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."
Hello everyone,
I am a mother of a 34 year old son who suffers from panic attacks and agorphobia. I am trying to find anything to help him out. You see he has his wife and two children and himself who live with me at my ranch and he has not left the house for 4 years. This is a guy who had a successful job and own home only to lose everything because he had so many attacks at work and throughout the day that he had to go on disability. Now he never leaves the house. I have had no luck finding a therapist willing to come to the house. He is on medication and the attacks are not as severe as they use to be but he still won't leave. I am hoping he will be willing to be involved with your group so he doesn't feel so alone. I am so at a loss and so sad for him. Any advice is welcome.
Sorry to hear about your son's panic issue. Ive been dealing with it for a lot of years. I am lucky enough to have a dr that suffers as well, and is on medication too. She knows much more about it than someone who hasnt experienced anxiety issues.
Do u know what kind of meds your son is on by chance? If he has a benzo to take as needed for faster relief, it helps a ton when the anxiety is leading to panic...does me anyway. If he can use those as needed, he will learn to cope since they should keep him from a bad panic attack and allow him to deal with the anxiety better.
Tell him i know its been a long time suffering, but i know from experience...it WILL get better for him. It always does...of course not as fast as we would like...but it will lighten up so he can enjoy life again!
Ive had anxiety issues for about 35 yrs now, so i know what im talking about here...trust me!
Tell him to hang in there...and join this site...i LOVE the people here...he will too...it REALLY heps to vent on here!
One day at a time seems to really work for those who struggle with anxiety. Baby steps of progress are approachable goals that can be processed and adopted into one's lifestyle fairly easily when done consistently with positive affirmation/rewards. Can you have him contact a therapist who will do video or phone therapy? Its very effective and more psychologists/psychiatrists are finding the benefits of this method for their clients, much like Doctors/Nurses have. I hope things are moving forward in a good direction for him and your family. I wonder what triggered the anxiety and what continues to trigger it? Has your family sought counseling for yourselves to deal with this situation in a positive way for all of you? If not, I would encourage involving a Marriage and Family Therapist as this affects all of you. Please let us know how you are doing. :)
Prayers and good thoughts friend!