on a large scale. But I am working on it with my P and T.

It's sooo hard. But I have made a little progress (which is fabulous considering I didn't leave my home for 7 months except to go to the market in the very early morning and meet my mother for lunch - at the same exact place, high end, no drama bistro...and I had to take a Xanax before doing any of it every time).

Now, I go to my job almost every day (check) and am trying to take a small lunch (away from the office - alone) but that is proving to be a challenge still. I won't give up, though!

[essexgirl]

Hello there, i totally understand what your going through
i get this too when its too hars to step outside the front door.

I think that its good to speak to a counsellor
too as i find this helps.

All the best to you. . xxx

[maniaccreations]

I am working with my T now on a weekly basis. It has been helping but I am still having alot of trouble keeping other appointments other than the T ones. I have not been seen for my knee injury yet but it is on my list to try to get done by the end of this month. I have to it for my attorney for my SSI case. I am on the last step to go in front of the SSI judge. Any advice?