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."

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Testing myself

Slayra0620
Slayra0620

I've been pushing myself more lately. Trying to get out of the house. My anxiety gets so bad leaving the house, but staying indoors is terrible for my depression. It's a double edged sword really. I went to Target with my husband and kids. I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time. About 10 minutes in, I realized we were at the back of the store and all the sudden it felt like my head was being squeezed by a vice. I had to get out of there. It took all my strength to calmly walk to the exit. I don't know how I didn't pass out. It felt like I was going to. I hate it. Recovered the rest of the day at home. I miss the old me.

arfie
arfie
The important part is that you found the courage to try. In my own dealings with social anxiety I find the positive affirmation of celebrating the victory in finding the courage to try helps me keep trying.

How long has this been going on? Is it covid anxiety? The pandemic management has created quite a few collateral pandemics with anxiety topping that formidable list.
Slayra0620
Slayra0620
It's been an ongoing thing since about 2012. I noticed when I became pregnant with my first child, the social anxiety kicked in and has just progressively gotten worse over the years. I don't leave the house now. Maybe once a month I'll push myself to get out.
arfie
arfie
2012 is when you went through that first pregnancy? I'm wondering if the demands of raising young children are at play here. Just wondering. . .

My own social anxiety comes with a phobia of The Great Indoors. In the 70's several of my shrinks suspected the fear of entrapment subchapter of claustrophobia. I'm okay with small spaces, but I worry endlessly about fires, hysterical mobs, indoor contaminants, etc.

My own first pregnancy was 1980 and not too awful much of a game changer at first. Children love being outside and I was the neighborhood hero for my availability to explore nature's kingdom with whomever was curious. Kids are naturally curious.

Then along came pre-adolescence with off-spring who had more natural skill than social skill. My "baby" graduated HS in 2002. I'm still not quite sure why, when or where it happened, but by then, my "claustrophobia" was looking like it had morphed into agoraphobia.

Sigh. . .

Every time I think I have all the answers, the frigging questions change.
Hetty
Hetty
You had the strength to push yourself which I know is hard try to focus on the good you have achieved you went out even though you didn't feel like it sometimes we all focus on the negative and discount the good things we do
teeng2324
teeng2324
It will get better! Had the same issues…scared to go outside….scared to go places alone….scared to drive. The house feels like the only safe place to be! (If your not alone because who hasn’t had the bright go through there mind uh oh what happens something happens to me while I’m alone) I’ve been there and I’m here to tell you it gets better with time!!
Bobby5000
Bobby5000
I guess you have to get to the root cause. My wife has now developed this and believed people are watching her. Was normal, no highly functional and popular for 60 years. Do you tell someone this is crazy, no one is watching you.
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