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'm somewhat new here. I have just recently started coming to the realization that I do have some symptoms of Agoraphobia. Growing up, I was never very outgoing, I was always reserved, observing, and quiet. I started breaking out of my shell in high school, and I developed good friends who I could be loud and raucous around, but the thing is I don't like going out in public. I will do it, but I tend to feel extremely uncomfortable doing it. I feel good when I go with friends. I have screwed up head, and I pathetically tie all my problems to my height. I'm 5'5, barely, probably just under it. I hate going out and seeing tall people, it just makes me feel like shit. I feel so inferior, and over time, I've gotten more scared to go out in public. I hate feeling like a kid masquerading in a world of adults. I go to Oklahoma State University, and I absolutely despise having to walk everywhere. Everyone there is taller than usual. I feel so embarrassed and ineffective. The only time I feel normal is when I sit down with people when we become on the same level. I vastly enjoy sitting down just because of that. I feel equal, part of the group, and I can converse with people pretty effectively, but then it all goes out the window when we have to stand up. When that happens, I feel like whatever good rapport I was building washes away instantly as they see how short I am and immediately disqualified from any type of serious respect. The last thing I want to say that, if anyone else feels agoraphobia, and you are of an average build, just know that you have it so much better compared to someone who is rather short, or even rather tall, or with any type of physical differences. Appreciate that and love the way you blend in. No one is looking at you as if you don't belong, or even really cares what you do. I'm different,
I will do it, but I tend to feel extremely uncomfortable doing it. I feel good when I go with friends. I have screwed up head, and I pathetically tie all my problems to my height. I'm 5'5, barely, probably just under it. I hate going out and seeing tall people, it just makes me feel like shit. I feel so inferior, and over time, I've gotten more scared to go out in public. I hate feeling like a kid masquerading in a world of adults. I go to Oklahoma State University, and I absolutely despise having to walk everywhere. Everyone there is taller than usual. I feel so embarrassed and ineffective.
The only time I feel normal is when I sit down with people when we become on the same level. I vastly enjoy sitting down just because of that. I feel equal, part of the group, and I can converse with people pretty effectively, but then it all goes out the window when we have to stand up. When that happens, I feel like whatever good rapport I was building washes away instantly as they see how short I am and immediately disqualified from any type of serious respect. The last thing I want to say that, if anyone else feels agoraphobia, and you are of an average build, just know that you have it so much better compared to someone who is rather short, or even rather tall, or with any type of physical differences. Appreciate that and love the way you blend in. No one is looking at you as if you don't belong, or even really cares what you do. I'm different, I can catch glances because I'm different in a way, and not in a positive way.
So yeah, that's my main problem right now
