I plan to ask my doctor about this but I think my social anxiety and BP have caused some agoraphobic symptoms for me. I spend months in the house and even when stable I can't leave the house alone at all. Does anyone else experience anything like this? I need serious help, this symptom is holding me back. I seem to get manic, do weird things, then hide away or something. First time I remember this happening was about 25 years ago, but this current bout has clung for years. Any insight or ability to relate? How did you overcome this if you did?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I have similar issues. My pdoc and therapist try to get me to go to support groups or the walk-in center and I just hate the idea of other people. I do things with my mom and alone if I am already forced out of the house, like for therapy. I don't have many people in my world and I feel safest that way.

I didn't used to be this way so much. I didn't have a great social life when working but that was more because I was exhausted by work. So I got along with co-workers and that was as much as I could do. Now I often go from therapy to therapy with only leaving the house once or not at all.

when I worked, things were easier and I didn't pay attention to how much isolation I required. I guess I sprinkled my crazy in various places so nothing was too concentrated to focus on. Now I'm forced to pay attention and things really are not right. I'm avoiding panic at all costs and it's costing me and my family too much. I need to move forward but cannot imagine going out alone. Unless I'm manic it seems.

[RomanJames2014]

I'm the same way. Either depressed or manic, I stay in my house and cuddle in my covers and hibernate or I pace and listen to music and stuff and be creative.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is helping me and I hope it might help you https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/wp-cont...ovell-1999.pdf

I don't click links due to some bad history. (Long story) but I'm too paranoid. I appreciate the effort though and I'm sorry I cannot accept the offer of help in this instance. I feel so ashamed that I cannot even click on the link after you took time out to post it for me. It's not personal I assure you. I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you though.

[Icare dixit]

Now, I only have it when quite severely depressed. I can't stand the sight of myself and I don't want anyone seeing me. If it develops into something less severe I still have these problems, but it's rather easy to overcome eventually. I don't do much other than exposure.

I used to have it for delusional "reasons". I just couldn't. No anxiety or panic. Hard to explain, but I'm pretty good at not explaining, rationalising. It didn't happen always, but sometimes. Antipsychotics helped immensely (I also considered it likely that I was being observed (rationalisation: using cameras at home. End of rationalisation), so it wasn't always easy).

As for the fear of panic attacks, realise that people that don't know panic attacks aren't likely to feel or see you panic much, as long as you keep up appearances. Same with the start of psychosis (which is not dissimilar). You might tremble a bit, but otherwise it's quite possible to appear pretty much normal.

Focusing on that (and not on actual or possible reactions, your own or those of others) also helps to lower the anxiety. Try to control your breathing, so you don't start to hyperventilate. Sit down slowly as soon as you can, but if you can't just stay upright. If you sit and might be hyperventilating, don't stand up or do it very slowly.

I believe there is only one way to deal with anxiety: exposure. Not exposing yourself to what causes anxiety (such as staying inside) makes things increasingly worse. And you know it.

Try to expose yourself to the anxiety while listening to (different) music. You have to desentisise so look for visual or auditory stimulation. If you don't fear moving crowds as much as passing just a few people or one at a time, or if it's equally distressing, expose yourself to the former.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I don't click links due to some bad history. (Long story) but I'm too paranoid. I appreciate the effort though and I'm sorry I cannot accept the offer of help in this instance. I feel so ashamed that I cannot even click on the link after you took time out to post it for me. It's not personal I assure you. I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you though.

I wouldn't be here typing this if it weren't for antipsychotics. Not so long story: I just feared stuff like that.

No need to be ashamed whatever the reason. Maybe I can copy the text here. I'll try.

Edit:
It's 41 pages with diagrams and stuff. Should've looked first.

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I don't click links due to some bad history. (Long story) but I'm too paranoid. I appreciate the effort though and I'm sorry I cannot accept the offer of help in this instance. I feel so ashamed that I cannot even click on the link after you took time out to post it for me. It's not personal I assure you. I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you though.

Bless you! Thank you for taking the trouble to explain. Perhaps if you type "anxiety UK" into Google and have a look at their website. I realise you might be living in the States. But the website has a lot of useful resources, one of which is the work book I linked to. I use it in therapy and it has helped me understand what and why I feel the way I do, and small steps I can take to get better.

Mind you, if I won the lottery, I would just live in a big house full of books and cats up a mountain and not bother with people much. Apart from maybe a chef.

[Bipolarchic14]

I've had issues with social anxiety too. Sometimes it is a struggle to leave the house. But that is no way to live so I struggle through it