It sounds like you are having a bout with Agoraphobia which can feel very debilitating. I suffer from it and I have to fight with all I have to just get out and walk my dog, or walk to the grocery store. The noises of cars and people cause such anxiety for me. But remember, that it WILL pass and it's not life threatening, even if it feels like it at the time. Look up Agoraphobia on line and see if you can find anything that will help. Hugs GB

I have a hard time with this a lot. It gets worse after I allow myself to stay isolated from everyone for a couple of days. It's hard to take that first step, but after I get out for a while, I do feel better. But, it's always difficult to make myself take that first step. I try not to stay in for more than a day at a time. I have found that making myself get out more, and try to be around people more is probably the only way I can get better. I have also joined quite a few support groups on here, and I've been talking with others going through some of the same issues and that has helped so much. Talking to others on here is giving me the confidence to face people on the street. I hope you feel better soon :-)

hi geminiamy,
i am also dealing with agoraphobia for the past few months it is really hard but im focusing on re training my brain and reading as much as possible. im sorry your going through this i hope you find some peace soon hugs

I am working my way through a really great book called "The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook" and the author, Bourne, has so many great ideas.

When I'm like that - with the agoraphobia - I allow myself to really indulge in it and enjoy my time at home. I see it as a strong desire to be introspective. So I journal a lot, take long baths, feed myself really good food, stretch and do my yoga tapes, play with the cat, read. But I see it as therapeutic.

I feel less agoraphobic when I get a lot accomplished at home. I clean and organize and garden and sew. You can go on You Tube and learn new skills. It just helps me to feel more productive and like it's a choice that I'm home.

And because I don't want it to become a problem, I sit outside to read for a bit and I walk as far away from my house as possible and still feel okay (even if it's just a few feet).

I also realize that I am going to have a little anxiety going away from home but I can go back at any point if it gets too intense. When I'm out, I just try to sit with the anxiety until it passes.

To get out of the house, I find whatever support I need - have a friend who understand go with me with the understanding that we may need to turn around and go back home at any point, have a security object with me, only go somewhere I feel safe and only for a short time.

Baby steps are okay. And it's also okay to take some time to be introspective and feel comfy at home. Typically home does feel more comfy when you go out from time to time.

Oh - and one thing that can really help - there are all sorts of online video classes you can take that help you stay connected to the world. Coursera offers free classes on a number of topics. There are also writing classes, journaling groups, etc. Just look around on the internet and you can find them.

Best of luck to you as you work through this time and get to the place you want to be in your recovery.

Agoraphobia is something that almost all of the anxiety sufferers I have known or met have gone through. I know when I was agoraphobic, I had a real bad time. I would stay in my room for days at a time and it would seriously effect my then relationship. And when I would go out, I would take "safe items" with me to feel better in case my anxiety would kick in. I would take my ipod and cell phone for distraction and even pills that were prescribed by my doctor even though I had no intention of taking them.

What you are going through isn't bad. It's a normal thing that comes with the whole "anxiety package" in my opinion. The way I overcame this is by making a list of places I wanted to go and listed them in order of distress level. I would then take a day out of the week to tackle my list from the bottom up with no safe items. The idea is, the more you expose yourself to whatever you fear, the less you will fear it. It takes some patience and practice but honestly, if I did it, you can too.

Be kind to yourself and I wish you the best of luck. You will get through this.