I'm on disability so don't work. Part (but not all) of my limitations besides mood instability is being housebound. I used to have mild agoraphobia, but nowadays I am able to go places and not have anxiety/panic. Of course I'm on a limited budget so don't want to go places that cost money all of the time, but there are plenty of things I could do outside my home for free. But I just don't want to do any more than necessary errands, appointments, and an occasional lunch out. When home, I even most prefer to be in or on my bed with my laptop or phone in the presence of my pet parrot. I only get up to go to the bathroom or kitchen to make food. Other than meals spent with hubby, I even eat in bed.

Being out of my nook is stressful beyond maybe 1.5 hours. Maybe once per month I'm out as long as 4 hours, but only to accompany my husband to his eye appointment in Philadelphia or to do many errands. But that can be highly taxing on me.

I'm not sure why I have this issue, but I believe it is related to my mental illness. Even when I'm stable I have trouble being out all day long, but it can be longer. Vacations (occasional) are a bit stressful, and I tend to spend more time than I should in hotel rooms.

Lately I've been depressed. I can barely do housework, and haven't even cooked meals many nights. Self-care is minimal. Taking showers is stressful, or when I do, I often don't wash my hair.

I'm on disability as well, and spend most of my time at home. I prefer it that way, honestly. I get out of the house a few times a week for my part-time job, plus errands like groceries and sometimes eating out. I have also recently started weekly group therapy for my anxiety, so I get out of the house for that.

But I prefer being at home for the most part. I don't consider it a part of my mental illness, but rather just being a natural introvert.

[SorryShaped]

If you have Part B Medicare, like through in-Humana or BCB.S. then you might get Silver Sneakers which gives free gym memberships. Just something to do differently.
It doesn't matter how old you are

[franz kafka]

When I'm depressed or if my OCD is really bad I barely leave the house. Last semester I went outside for classes and that's about it. It was a huge struggle to even do that.

[Travelinglady]

I don't get out much either, since I can't take much stress. I do what I feel I can do. I often feel better when I get out, though. I'm going out with my husband today to do some book trading and shopping. I stayed home all day yesterday.

P.S. I hate to wash my hair in the shower now. Sometimes I stick it down in the bathtub water! Have you told your doc about feeling down? Maybe you need a med adjustment. I've had to have one from time to time.

[Wild Coyote]

I am mostly homebound. I go out when I really need to, or when H needs me to go with him. I also go with my mother to her appts. Outside of those times, I am at home. Some days are better than others. Some days, I get a few things done, other days I do not.

While I love people, I am an introvert, so I enjoy my time at home and love my alone time.

I am dealing with a few fatiguing illnesses and chronic pain. Some days, it's very tough to function. I feel I function -- physically -- on a low level.

It's nice to have you around PC.

WC

[Pookyl]

I get major anxiety whenever I have to leave my apartment. But I force myself to do little trips by foot to the local shops, butcher etc every day. I found that if I don’t, my agoraphobia worsens and becomes crippling.

[Skeezyks]

I pretty-much just keep to myself... by choice. I don't drive anymore. My wife drives. Most anything I need I can get to walking. (I do walk our dog around the neighborhood daily.) I go out with my wife when it's necessary. But really, for the most part, there's no place to go anyway. I don't spend money on anything that isn't necessary. And I avoid going anywhere there's a crowd.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone!

I was never an introvert really. I was more of an extrovert. However, starting with the worst of my bipolar illness in my 30s, that changed off and on. Sometimes I was one way, other times the other, but during the last six or so years I was more often hiding in my room.

That's a good thing to know about the Medicare Part B and gym memberships, but I only ever went to gyms if my old friend pushed me. I don't have Part B, though. I opt out of that and the drug coverage since I'm covered under my hubby's insurance. I only have the hospitalization part of Medicare.

Thanks to online grocery shopping I haven't left my apartment for 3 weeks

Originally Posted by Pookyl

I get major anxiety whenever I have to leave my apartment. But I force myself to do little trips by foot to the local shops, butcher etc every day. I found that if I don’t, my agoraphobia worsens and becomes crippling.

Thanks for this, Pookyl. I suffered crippling agoraphobia in my twenties and it was difficult to overcome. Once I was well on the road to recovery I made a point of leaving the house each day so I'd never go back there again. And it worked for many years. But a series of **** - storm life events and here I am in my late 40s, once again living life as a hermit.

I am an introvert, like others have mentioned, and I do like being home, but this has become not a good thing I think.

[VerMOZZica]

I also do not like to leave the house very much. I even have a vitamin D deficiency because of that. I leave the house for shopping and appointments and just last week I left the house to participate in an art class. Oh yeah and I went and saw a movie on Tuesday. So I do get out sometimes.

[*Laurie*]

I think there's a big difference between someone who prefers to stay at home alone, maybe has hobbies or certain activities they are really engaged in, and someone who feels compelled to remain at home or in bed because of mental illness.

I think it's important to discern which one is where you're at. If the answer is "mental illness" it's important to reach out for help with meds, therapy, a support group, etc.

[~Christina]

I have no choice to go out and do things despite my bipolar and chronic pain.

I “ try” to pace myself but some days I just want to stay home and work on a hobby or just lay in bed.

In Winter i stay home most days of the week. But now that we're getting some Spring-like weather i'm more active. I don't think there's anything wrong with staying home. It's very peaceful.

[99fairies]

I never leave my house without my hubby. He drvies me anywhere I need to go, and I rarely have to go anywhere. My pdoc appointments mostly.

[Moreta]

I had problems with this from 2010-2012. In 2012 I kinda got tired of being at home all the time so I'd go eat lunch with my husband at work. Then in July of 2012 I got a job again and didn't have a choice about leaving the house. Now I try to leave the house to go out somewhere, even if it's just to walk around dollar tree to get a few things I don't really need. The cashiers there are fun to talk to. I feel like I'm always going to the pharmacy too. Now I'm going to the gym and volunteering so I'm out almost every day. I need to get better at going out on sunday's though I feel so burnt out by then, but this sunday I have to go to church cause I'm an usher and counting the money apparently. Some nights I don't sleep though and I usually don't go out on those days cause I don't trust myself driving. It gets better, just gotta take small steps.

Originally Posted by Moreta

I had problems with this from 2010-2012. In 2012 I kinda got tired of being at home all the time so I'd go eat lunch with my husband at work. Then in July of 2012 I got a job again and didn't have a choice about leaving the house. Now I try to leave the house to go out somewhere, even if it's just to walk around dollar tree to get a few things I don't really need. The cashiers there are fun to talk to. I feel like I'm always going to the pharmacy too. Now I'm going to the gym and volunteering so I'm out almost every day. I need to get better at going out on sunday's though I feel so burnt out by then, but this sunday I have to go to church cause I'm an usher and counting the money apparently. Some nights I don't sleep though and I usually don't go out on those days cause I don't trust myself driving. It gets better, just gotta take small steps.

What you're doing is what I'd like to slowly work up to, but it's difficult. Sometimes I make steps forward, but then get knocked down.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

What you're doing is what I'd like to slowly work up to, but it's difficult. Sometimes I make steps forward, but then get knocked down.

Yeah it took a lot of work to get to this point. It helps to get stable first. I can say when I'm out of the house for more than 4 hrs at time, I'm beat. I just come home and crash. Driving gives me anxiety sometimes so I've learned all the back roads in town that are less traveled and even they're busy sometimes but what can you do when the town you live in has 240k+ residents. I rarely take the highway. On ramps really give me anxiety, not because I don't know how to use them, it's the other people that don't understand how to use them that mess with me. My car is old and I can't gun it from a dead stop to get to 50+ mph within any reasonable time to get in front of a car doing that. Back roads may take longer, but it's worth it to be less anxious for me. Really the only time I take the highway is if I go to another city and there's no other options. I have to go to High Point a lot cause that's where most of my drs are and the drive on HWY 311 isn't bad, not a lot of people take it. It's a pretty straight road though and I space out and end up going 75 mph. haha.

Getting out of the house is something you have to work up to and it took a while for me. tbh I'd be fine staying at the house all day, but my husband is out of town so I have to run all the errands. I don't have much choice in the matter. I just wish we lived in the rich part of town cause that's where all the shops I like are so running errands would take me less time. haha.

I have the issue with meds taking motivation away combined with anxiety that makes me not want to go out by myself.

There have been many times where I won’t go to the store because my daughter won’t go. I’ve had to turn around and come home because I just can’t do it when I try to go by myself. I’m just a combination of tired, achy, and anxious

I work and have been able to work OK. Fortunately I started therapy in time right around when I started calling in sick out of dread. I’ve quit doing that.

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I'm on disability so don't work. Part (but not all) of my limitations besides mood instability is being housebound. I used to have mild agoraphobia, but nowadays I am able to go places and not have anxiety/panic. Of course I'm on a limited budget so don't want to go places that cost money all of the time, but there are plenty of things I could do outside my home for free. But I just don't want to do any more than necessary errands, appointments, and an occasional lunch out. When home, I even most prefer to be in or on my bed with my laptop or phone in the presence of my pet parrot. I only get up to go to the bathroom or kitchen to make food. Other than meals spent with hubby, I even eat in bed.

Being out of my nook is stressful beyond maybe 1.5 hours. Maybe once per month I'm out as long as 4 hours, but only to accompany my husband to his eye appointment in Philadelphia or to do many errands. But that can be highly taxing on me.

I'm not sure why I have this issue, but I believe it is related to my mental illness. Even when I'm stable I have trouble being out all day long, but it can be longer. Vacations (occasional) are a bit stressful, and I tend to spend more time than I should in hotel rooms.

Lately I've been depressed. I can barely do housework, and haven't even cooked meals many nights. Self-care is minimal. Taking showers is stressful, or when I do, I often don't wash my hair.

I am agoraphobic, so I try, when possible, to stay inside.

their are certain situations where I have to leave the house (and that's stressfull beyond belief), and most of those times I just cancel anyway, but most things I do online.

internet is my lifeline

[Unrigged64072835]

I have agoraphobia as well. I have great difficulty walking past my driveway on a good day. I also have trouble driving. My husband prefers to drive but with his MS he's fatigued easily. We're out usually 2 hours at the most. We're both introverts (me more so), but we still try to get out. Usually it's only for appts. or errands, though.

[Littlelola33]

[ I am pretty much housebound also due to agoraphobia and depression/anxiety. Been about 5 years. I only go out to see psych and occasionally quick shopping on the long trip home. my bf drives, I am afraid to do that now too. spend most of my day in my room, in bed. I get my pets fed, do laundry, do the most minimal housework I can. I also have really slacked on showering daily and when I do, washing my hair is down to like once a week. I'm on disability and feel so much guilt that I am not productive anymore and cant fix this. I have great fear of leaving the end of my driveway or even being outside if a neighbor is out that can see me. other than what my mind tells me, I'm otherwise healthy. so wish I could leave home with ease again. thank you so much for your post. its so nice to hear from someone I can relate too. best wishes. lola