I am so glad you are doing well. This gives me alot of hope. Thanks for posting this.

keep on, i'm so glad that you made it, i'm doing the same, first step or baby steps can be scary, the more you get yourself out its easier and easier, there is some forcing, pushing also

it is not so easy, but it can be done, it can be better, so all of us in our own way can find what works for us, i dont skip going out either

take care and be well all of you, beleive into yourself

I am proud of you. I am scared to go outside. When I go outside I feel so scared and nervous. It very hard for me to go outside. Do you have any advice?.

You can do it too. Imagine how scared and alone I felt doing it. But I looked at it this way, if I didn't get h elp and learn how to functionion outside of my house I'd never leave. I can't let my fears overcome what I want out of life. I just don't let it. I push my fears behind me and step ahead, concentrating solely on walking. Left foot right foot breathe. I did it on my own. Because I had too. Baby steps at first, then I conquored the fear by going to fort dix to see my x be deployed. It was the biggest open space I ever went to. I met his family and just went, even though I knew his mother hated my presence, I didn't care, I pressed on curious about the big sky I seldom saw. I was afraid because I was far from home, and with strangers to rely on but I was taken care of and all my fears went away for I was protected by the us army. How much safer could I be? I loved it. Since then I been going to concerts, and other crowded events, and on no medication.

I used to be very good at getting around it and I still function well in society, but I have had a relapse this year and I don't remember how I used to gain the courage and do things anyway. I feel stuck because I can't travel to my family's house and I don't feel like any of them care to support me. How to you get back from a relapse? :'( I suffer from really severe panic attacks and the medications don't help.

@ziziboo4 relapse is often very possible, it might take some time to gain courage again and step out, in a time i think it will come to you how you get it through before, what worked then will work again

for panic attacks if you go into hyperventilation slow your breathing, because hyperventilation makes panic attack even worse, relax your muscles also to lessen effects of panic attack, massage your neck, arms, squeeze your muslces and release, stretch your body, push on some stable surface if you get panic at home, have something for distraction like keys or anything, get your attention on something around you, count or think what is around you, tap on your hand anything that can be distraction, i know that this is much easy to say than do, i had many panic attacks and i didnt have full attack in a while

@lonewolf363, im so happy that you made it through, im doing in a way same thing like you, im able to go out myself and i know how it can be scary and lonely when you start baby steps, i got through that part, im not yet doing well like you, i still need meds and i do hope with facing my fears every day, no skipping just get out and do something that i dont know for how soon but in a time i do hope that i will be able to do the same thing

take care all of you and be well

I suffered with agoraphobia about 1979 is when it started. I had two young children...went no where to get any help..didnt know where to go..I watched "Phil Donahue show" back then..later started to drink...after two drinks I was very confident and fearless..Today (age68) sober almost 8 yrs..Doing much better(I am still here,that's a miracle)..Say the "serenity Prayer" a lot..put one foot in front of the other and keep on..Diagnosed by doctor a few years ago with "anxiety disorder" and take medication for this. a lot of this may be hereditary..LIfe is not hopeless any more for me..Reading the other comments are very positive also.

Learn your symtpms/ Write things down that are difficult for you and try to overcome the difficulties with a close friend so you are comfortable. KNow that with a good attitude you can take the steps. It's about getting over the fear by facing it. Sometimes you have to face your fears if you are to over come them. I am not saying go run into a tiger cage. I am saying just saying hello won't hurt./ WHen I was diagnosed it was the early eighties. Illness and mentall illness were still taboo. Nowday I have not met anyone who isn't on something. Just take one day one small step at a time.

ANyone can do it. I first started slowly scared of each light that shone in my eyes. But I chose to live my life. I would walk and just go walking, feeling the difference in the air I breathed. I just solely concentrated on my breathing. I was developing the proper skills I needed while out in the filed as I call it whil ein group. I learned how to talk right again after my speech was slurred, and I was always self conscience about studdering my words. Once I was out I would reward myself in some way by a sweet treat, or by taking a longer time each go out. I eventually made it all the way from Lindenwold new Jersey to the New york train to meet my cousin for a nice vacation to drive from Ohio to Jersey again after visiting her and helping her move. SHe is in the fbi and is ten years older than me. When she invited me up I was almost in a heart attack panic, thinking of all that sky I would be under. WE were to go camping in the mountians, and it sounded all so fun. I was excited, and overwhlemed, at first, but once I got there, I did great. We drove back from Ohio and stayed here n there. We woke in the middle of the campground, because it was closed, and we couldn't get a room so we got the car, and went in the middle of the lot, and waking up when the sun was rising on the side of that mountian was nothing in the world like it. I never thought I'd ever travel outside of JErsey after spending a year of my younth in a mental hospital when I was out of control. Now that I learned coping skills to deal with my problems I am armed and ready for field combat.