Hi kadasparkles welcome to the group. I too have trouble leaving my house at times. Sometimes I have trouble driving or riding in a car and that is with my medication. What you have to do is push through it, fight it, don't let it stop you from enjoying your life. Try some self soothing techniques. Using your five senses find things that sooth you and try doing those things before you go out, or if you have to while your out. Example deep breathing, imagine yourself in your favorite place, a place where you feel safe and go there in your mind. You have to find what works for you and then do that. Have you thought about medication or a therapist? I hope I have given you something that maybe helpful. Hugs to you.
chelleleigh72

hey kadasparkles I can completely relate. its really hard for me to leave my house most days. besides for walking my dog and going to the grocery store I really don't go anywhere unless I am with someone I feel safe with. I also struggle with feeling i'm wasting the best years of my life as well. its hard dealing with knowing everyone else I know is out living it up and im struggling at home. so I hope this helps reassure you that you are not alone.

Thank you both for your kind words. It is very comforting to know I'm not alone (even though my heart aches that you are experiencing the same thing). I appreciate your advice a lot. Its been quite some time since Ive been on medication but perhaps its time to take the route again. Thank you both, be well.

Not alone. I just posted that some days I want to just hide and not go anywhere. Just stay in bed and avoid interaction of any kind. of course I have to go to work though so I do it in increments. Like, I'll just get up for now I can call in sick after my shower, then I have my coffee (half decaf now so I don't trigger anxiety). Then I get in the car and I'm usually ok by then. I usually feel anxiety in the AM when I get to work so I read some silly articles (or take a half a xanax if its bad). Mostly though now its bad in the evening. (not yet for me, but in a few hours).

It ebbs and flows and meds and therapy helps on and off. Hugs.

You might talk to your doc about getting a prescription " as needed" for one of the quick acting benzos like Ativan. it take discipline not to take one every time youre a little nervous, but having them with me at all times makes me feel more secure about going out. A couple of years ago i took one about twice a week...now it's more like 3 or 4 times a year , but just having them helps me be more calm.

I went for about a year where I would only leave to take my kids to school, pick them up, and go to the store. Mine anxiety happened after a medical scare that 6 months later they don't have a name or a cause for. I've found that reminding myself how good things used to be is really helpful. It's part of reality therapy (finding books on anxiety can really help too). I find it helpful to remind myself that nothing bad will happen, and so what if I freak out for a minute. I will be able to calm myself and then can continue on. You may want to try talking like this to yourself. Good luck and please keep reaching out for help!

Some people are not fortunate enough to enjoy their youth. Depends what you get handed in life. Dont compare yourself to the healthy ones. If you have agoraphobia/anxiety/panic attacks... learn to live a more quiet, calm life.
Medication isnt always the best choice.

allthepretty has a point. I used to fret that I didn't party enough or go to enough clubs when I was younger. But the idea seriously makes me nervous then and now. I had a panic attack going into a very packed nightclub at the height of my anxiety on a trip. Luckily I had good friends with me that walked outside to explore quietly instead. Sometimes we can live it up like that other times, it is indeed good to just enjoy the outdoors or something similar to you that is soothing.That said avoiding everything can feed into the anxiety, but finding a lifestyle for you is good too.

For me, medication is essential or I wouldn't function. But, it's not for everyone and not every medication is for everyone.

I have struggled with anxiety for over half of my life (and I am 26 now). I even at one point paid my only friend to grocery shop for me just so that I didn't have to leave the house. I also have schizoaffective disorder (combo of schizophrenia and bipolar). I was doing well for a few months and we lowered my xanax from 4 times a day to twice a day and I wasn't even taking it once a week. THEN thursday happened and everything started changing AGAIN. Also I just JUST JUST moved across the country and had to get new everything furniture, apartment, and DOCTORS! My new pdoc doesn't have the history I had with my old one (5 years of psych history with him). I see the new one again on monday to hopefully change my meds. I also am starting with a new therapist which I am nervous about. RIght now I have no family or friends down here. And the two people I am GETTING TO KNOW invited me to do something today but I backed out because I was sooooooooooooo anxious and couldn't leave the house most of the day. I am so bumming! I thought this move was going to magically make all my symptoms go away forever. Stupid girl... my family comes down to stay next week so I hope that will help. But yea so you are not alone! Sorry for the rant haha

I am the happiest I have ever been, finally after 45 years, and I don't go anywhere I don't want to go. I might go out to see a friend socially once a month. Other than that I do what I want when I want (apart from work). I don't feel obligated, I don't feel like I'm missing out, I don't feel like I have failed, I don't feel bad in any way like I used to.

I used to feel bad if I hadn't had a boyfriend for a month. I was a failure, inadequate. Now i am so happy to be alone it's not funny.

The only thing that has changed is my point of view and my set of expectations. :) And a course of medication and 20 years of life of course - but you don't have to waste the time I wasted. Feel free to give yourself now what you need now. Time passes slowly. Don't feel such an urge to hurry. Just take it all one day at a time and you will be fine.

I used to push through situations that made me anxious but as I got older I found that I had more physical sympyoms when I did that- like chest pain or migraine. I like the reply about accepting yourself and letting go of expectations. If you don't want to go on meds quite yet, Kava tea might help. It helps me but I only take it occasionally. I am also on Amxiety meds but I try not to take my Lorazepam very often b/c of side effects and I got a little dependent on it before and experienced withdrawals. But if I was in a social situation and started to get overwhelmed- well Lorazepam is great for times like that :) it might be worth having something like that on hand. I hope you find a balance and feel happier :))