Is there such a thing as a functioning agoraphobic?

Hello!

I am not sure precisely what I am. I function extremely well at work, and though I can suffer stress, I feel I am in control of myself. Home life is good but hectic and overall, I tend to be in decent spirits. My problem comes when anything "out of the ordinary" shows up. I am petrified of trips/travel in part because I don't know what to expect, but more because I do not trust myself and my reactions. The moment I find out a trip or big social event is announced I begin to agonize, suffer panic attacks, become super anxious and (at times) have made plans all by MYSELF only to cancel them on myself. I also spend a great deal of time avoiding or planning how to get out of certain situations. It limits my sense of normalcy a great deal, specially for my spouse and children.

I am looking for anyone who can relate mainly to know that I am not the only one out there suffering from these things.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

Hi Oceanalla13

Welcome to PC. It is nice to meet you. I can relate to you. I also get stressed out when something like a trip comes up. Anything out of the ordinary does stress me out. I like things to be predictable. When they aren't, I get stressed out. Yes, you can be a functioning agoraphobic. You do what you have to then you want the normalcy. I spend a lot of time planning so things won't be unpredictable. I want to know what is around the corner.

I was wondering if you suffer from hyper-vigilance, too?

So I'm not the only one? Vacations even scare me. Whenever I know we are going to be leaving home, I over prepare. I have to know where all the hospital, emergency rooms and pharmacies are along the way. I have to have extra medication to calm me for car and plane trips. While most people look at vacations as stress relievers, mine tend to cause me stress.
I think I function well at work...once I am there. Decent at home too...until the nights hit and I feel all alone (even though my hubby is right beside me). I break plans and hate social events that feel out of my control. It's awful, but yes, I know your pain.

You're not agoraphobic if you can hold down a job and leave your house every day. You even say you're excelling at work...agoraphobics have a hard time even leaving the house for simple errands or work every morning, so I don't think you are agoraphobic. There's a difference between not liking to travel and go on trips, and being agoraphobic.

There's nothing wrong with not liking to travel. Nothing wrong with not liking big social events. Nothing wrong with cancelling plans.

Hi there! Thanks for the welcome, it is nice to meet you too and to see that I am not the only one who likes things planned. You asked me about hyper-vigilance...not quite sure what you mean...
Let me know
Thanks,
~D.

Hello! I think you and I have a lot in common lol
Sometimes I feel bad because, though my husband is very supportive and kind, I feel that I am hard to understand and a bit of a nuisance. Great to hear from you and know that I'm not alone.

Cosmic Rose:
Thank you for your post. I am much better now (I did have a year were I could pretty much only leave my house sporadically) but notice the vacation/travel thing still comes up. Like you say, I just have to learn that there may indeed be "nothing wrong" with that

I am agoraphobic. I don't leave the house very often. I leave for doctors appts, picking up prescriptions and that's about it. I don't drive, I get a ride..... I have tried to make my peace with it, even though it does stink......