[adamsgirl]

I am bipolar and have been fairly stable for the past 2 years. But I find that lately I don't want to leave my house after work or do anything outside of work or my home. It is a challenge for me to drive across town or go shopping. I feel like I am just relaxing. But people are starting to tell me that this is not normal. What do you guys think?
I mean, I do what I have to do but it is really hard at times. Driving is the worst. I just want to be home in bed in front of the tv vegging out. I am afraid that things may not be going as well for me as I thought they were.

[madisgram]

girl, i can totally relate! you may be experiencing agoraphobia, imho. basically a fear of going out. i have a fair dose of that and i have to make myself go out often enough cause the fear just builds up so intensely if i don't 'expose' myself to the elements. when i was in that funk, i'd first go to a place that had people but was rather not intesnse, like barnes and noble. btw, i'm bipolar too. i also have trouble sometimes, when the bp is acting up, driving. i'm so distracted it's not safe for me to drive. so those days i stay in for the community's sake. lol. i just can't concentrate and feel like it's too much stimulus at one time.
do you have a therapist? i'd run this by him/her. sometimes when we don't feel quite right, it's an indicator of something with the bp. if you talk about it to your T you can possibly thwart off an episode. definitely if your friends are noticing a change it's probably true. keep us posted, will you?

[ziggy1]

Adamsgirl your not alone! Being Social phobic and having PTSD makes it
really hard to get out and about for me to do things.

Its a challenge everyday!! Its like I almost experience anxiety before I
even leave home. The gym that I work out at now is huge. We're
talking lots of people, machines, HD TV's on the walls.

Its like I almost work myself up before I even get there!! I have to
constantly remind myself that everything will be ok when I get there.

And, usually its is. Its just getting past that little doubt in my mind,
thats has plagued me over the years. And yah I'd rather Isolate
and stay home to.

Then there is getting to other social activities and doing other volunteer
work I am involved in, and last but not least I have my 83 year old
mom I look after constantly.

I'm ready for vacation...LOL

Hang in there, good luck

[StrawberryFieldsss]

Originally Posted by adamsgirl

I am bipolar and have been fairly stable for the past 2 years. But I find that lately I don't want to leave my house after work or do anything outside of work or my home. It is a challenge for me to drive across town or go shopping. I feel like I am just relaxing. But people are starting to tell me that this is not normal. What do you guys think?
I mean, I do what I have to do but it is really hard at times. Driving is the worst. I just want to be home in bed in front of the tv vegging out. I am afraid that things may not be going as well for me as I thought they were.

If it didn't stress you out, you otherwise feel okay about it overall and you would go out if you really needed to, I would say don't worry about it.

I don't watch TV, but I feel like this pretty much daily, and I personally am lovin' it.