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."

3,774 Members

2,932 Posts

0 Online

cls1988 07/04/2009

I am new to this group. I have suffered from anxiety attacks and depression for 20 years now. Tried several different AD's and still working on getting the right combination for me. Over the last 20 years it has been hard for me to hold a job. I have had 15 jobs that I can remember maybe more. The longest I have been able to stay at a job is 3 years. That was only 1 job. The others were less than a year. The anxiety would get so bad I would start to have a panic attack and have to leave work. I would go to the doctor or the ER. I always ended up quiting the job before I got fired. I got to the point where I was afraid to leave the house without someone and even then it was to hard. I advoided going to the store, department stores, doctors and my childrens school functions. I never felt safe unless I was at home. Even being on the medicines it would get bad at work for me and I would start calling in all the time. I have been in counseling and seems to help me but I am not able to get over this and go back to my current job. Oh yea, I am a 911 dispatcher. Very very stressful job. I need the job because of the insurance and it is good money. I just cant go back there. I am not sure why but I am scared to death. Just thinking about it brings on the panic. I have been looking for another job but there are none. I am so lost right now and need help. If anyone has any ideas on what I might be able to do please write back. thanks

deleted_user 07/05/2009

Hey cls. I would suggest finding a less stressful career. I can assure you many people without anxiety disorders may find that job uncomfortable.

The job market stinks so don't get discouraged. Maybe take some classes and retrain in something that is a bit less dramatic than life and death situations on a daily basis.

I sometimes count myself fortunate because I built up my career to the position I hold now mostly before the anxiety hit. My job has been affected by the anxiety but I manage to keep it together enough to stay gainfully employed. It's also a safety net for me so I think I'm motivated more to work through anxious situations and keep my job. I don't have a spouse or parents to lean on so if I lost my ability to work my life would really take a tumble downward.

Good luck!

deleted_user 07/05/2009

hi, i had the same problems as you to a degree. i use to get panic attacks so bad and anxiety. at my last job, i had a terrible panic attack and never went back. i applied to social security and got it. i only make half of what i made, but its something. now the p.a.'s went away and i have agorphobia, scared to death to go outside alone, in case i have a major panic attack. now i am glad i have my ssi. i also still have anxiety, and i'm on 3 medication. i have suffered since i was 17 yrs. years old. good luck & God Bless. ronna

cls1988 07/05/2009

ronna i had thought about applying but i do want to work. i just cant seem to find a job where i am happy at and dont cause me panic. since i have been off i have to force myself to go out of the house. i use to be like that where i wouldnt leave the house. right now when i do leave i do start to panic whether i am by myself or even with someone. i may only go out for short periods of time but still i am trying to keep from getting where i cant leave the house again. i missed out on some much of my younger years because i was like that. not at 43 years old i want to try and make up for some of that but still cant seem to get my act together to do it. a short story i will tell you. went to a family cook out today and we were all sitting arund talking about my anxiety. my sisters suffer from it as well. we were talking with my mom and aunt about it and they dont believe in the medicines for help. the first words out of their mouth were suck it up and go on. i told them i would if they would be able to do it. i was so angry at that point that i could have just screamed. if you have never suffered from this you cant tell someone who has how they should act. i left shortly after that conversation. oh well just venting a little but some how things will have to get better. i am glad i have this website to come to. it helps a lot.

brad74 07/08/2009

I know what you mean. I have had a few long term jobs, but a lot of short term ones as well. The social anxiety got the best of me again over a year ago and I have not worked for an extended period since. I have an orientation this saturday and hope to turn it into a long term one.

belle 07/09/2009

Hi cls, I am like you. I too have lost many jobs but I would wait and think I would get better and then get fired b/c of my depression and p.d. I want to work b/c I stay depressed when I am inside my home all the time. Now I have high blood pressure and am overweight and I have seem to give up on finding another job. I don't believe in myself anymore.
Enough about me. I am suppose to be helping you. LOL If you don't want to give up your job, you could ask for a few days off and get out and practice getting better. With my last job I did that and was fine for awhile but the panic returned. It may not be that way with you. I find that the more tired I am the more I panic so make sure you are getting enough sleep. Try some self talk. Also my doctor told me when my panic starts, get up and go to another room to get some air and try to calm down maybe take a xanax. Then go back to work.
I have had people tell me also that I need to just get out and go through the attack and not let it stop me from doing things but how when you think you are dying. I hate missing out on things too. Just this past baseball season of my son's, I missed every game b/c I was too scared I would panic. Just know that you are not alone. As I mentioned b/4 I have major depression so that is what keeps me from getting a job also. Maybe if you see a therapist b/4 this gets too bad, it will help you. Good Luck.

deleted_user 07/09/2009

my anxiety has hindered my ability to work also. the longest i have ever held a job was five months, so i know exactly what you are going through. i found that staying active and eating healthy seems to help with the anxiety some. also forcing myself into situations that make me anxious can sometimes help me overcome my fears. don't give up hope and don't let the anxiety get the best of you!

deleted_user 07/09/2009

Oh sweety..I think most of us have been there or are there...and the job market is sucky right now.....ever thought about...eBay? I'mdoing that now...just started...and getting advise from some really helpful mega sellers.
To your family members who don't have a clue...ask them to have their whole world ripped apart and pulled out from under them...then YOU tell them....suck it up....
Sorry. But I get really pissy about ppl who really have no clue about us agoraphobics...they need education before they open their mouths.
Meds do not help everyone...but they help some....they don't do a thing for me...but I never tell ppl not to try them (I am talking about prescription meds ppl...haha)....
Last thing....keep your sense of humor...we are a funny lot and some of us have shared some really hilarious stories concerning our "afflictions". I'm always laughing at myself...it keeps me sane.

deleted_user 08/13/2009

I won't say I know exactly how you feel, but we definitely have some things in common. I've counted up about 18 different jobs in my life and I'm not even 30 yet. I know what it's like to leave a job after having a panic attack...let's just say I've tried waitressing and got completely freaked out! But anyways, my advice? I sort of like temp agencies....you can agree to short term or long term contracts...and best part is that if your contract is only 6 months then you can count down the days til you're outta there...Most of the jobs I've held are for less than one year...in my family it's a running joke how many I"ve had. My psychologist recommended temp jobs to sort of build my confidence that I can get through the first scary month of panic attacks and feeling nervous all the time...mine get so bad that I can't eat my lunch half the time and I end up in the bathroom on the hour because my body is out of whack...also trying breathing exercises...one big breath in and hold 1....2....3... and then release slowly 1...2....3....also it helped me to always leave the office at lunch time...get outside and grab some fresh air...then you don't feel trapped...I hope the best for you

sobe 08/13/2009

bmulkhraj, can you please hunt for clients elsewhere? I am really bothered by your reply and find it very inappropriate for you to come here UNLESS you have a mental/mood disorder.

sobe 08/13/2009

cls, I can so relate these days and am trying to find out what's there for Canadians who can't work!
I've always been so lucky that hubby was making just enough for us to keep our heads above water, so I was able to stay home and raise our son. But then hubby got fired and we were in a situation where I had to work full time as well, this was 2 years ago.
I lasted a little over a year (did change jobs because I could no longer do the commute to and from work) but a year ago I crashed and crashed hard. Since then I have not been able to work and am still not doing very well.
the financial strain this has put us in is adding to my stress and I seem to be in a lose-lose situation.
the only advise I can give is if you want to work, try and see if you can turn your 911 dispatcher experience into something else. Maybe train 911 dispatching? or other phone work (not telemarketing but there are other types of phone work )

please remember you are not alone, there are a lot of us out there who are having problems working in the paid world.

cls1988 08/13/2009

Thanks sobe I was wondering what he or she was doing here.

deleted_user 08/13/2009

Hi there, it sounds like you have been through the thick of it! I understand what you are going through. I was signed off work in December 2004 and I sometimes wonder to myself whether I will ever return to the workplace. I found the work place extremely uncomfortable and with these open plan offices now, this made things that much harder. You have a good group of people here willing to support you including myself, it's good to chat about the difficulties you are going through. As someone has already mentioned, it would be a good idea to return to the workplace slowly, take it at your own pace, don't force yourself back into that environment just for the sake of it. If you would like to chat further, message me. Good luck.

Join the Conversation