[CosmicRose]

I have Generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD. Some days it is very hard for me to leave my house and face the world. Even going shopping, which I usually enjoy, is tough to do sometimes. I can spend all day in the house, and while this may be easy and relaxing, I end up feeling so unproductive and like a failure. The days just seem to zip by and I end up not doing much. Other people my age (in their 20s) are out having fun, having sociable jobs, going to parties, going on adventures and road trips and generally just living. I feel like I'm dead, stale, just sitting still like a rock and slowly growing old. I have an at-home job so this means I don't even have to leave my house to go to work. I realize eventually I will end up getting a job that requires me to be social and out of my house 50% of the day and that alone gives me anxiety because I'm not used to it anymore. I'm scared and sometimes I don't even know what I'm scared of. It's easier to just waste away the hours and not change, but I know I have to. I'm not living, I'm just barely existing.
How do I change this?

[kaliope]

well my t says just get out there and do it. the more you stay in the home the harder it is going to be to get out. I still haven't found a way to do that. lol.....

I do work outside the home. and I make it out there though sometimes it does create anxiety for me to do so. but it is very hard for me to leave home any other time. I sit at home all weekend and do nothing. I feel I need this nothingness to recover from my week. if I do do things on the weekend I feel stressed all week, like I have gotten no rest. I typically only go to the store when I need my meds and do all my shopping then, twice a month. it about kills me if I need to go any other time. I will choose to go without a lot of times. I am generally ok with this lifestyle.

do I wish it were different.....yeah, I do. I wish I were social. I wish I wasn't limited by my anxiety. I wish I could have fun. I wish I was free. I wish I could just do it.

[allme]

Hi

Please don't fall into the trap of judging your life and what you should do based on what other people are doing. I also work from home and like you I seldom go out but to be honest, I am ok with this. People are too much like hard work...

Do something because you want to, not because you feel like you should because others are doing it.

[Juniebug]

I am sorry you're feeling so bad. I don't have much advice to offer because I'm struggling with depression and anxiety so badly myself. My question is, how do you work from home? I'm not able to work outside.

[CosmicRose]

It's a lame telemarketing independent contractor job my sister set me up with. Its all on commission which means I don't get paid unless I make a sale. It can be really good money but because there's no structure I can go days without working and end up not getting paid which is good for my anxiety but not good for my bills.