isolated

I continue to isolate myself. If I don't have to work I sit in the house. I am not reaching out to friends anymore. I don't feel depressed just feel like I don't have anything to offer other people. It feels like it is all I can do to just be here for me. I stress out when at work and I am afraid I won't be able to do it long term. I just want to feel normal and losing hope that it will ever happen.

jack123 Been there. Hope it lifts for you soon...

Jack - every so often I think all of us get to that point. Maybe you need a break? Do something that you're able to enjoy doing on your own. (just because you're in a loner mood, unless you are comfortable enough to do something with someone)

Also, I try my best not to use the word "normal" ... unless it's to refer to the setting on my dryer. A long time ago I figured out that no one is really "normal" ... there is no definition that can be agreed on!! "Normal" is in the eye of the beholder.

I am sure this will pass ... but in all honesty, do try to do something that will make you feel good. Be it reading, exercise, baking goodies (and eating them guiltlessly!), a long walk, listening to music ... ahhh the list goes on and on

I can really relate to this, I live in a wonderful new apartment in a great new city and I can't leave the house and when I look out the window and see a lot of peopl.e i cant be around them, I cant laugh and have a good time like everyone else seems to to do. I seem to not be able to connect with people & the last 2 days I have spent in the house scared to go out for some odd reason. I was an outgoing person who could talk to anyone, not sure where that person went

Thanks for all the good advice. I did get out tonight and take the dogs for a walk. I just am so afraid of being around people. Not sure how I manage to work with that fear but somehow I am managing right now. Best wishes to all of you.

Jack I have been diagnosed with agoraphobia also , do u have that? I managed to take out the garbage and walk to the mail box today which is disheartening as a normal day includes four 20 minute walks.

I am not sure that I have agoraphobia but I know that I perfer to stay alone in my house. I have to make myself get out when I am not working.

Worth looking into if agoraphobic, kind of sounds like it to me as an agoraphobic, this is day 3 in house for me I did get dressed but have no intention of going outside, I really am going to try to take my walk which I truly enjoy< I prefer to be alone too.

I made myself go to church tonight. I am still uncomfortable around people. I never feel like I fit in anywhere. I don't know anyway to cure this problem without just making myself go out.

Absolutely just have to do it, I took one walk today, my goal is four a day, and i sat by pool for a half an hour, so I was proud, tomorrow I must tackle the bus and walmart as I need some things. I am not real comfortable around people either.

Oh yeah. Working provides some sort of structure and need to go out too. When I don't (as in, nearly all of the last 5 months), I go almost nowhere at all. Have to psych myself up for days just to get to the grocery store. Lack of structure does make it harder.
I think you're right on that one, jack123. While other parts are difficult, the most difficult part is getting out the door (at least for me). Therefore, making oneself go out is a good idea. I find that the more I don't go out, the more I am afraid to. It's a viscious circle.

Sorry to hear you are uncomfortable and feel you don't fit in, but know at least that you are not alone in that... Here too.

Don't be too hard on yourself...you did walk the dogs and go to church while you were feeling this way...it's important to recognize that you are isolating and then do the "opposite"...and you did...it may not feel great but gosh you recognized the symptom and then took an action plan to counteract it...congrats!

I too isolate...

I think you're making a good effort, Jack. You recognize the problem. You say you have to make yourself go out. And you manage to do that, even if it is on a limited basis. Maybe there aren't any shortcuts other than just making oneself do it. Like - I don't believe you can think your way out of it. I say that because I have been trying to do that and getting no where at all.

The posts on this thread have been helpful for me to read. Based on the way agoraphobia is diagnosed when I look it up, it does not sound like anything I have ever had. My problem is depression/anxiety/social shyness. Something kind of new has started though. I don't want to set foot outside my apartment door. I haven't gone out to get the mail in about 3 days. I put the trash container out 2 days ago to be collected. It is still sitting near the curb. I am scared to go out and bring it back to where it belongs outside my kitchen door.

I ask myself: What the heck am I scared of? Partly, I'm scared of any neighbors seeing me. They know I'm depressed and I'm embarrassed. When I'm not in a depressed mood, I have no trouble going out to feed the birds and prune the rose bushes and sweep up the walk ways around the small complex I live in.

This fear of going out is horrible. I am afraid the neighbors are going to spot me and think "Oh, here comes the crazy lady." Well, that's my theory for why I can't manage to put a foot out. But I don't know for sure why I'm getting this way. Right now I do feel afraid of people.

So, to Jack and all of you who've posted above, I've benefited from seeing that others get this way too. I didn't know where on the Forums to go, so I put agoraphobia in the "advanced search box" and up came these threads with that word. I picked this one to start with and, as I read, it seemed to me like "these posters are talking about what I'm dealing with, regardless of what anyone calls it."

I'll go back and read over this thread and look at others. I am inspired by Jack saying that it's a matter of making yourself do what you don't feel like doing.

Jack, you are going to work. I would say don't worry about too far down the line. Where you are working may not be your final destiny. But. for now, it's a real accomplishment.