[medicalfox]

I have so much anxiety that I am unable to leave my house and be okay. When I need to leave I end up puking in public or having diarrhea so I just have been staying home. I don't understand why it's so stressful for me to leave my house and I just want to be functional. I haven't been working since I just can't seem to handle it and I don't know how to pull myself together. I've mostly been sleeping in to prevent anxiety since I don't know what else to do. I have to go grocery shopping, but I panic in the grocery store and I have a lot of dissociation happening at the same time which causes more anxiety. What would you recommend?

[manwithnofriends]

I personally think not leaving the house is more to do with the house being "endangered" when left empty (especially if you live in a high crime area) rather than any kind of anxiety. If that's not the case and you don't live alone, try leaving the house with the person you share it with. If not, I don't really know what can help because you might resist even our suggestion of, well, just leaving the house...

[medicalfox]

Originally Posted by manwithnofriends

I personally think not leaving the house is more to do with the house being "endangered" when left empty (especially if you live in a high crime area) rather than any kind of anxiety. If that's not the case and you don't live alone, try leaving the house with the person you share it with. If not, I don't really know what can help because you might resist even our suggestion of, well, just leaving the house...

Maybe my boyfriend won't mind going grocery shopping with me. I will ask him when he gets home and I have never been this way before. I live in a nice neighborhood so I'm not sure what is causing my anxiety.

[CastlesInTheAir]

Originally Posted by medicalfox

Maybe my boyfriend won't mind going grocery shopping with me. I will ask him when he gets home and I have never been this way before. I live in a nice neighborhood so I'm not sure what is causing my anxiety.

I go when I know it isn't busy not sure if that would help you......

[FrayedEnds]

I do the same thing! I drive 2 towns away just to shop at the 24 hr market. There's not many shoppers in the middle of the night.

[CastlesInTheAir]

Originally Posted by FrayedEnds

I do the same thing! I drive 2 towns away just to shop at the 24 hr market. There's not many shoppers in the middle of the night.

Right I hit the less main stream convenience stores and gas stations too. Online shopping is my thing too..but I really really want to "go shopping" at least one time soon....I remember a few years ago I think it was I went Christmas shopping and having headphones in one ear listening to music, helped a lot.

[arachnophobia.kid]

I would recommend finding some outdoor activity that you think you'd enjoy, maybe that would help you to feel good about going outside. Also I would try going to peaceful places that are outdoors like parks, gardens, or whatever appeals to you as someplace calm.

Do you have any idea why you are so afraid to go outside?

[1776]

See a psychiatrist and let him prescribe some meds. They do help. Don't worry about the barfing or the diarrhea. He'll understand.

I'm a recluse. I rarely leave my house. When I do, I'm able to because of my meds.

[medicalfox]

Originally Posted by arachnophobia.kid

I would recommend finding some outdoor activity that you think you'd enjoy, maybe that would help you to feel good about going outside. Also I would try going to peaceful places that are outdoors like parks, gardens, or whatever appeals to you as someplace calm.

Do you have any idea why you are so afraid to go outside?

I have no idea, I'm currently in a mixed bipolar episode so that is affecting my judgement a lot. I called my psychiatrist for additional meds, but he has not called me back.

[not quite right]

Agoraphobia. I know thee well. I take a high dose of meds& unfortunately the fear persists. I've almost been arrested for shoplifting from fleeing the store in a blackout panic & am banned from a few places after i linebacked my way through crowds of innocent people. I have not found a way to change it, it's just who I am & part of my suffering. I hope you can find your way out.

[CastlesInTheAir]

Originally Posted by not quite right

Agoraphobia. I know thee well. I take a high dose of meds& unfortunately the fear persists. I've almost been arrested for shoplifting from fleeing the store in a blackout panic & am banned from a few places after i linebacked my way through crowds of innocent people. I have not found a way to change it, it's just who I am & part of my suffering. I hope you can find your way out.

Have you tried listening to headphones while out??? I did this once but that was before everything got...worse. Just wondering cause I was thinking of trying it again because I really want to go to the store and get stuff without having to wait for it to come in the damn mail....lol