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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Lack of understanding
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Why is it, that people who work for support agencies have NO idea about agoraphobia and the way it affects people. The only people who know anything about it are those suffering it. I am sure not one person with agoraphobia wants to have it, and the affects it has on our lives. We know what it is and how hard it is to live with, but others who are supposed to support us, have no idea about it. My support worker (now EX) was quite sure she could CURE me within 3 months!!! Having had this problem for 9 years I find that somewhat whimsical. I even gave her the web site to look at, with all it's valuable information, but she still thinks if you are upright you are alright. She is now not available to take me to Dr appts as she says seeing she has taken me 3 times, I should now be able to catch the bus and do it on my own. Obviously they excluded any information on agoraphobia in the course she did. Any one else have this rubbish???
Posted on 11/01/09, 11:11 pm |
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You mean u dumped that support worker to get a new one who is just as dumb!!! There are so many ppl who have no clue about mental illness and worse are those who are in the MH field. I once had a counselor tell me to get over my depression over a breakup by dating. Which was stupid when it had only been 2 weeks. I guess I know how she solves her prob. Then she kept making my appts at 8:00 am to force me to get out of bed. Sleeping in is natural for those with depression it's physiological. I tired keeping the appt then just gave up on counseling. 
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Justsonekitty
No I didn't dump any support worker to get this dumbell. The funding for my last support worker, who was wonderful, ran out, so I had to find another organization to take me on. Little did I know the hassles it was going to cause. I have told this mob that as they don't meet my needs it is best to terminate the association.
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my favorite comment to date is my ex-shrink who started by telling me I HAD to get out my front door as a first step. I asked him how he thought I'd gotten to his office....
so far I have yet to run into a 'professional' who knows what they are talking about when it comes to agoraphobia
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You guys are right. These so called professionals have little or knowledge at all about agoraphobia. On my recent visit to the doctor I was describing what I was feeling; she stated," Well Ms.Whisby if you cant pull yourself together enough to get out of the house. I think you should consider inpatient treatment."
This was her only option, I decline.
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How is it that so many of us have so many terrible experiences with so called mental health professionals who don't have a clue about mental health? I have also had experiences with mental health professionals who think that you can just get over agoraphobia.
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This is why I deal with my fear myself. Cant trust other people to help you who've never known anyone or been through this themselves. Its so strange that if they have ever even helped rape victims before, that they would have a clue! Mine stems from not wanting my friends to see me like this with my illness. I actually had a woman in a wheelchair freak out on me with my forearm crutches, she asks me" and what could possibly be wrong with you" (cause I am so young, I guess?) and I just replyed- " Lyme". I mean, what do you do with THAT kind of response from people? I can hardly walk, and because I am younger, that makes it wrong or something? I do all I can to stay out of a wheelchair, and all I get is "forearm crutch envy" from a wheelchair person! Aaarrrgggghhh........thats why I stay in as much as possible, so I dont end up hitting one of these idiots over their numbskulls with my forearm crutches! LOL!
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What is a support agency? Is this someone you hired?
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A support agency is someone from whom you get govt funding to help you achieve daily tasks that you can't perform on your own. In my case going to medical appts, a bit of shopping and general social time in places where you feel uncomfortable. They are supposed to be there for you to support you to make you feel more at ease in difficult situations and to slowly reconnect you to the outside world. It is generally seen as a long term proposition, but the one I had seems to think once they have taken me places a couple of times, I will be able to do it myself. This is dealing with anxiety and agoraphobia. It is quite obvious they know little about agoraphobia.
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Are you working with a therapist? It sounds like the support worker helps you get by day-to-day but it sounds like they don't help you much with recovery. A therapist can help you take steps towards doing these tasks on your own one day.
Good luck with those government workers!
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The Support Worker is absolutely hopeless with very little understanding and knowledge of mental illness and in particular agoraphobia. She does not support me in any way and only causes more stress because I have to find ways to get to Medical appts. I was working with a psychologist, but have had to cancel the appts because I can't get there anymore, which is a great shame as we were making good progress. I get much more support from my volunteer lady who is supposed to spend 2 hours a fortnight with me for social outings, but it usually turn into about 4 hours. She is now going to take me to the Dr, which is so good of her to take the extra time, as my appts are not on the day she is due to see me.
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