What is Agoraphobia-and-Social-Anxiety
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agor...
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Hi to everybody here. Don't know even where to start. I got agoraphobia maybe 5 years ago. At first with medication help I was able to function, to work, to go outside alone. It wasn't easy but I could do it.
4 months ago everything changed. I become very scared of people, places, everything. I had to take medical leave because I'm not able to make it to work. I have two more months of medical leave and I'm so scared I will have to quit my job. Right now I can't make it to any public place even with someone with me. So I stay in house every day. Don't go anywhere only to dr appointments once a month. Somebody always has to take me there and it's hard to go there. What I can do is to get only for 5 minutes out of house on my own. I try to do it every day and every day is the same. Most of the time I',m alone. Friends I had left me since I get this bad. No contact with outside world. Family try to help but they don't understand my fear. All I hear is stay strong, don't give up things like that. Medications doesn't help any more. I take up to 4mg of Xanax and no way I can make it to a public place. I feel so guilty, for not being able to work, like I'm failing my family in these hard times. I don't know why I'm so scared, where from my fears are coming. Panic attacks are so bad, I'm sick every day. Pain is breaking me. Living hour by hour. I hope I don't sound like I'm complainig. It would be nice to talk with someone who understands. I did read other posts which is very hard to do for me, have problem with patience, focus, concetration and I feel sad when I see how many people out there have what I have. I hope I didn't offend anyone here, and would apreciate anything. My post is upside down, but I'm sure if anyone read this they will understand. Thank you for your time, and hope for everyone here that better times for us will come. Thank you Posted on 10/30/09, 01:10 pm |
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Welcome denib, you are no longer alone. :o)
All of us here care about you and what you're going through. I'm in the same boat; had to go on disability from work, no more friends around etc. Some days feel like I'm going to die and the depression wells up about me not being able to function as a "normal" person anymore. But I've found so much strength from the people here, they are an amazing lot! Scream, cry, vent, babble... whatever! (God knows I have, lol) That's what these boards are for and why we are here every day to try to give some comfort and encouragement to eachother. Be gentle with yourself and don't stress about not being able to work right now. Your body and mind are trying to tell you to take it easy and work on yourself for a reason. Please feel free to message me any time. I'm always here for you. (((Hugs))) 
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Hey friend! Sorry you've been having a rough time lately. Maybe a change in medication or working through recent events/triggers with a therapist will get you back on the road to recovery.
It is difficult for "normals" to understand anxiety, hence it's more difficult to gain sympathy or support. They mean no harm though. Don't beat yourself up or strain your brain looking for reasons for your fears -- you have a disorder, it's simple as that. There are no rational reasons. Welcome to the group!
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Thank you for welcoming me to this group. People here as I saw are very caring and supportive.
To Kim I'm sorry that you feel the way you do. I understand but can't help much or give any advice as I don't know how to help myself either. I try to be gentle with myself and many times I feel like I'm not doing enough. To Goldfish nothing specific happened lately to get me into this. Triggers can be anything. And as you say I do have disorders and doesn't help to beat myself why. I was thinking to get off of Xanax, it doesn't help with agoraphobia but helps with anxiety and panic attacks. At least I can make it through the day. I also have problem with anti depressives, tried many and had to stop. So I don't have much of choice what to use. I use other medications for my problems do they help or not I don't know. I don't have therapists. Tried for ptsd and depression and it didn't work. Tried also imagery and hypnosis not big help either. I hope I wasn't negative. I'm thankful for advices and encouragment. I need a lot of work on myself. It's still hard to accept all this. I made my 5 minutes walk alone around the neighbourhud. It's something at first I couldn't get even out of the house. Thank you.
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dear denib, welcome to daily strength, i too suffer from agorphobia. i'm afraid to leave the front door. this just came out of no-where 6 years ago. first i had panic disorder, and it finally went away after 20 years, felt great, only to get agpr. i can go out with someone, but not alone. i think i fear having a major panic attack, and just dying on the payment. idk, but i know i hate it. even when i had panic disorder i could go out. i would love to go for a walk, take a bus, etc. i know what you are going through, many ppl on d.s. have it. no one understands, unless they have it. maybe therepy would work, but i can't go to therepy as i can't get on buses to go see a doc. don't ever think you are complaining. we all have problems, or we wouldn't be here. join the group agorphobia & social anxiety. it is a good group. ppl have over come this, i don't know how. GOD BLESS YOU. i know its not easy. you new friend, ronna
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I'm sorry to hear about the time you are going through. I completely understand. About a 1 1/2 years ago I started getting agoraphobia and it got so bad that I would have a panic attack just taking a shower to go somewhere. Xanex would help a little bit for me but I didn't like the way xanex made me feel. I ended up missing 5 months of work due to everything. I went thru some intense daily 8 hr a day therapy and my dr got me on medicine that controls my panic attacks, my anxiety and depression. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.
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