You are not alone. I am scared to go outside. When I do go outside I can go too far from the house. A lot of people have this. All you can do is try your best to go outside. You do not have to go outside everyday. Try every other day or when you feel like you can. I know it can be real hard to go outside.

I'd be curious what you have done to deal with your fear. The thing that helped me the most was a taped program that you did for 16 weeks (I think) at home. You listened to a tape a week, read a little and did a little homework. It was called Attacking Anxiety . It's a little costly ( I don't know how much now - 20 years ago I think it was around $300.) Compared to a counselor for that long, it is cheap. It can be found at The Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety. The woman who started the center also wrote a book with the same ideas called From Panic To Power by Lucinda Bassett. I'm sure there are other programs you could do as self help at home too. Take care and know there is help. - stillearning57

I came here by accident and I am not agoraphobic but I know some of my friends here are. So I am wondering, is it triggered by some incident in your past? Would it help in getting to the roots of the problem?

Just wondering. I am very curious as to its causes. I can't be agoraphobic because I live alone and I wouldn't be able to get anything done if I didn't get out. I have to have food and I live in the country and can't order in. But I have no fear of staying in. How do you get anything done?

Sorry, I just read the post "Anyone else act weird in Public?" and saw the reasons. So sorry that many of you have been traumatized.

I too have been traumatized but it doesn't stop me from getting out. I have been deeply hurt and was hurt by a close male friend recently. He called me all kinds of names. He was verbally abusive and I had to stop being his friend. I have to learn to move on and stand up for myself.