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."
Hi, this is my first post here.
Ive lived with anxiety all my life. Always had some measure of social anxiety but it seemed to become severe as i got older. Living through more use and abuse of people i became so unsure of myself, wanting to belong, but having that old sense of worthlessness dig deep, till i believed. i became agoraphobic. I felt like as soon as i stepped out, all eyes were on me. Judging me. Adding me up to nothing in one glance. Pointing out all my faults silently. It sounds insane, i know. Fear of making mistakes, or having that full on attack when you cant escape. Theses fears still have a stronghold on me but i am still fighting to tame them. Anyone else dealing with severe anxiety or agoraphbia please message me and share any wisdom or support. Thank you.
Something that really helped me is reading books by people who had been where I was and got out of it by maintaining a sense of humor, among other things. A book that might change your perspective as it did for me is "At Last a Life" by a guy named Paul David. It, along with books by Patsy Clairmont, gave me the courage to recognize that as long as I'm kind, I don't have to understand or be understood by people. I pray a lot, I have good motivations, and I look at people with kind eyes and a smile. It's amazing how people relax around you when you look at them with recognizable love rather than fear or judgement.
You are stronger than the fears. Remember that we are people and souls. If I saw you having a panic attack in public I wouldn't freak out or overreact. I would smile and assure you that you would get through it just fine, as I have, and point out something cute or fun that God has done that is intriguing. I'd pat you on your shoulder until you had regained your breath and then we'd go about our ways.
I hope some of this helps! And remember that you are always right here right now. The future only comes one moment at a time. Take like just 4-hours to 24 hours at a time. If you are always doing that, you will always be fine! I would like to support you and encourage you! Step outside right now and take a deep breath. Whatever the weather, pretend you are a happy-go-lucky child and do a spin in the sun or rain! The defiance of fear will be a mental booster, and that is what you need a toolbox of, mental experiences when it was GOOD to defy the fear and it made you freer, more connected, and joyful!