Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety Support Group
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 agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."
I first started having trouble going out in about 2008 or 09. I didn't want to leave the house. I attribute it to my bipolar: I easily get overwhelmed by stimulating environments. I have gotten somewhat better lately, but it has been a lot of work.
When my disease was at its worst, the only time I left the house was to go to the doctor or to the pharmacy. I had no support system. No friends at all. I felt all alone, and the world was big and scary. Mom was still working, and she would do the grocery shopping in a motorized scooter that was provided by the store. She would come homewith the groceries and I would unload them and I would put them away.
I started going online to supportive sites. I went to Spark, a diet and exercise site. I met a person there who had become a good friend. I went on AA loners international, because even though I loved AA, it was too scary to go to meetings. I also found Intherooms.com. This is a recovery website with over 1.5 million years sober between its members. Everywhere I went online I made friends. Finally I went to another recovery website, Smartrecovery.org. That site taught me about cognitive distortions, or what I would like to call, crooked thinking.
Then my Mom broke her back. It was super hard to go to the local nursing home to go see her, so I would bring my cat Brego in his cat stroller to help alleviate my anxiety.
At the same time, I had to get a caregiver for my father whenever I went out to the doctor, because he has Parkinson's and can't be left alone in the house anymore. Since Mom was sick and couldn't get groceries, I would order the online from a local company and have them delivered. The thought of going to the store was terrifying.
Gradually, I started using the caregiver and went back to my place of worship. I met a man online and we started dating. Although we are no longer dating, we have become good friends.
I now go out of the house all of the time, to the stores, to worship, where ever I need to go. and most times I feel just fine. But there are times when the thought of going out overwhelms me, so I talk to my support network that I have built up, and that usually does the trick. I also found out about a warm line, a number I can call every day on weekdays,and just talk.
Things are so much better related to the agoraphobia it is like night and day. After I built my support network I found it not to be a problem anymore.
When my disease was at its worst, the only time I left the house was to go to the doctor or to the pharmacy. I had no support system. No friends at all. I felt all alone, and the world was big and scary. Mom was still working, and she would do the grocery shopping in a motorized scooter that was provided by the store. She would come homewith the groceries and I would unload them and I would put them away.
I started going online to supportive sites. I went to Spark, a diet and exercise site. I met a person there who had become a good friend. I went on AA loners international, because even though I loved AA, it was too scary to go to meetings. I also found Intherooms.com. This is a recovery website with over 1.5 million years sober between its members. Everywhere I went online I made friends. Finally I went to another recovery website, Smartrecovery.org. That site taught me about cognitive distortions, or what I would like to call, crooked thinking.
Then my Mom broke her back. It was super hard to go to the local nursing home to go see her, so I would bring my cat Brego in his cat stroller to help alleviate my anxiety.
At the same time, I had to get a caregiver for my father whenever I went out to the doctor, because he has Parkinson's and can't be left alone in the house anymore. Since Mom was sick and couldn't get groceries, I would order the online from a local company and have them delivered. The thought of going to the store was terrifying.
Gradually, I started using the caregiver and went back to my place of worship. I met a man online and we started dating. Although we are no longer dating, we have become good friends.
I now go out of the house all of the time, to the stores, to worship, where ever I need to go. and most times I feel just fine. But there are times when the thought of going out overwhelms me, so I talk to my support network that I have built up, and that usually does the trick. I also found out about a warm line, a number I can call every day on weekdays,and just talk.
Things are so much better related to the agoraphobia it is like night and day. After I built my support network I found it not to be a problem anymore.
braintired
Thanks for sharing your story. It gives me hope. ...I find that after so many years in the house that I can go out now (sometimes) if I have a real purpose... It seems that I have unconscious rules that I follow in order to go out or not- if I dont follow them I am overwhelmed with anxiety and fear so I stay in.... Drives me crazy! :-) I guess I have to build up my network again, but I do so hate to think about it at all!
violetmist
Thanks for sharing your story. This does give me and others hope. Can you give us the number of the Warm line? What do you call them for? Thanks again for sharing. I am very happy for you.
gramybear
There are times when I have to have my best friend Tom walk with me to the store. The grates being run over by cars will make me want to jump out of my skin and if the store is busy, I just want out of there as fast as my legs will carry me. Then other times nothing bothers me at all. I think these support groups are so wonderful because they let others know they are not alone in what they go through. Hugs GB
angel6170
Thanks for sharing Ayla.
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