What is life like with Agoraphobia?

[Shadowtime]

Hello everyone,

As a recovered sufferer of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, I understand too well what it is like to suffer from a debilitating mental illness. For this and many other reasons, I have a genuine interest in psychology and human behaviour and enjoy writing on the subjects.

I am currently working on a personal essay about housebound individuals (whether due to physical or mental illness) and am struggling to find interviewees to feature in my story. If you are interested in answering a few questions regarding your way of life and the house you currently live in, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

Please get in contact with me via personal message if you think you can help me.

Best wishes,
Shadowtime

[Shadowtime]

Urgently need help guys, thanks so much in advance.

[rebeccacole]

hey I wouldn't mind giving you a little insight just have to get about 10 posts to private message you x

[alankay]

Sorry but no at all house bound but do have some agoraphobia issues. Alankay

[Shadowtime]

Anyone else able to help out?


hey I wouldn't mind giving you a little insight just have to get about 10 posts to private message you x

Hi Rebecca,

I'd love it if you could message me.

[sweetypie]

I don't have 10 posts yet either to private message you, but I'd love to answer some questions for you. I only have mild agoraphobia now, but I used to have it so bad that I couldn't even open a window or the front door without having a panic attack! So please PM me and I will answer questions about it. I'd love for people to have more awareness of agoraphobia and what it feels like.

[sparkswedge]

Would love to hear some advice please

[kdoddie]

I'm happy to help in anyway I can. I'm new so I can't private message but I'm happy to answer questions just on this thread.

[ndreamer]

Sorry but no at all house bound but do have some agoraphobia issues. Alankay

I have agoraphobia and I'm not house bound, I however do spend allot of time in my room alone. I guess its like an animal being stuck in a zoo, but instead of physical walls they are mental ones.

[sharkybaits28]

I dont know when it started but i stopped being able to go out unless i have someone with me mainly cuz im worried about dying.... i don't know why that's just what my mind obsesses over, and how i just want to get home to the safety of my room as soon as possible. I know its nothing i should be worried about because everybody dies eventually, and because of that its stopping me from living. Sometimes it feels like im dead already.

[Ambition]

Agoraphobia is when you avoid going places for fear of having a panic attack. Your world gradually becomes smaller. Then the agoraphobia makes you depressed because you're not going out and enjoying yourself as you used to. Then you fear the depression and that adds to the anxiety that makes the agoraphobia worse and so and so on.

Sometimes agoraphobia is selective. You can go out to certain places you feel comfortable along familiar routes. Sometimes your ok if you go someplace with someone.

In some cases you fear going out to an appointment that you must attend but if you get through it without a panic attack you get a boost of confidence and stay out longer maybe even into a busy shop!

Sometimes you go someplace new and curiosity overtakes the anxiety and you return feeling good. But if you do that same journey again with no curiosity the anxiety will take over. So its difficult.

Sometimes you need a warm up. Go somewhere that will slightly boost your anxiety then come back slowly so much that you enjoy the journey back. then go to another place that would have seemed impossible at the start and you may find that you can do that without fear!

[Lilith]

When I was 11 I didn't leave the house for a year. It got to the point where leaving my room debilitated me. I feel I had had agoraphobia many years prior to this. School was really hard and I'm not sure how I managed for so many years. Bad habits come back, hiding in your room thinking that it'll be ok for just another day alone. It rips at all your progress. Sometimes it feels like you have just got agoraphobia for the first time. You have to work all the time to get better. You can't stop. And when I work hard it becomes easier to cope with.

[1Bluerose68]

Checkout my post about Agoraphobia, I think its quite descriptive.

[caveman]

i think im your guy. im a 48 yr old man and have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since about age 6. ive been under treatment, of one form or another, since age 8. including a year of inpatient. i have been completely housebound for the last 12 years.

[gypsylee]

i think im your guy. im a 48 yr old man and have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since about age 6. ive been under treatment, of one form or another, since age 8. including a year of inpatient. i have been completely housebound for the last 12 years.

Wow. Welcome to the forum :)

[tesla80]

wow such a terrible condition and somewhat feeling it myself :(