Agoraphobia sux!

[JungleJulia 235]

So i've been doing pretty well lately, getting out more than usual. But today I went for a walk and on my way home im about 15 mins from my house and suddenly i'm dizzy, chest feels tight, heart's pounding, feel weak AAARRGGGHHH. I mentally argued with myself for a while, at first I thought it must be a heart attack from the chicken burgers ive been eating ( ), then I argued with myself that anxiety is way more likely. I forced myself to think about other things and I got home ok but I was furious that agoraphobia had raised its ugly head! I'm starting to think that you never truly recover from agoraphobia, maybe it will always be there and the best I can hope it to manage it. Anyways just venting!!

[dynasty 14]

Chicken burger?

[Gilly 1086]

I don't believe it has to always be there JJ, but I'm starting to think it takes a long time to totally recover. AND like all our anxiety issues, stress and other things can hinder your recovery. If you're stressing out, or even just busy with stuff that stress will show itself in your agoraphobia, when you least expect it, boom.

It's the way we are wired now, and that is what I think takes a lot of undoing. I do believe it CAN be done though, so keep doing it, keep going out. It's important that when you do get hit like this you keep going, do not let it set you back, brush it off, head up and keep on with the fight xxxx

And yeah I saw chicken burgers and thought mmmmm yum hahaha

[JungleJulia 235]

Thanks Gilly I will keep on fighting! Some days just suck :/

why is everyone obsessed with the idea of chicken burgers. Its chicken on a burger bun u loopy americans!

[kinser 3]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! My husband of 14 years has suffered from anxiety all of his life, and he has struggled with agorophobia at different times. He currently is fine as long as he doesn't have to leave our city and surrounding areas. We have never traveled together, and I do get frustrated because I'd love to take a vacation with the family. But I understand he can't help the way he feels. It has gotten a lot better. There have been periods of time that just getting into the car to go anywhere would bring on a panic attack - very scary. I can't imagine dealing with this awful manifestation, but I see how it affects him, and it looks horrifying. I hope things look up for you.

[jemcintyre 0]

Wow, what an unpleasant experience. I think that you can conquer your condition, but you never forget that it is there. But you're right, management is the key and the fact that you understand that is great. I'm sure one day these problems will just be a memory for you!

[shaun 6]

Well done for getting out. It sounds like you were experiencing a panic attack, I know the feeling. You should focus on the positives, you ventured outside and you managed to deal with your panic attack. You can use this experience for the future, learn from the past to manage your attacks better.

I don't believe you are destined to suffer from agoraphobia for the rest of your life. Agoraphobia is an irrational fear, by taking consistent action and adjusting your thinking patterns etc, you can overcome it.

[kinser 3]

I agree that you took a big step by venturing out! Just know that it can improve over time - my husband used to panic whenever he'd leave the house, and now it's improved to the point that he's fine going anywhere within a certain distance (like within our city), so making it to work is no problem. He still won't travel far or entertain the idea of getting on an airplane, but I still have hope since I've seen such an improvement over the years. Hopefully you can keep taking baby steps by just getting out of the house and things will improve for you.

[Urban Legend 0]

I think this disorder plagues many people. A lot of people do not realize that it is a real disorder, and it is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. These people are often afflicted with anxiety and panic when they step out into the real world.

[JungleJulia 235]

Thanks for your support guys I most definitely have good days and bad. The more I practice going out the easier it generally is. But there are always random episodes that make me feel like ive gone ten steps back. I'm on a good streak the past couple of weeks though. I went out for lunch a few times with friends, which 2 years ago i'd have never never done. Baby steppssss

[scotty 1]

You will get through it! Maybe a few less chicken burgers is the first step on the way to recovery?

I often find myself arguing with myself, sometimes we are our own worst enemy, but we are also our own greatest strength. You can do it !

[dantesmom 1]

I am sorry that you are dealing with this! It does seem to come out of nowhere sometimes doesn't it? I too get kind of angry at myself when the Agoraphobia rears its ugly head. I can only say to keep on keeping on and to take it one step at a time. Sometimes, I will notice that I am more susceptible to Agoraphobia when I am not getting enough sleep. Maybe a little more rest would help?

[Urban Legend 0]

I sometimes have this problem as well. Sometimes it comes and goes, but most of the time I can shake it off and move foward with my daily activies. Sometimes thinking about it just makes it worse so I will try to keep my mind busy when these episodes take place.

[shaun 6]

Thanks for your support guys I most definitely have good days and bad. The more I practice going out the easier it generally is. But there are always random episodes that make me feel like ive gone ten steps back. I'm on a good streak the past couple of weeks though. I went out for lunch a few times with friends, which 2 years ago i'd have never never done. Baby steppssss

Everyone has bad days, what matters is how we deal with the bad days. You will be able to deal with it better If you accept you will have the odd bad day, and acknowledge it as being an inevitable part of the process. By adopting this attitude, setbacks will not totally derail your progress and knock your confidence.

[jrkrizco 0]

I completely understand where you're coming from. It took me so long just to talk myself into going to the store just 2 blocks away! I kept postponing it until I HAD to go. When I did, it was very nerve-wrecking. Now, although I still have to talk myself into going, I'm able to go a lot sooner. But it's still not, "Ok, I'm going right now" and that's it. I hate that it's so hard to do something most people find so simple. But, it does get better. Some days, not so much. But most times, I'm ok-not where I want to be yet, but ok. And for now, that's good enough for me. Just take it little by little and congratulate yourself for taking that step and coping with the panic attack when it came.

[shaun 6]

I completely understand where you're coming from. It took me so long just to talk myself into going to the store just 2 blocks away! I kept postponing it until I HAD to go. When I did, it was very nerve-wrecking. Now, although I still have to talk myself into going, I'm able to go a lot sooner. But it's still not, "Ok, I'm going right now" and that's it. I hate that it's so hard to do something most people find so simple. But, it does get better. Some days, not so much. But most times, I'm ok-not where I want to be yet, but ok. And for now, that's good enough for me. Just take it little by little and congratulate yourself for taking that step and coping with the panic attack when it came.

Seemingly small and trivial tasks for most people can be a mountainous struggle for people suffering from Social Anxiety. I know how it feels to fear going to the local shop, you think everyone is looking at you and you feel horrible. Taking consistent action is the only way to overcome it, but you must learn to change your thought processes as well. Some people have the courage, face the fear, yet they still feel anxious for years. How you think before, during, and after the event is important. Before the event you should take your mind off of it, during the event you should focus externally and not on how you feel inside, after the event you should think positively, praise yourself, do not let your biased social anxiety thinking judge the success of the experience.

[Anneie63 0]

Agoraphobia is a bad thing when you need to drive somewhere but can't seem to get in the car and go. I have not driven in years due to that. I like going out to many places with people I know but if I have to go alone or drive somewhere it is really nuts. I can't even take a bus by myself or taxi. I don't have many rides to places either so am always at home, it seems except to go with family or a friend if I choose to.

[Prometheus 1]

Yeah, agoraphobia sucks. It's hard to leave my home sometimes, even though I have to. Then, I end up being late for whatever it is I am supposed to be doing. That is another downside. Then I get back and have to replay situations over and over in my head about what went wrong. It is so limiting to have that, but I have to keep on pushing no matter what feelings I experience.

[aquafina 0]

I agree. I am not sure if it is what I had/have. I just don't like to be looked at or talked to, so I stay in the house. When I do go out it is out of necessity and not very far. I try to choose times when I think there will be less people out like early mornings or when the sun goes down.

[olley99 1]

I certainly feel that a psychologist will do wonders for you. Personally for me medication did not help but my psychologist did. I found for me that ACT therapy, mindfullness, schema therapy and CBT to be the most help.

It can also help to question some of the things that anxiety is trying to tell you like you will pass out of you will fall over. Is there any evidence to support these thoughts. When you had the last attack did you fall over, did you pass out, did you get hurt. If you are like me you will answer no to all of these, but anxiety still tries to tell you that you will.

Remember that anxiety is only a thought. It cannot hurt you no matter how scary it can feel. I think we all get scared of going out and socializing when our anxiety is really bad for the pure fact that at home we just feel safe.

you will get through this and you will get better, no matter how hard things seem now.

[BreatheIntoBag 0]

Sometimes the pain I feel over having an agoraphobic experience is worse than the actual experience itself. Basically, it bums me out that I have a problem that continues to surface. By this time, I am used to these feelings but I really just wish they would go away. I saw someone here mention that arogaphobia may be a lifelong problem, in which case I just need to better manage it. Talking about it and sharing my thoughts with others definitely helps, though!

http://www.breatheintothebag.com

[JOYCICLE 654]

Hiya ! I Looked at your site yesterday ! Very nice job. At the height of my anxy/panicky self I became very very CLOSE to agoraphobic. It's possible that from a clinical aspect, I may have actually BEEN agoraphobic. Once I got to that threshold I saw how bad my problem really was. That's when i chose to fight back and fight with all my might because I would NOT become housebound. I think identifying the why/when/where of how this began AND how it progressed to where you are now might help ! For me, I wasn't really technically ' afraid' of anything outside my house. It just seemed I was so much more comfortable and calm INSIDE my house. That was the root. I don't know if that is how most agora's feel, but that is how it seemed to me. Nothing so scary out there, but everything safe in here !

[JungleJulia 235]

Wow thats a great website! Very informative Thank you for sharing. My agoraphobia is really up and down. Most of the time I can manage to go out, but the levels of anxiety go up and down. Yesterday for example I was out for a few hours but was a bit shaky the whole time, my heart was fluttering I hate it!!