I am agoraphobic (can't leave the house) AMA

[alittlefickle]

:-)

[DesidaCrick]

That sounds difficult. Do you have a plan for if you had to leave the house, such as in a medical emergency?

[MichelleScarn]

Never? When was the last time you did? Do you allow other people in to visit you?

[LeavesOnTrees]

When did it start ?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Your poor thing x

[DramaAlpaca]

No questions but much sympathy. It must be very difficult.

[Viviennemary]

Have you tried counselling or hypnosis.

[MurderAtTheBeautyPageant]

Do you want to change or are you more comfortable with the idea of remaining at home for the foreseeable future?

[alittlefickle]

@DesidaCrick

No. I don't. I don't like to think about those things.

[alittlefickle]

@MichelleScarn

I can just about manage grocery shopping with my mum and that's it. Leaving the house alone, not since 1998.

I love having visitors, wasn't always the case. I would get really anxious about people in my safe space.

[ZealAndArdour]

Do you have a partner or children? Do you not get frustrated with how small your life is? Do you have goals or things you want to do with your life? Or does the agoraphobia just outweigh all of that?

[alittlefickle]

@palmplantcirca1980s

Best thing is that lockdown was just like 'normal' life for me... the worst thing is missing out on having a life, going out, socialising, holidays, celebrations... just things that people take for granted.

Relationships are obviously impossible. No one wants to be with an agoraphobic, but I'm use to that now.

[LapinR0se]

Do you want to overcome your agoraphobia?

[alittlefickle]

@LeavesOnTrees

Started in 1998 when I was pregnant with my son. He's only ever known me as someone who can't go out.

[alittlefickle]

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Bless you. Thank you xxx

[FetchezLaVache]

Did it come on gradually or was there a trigger moment?

If you could press a button and no longer be agoraphobic, would you do it?

[alittlefickle]

@DramaAlpaca

Yeah, it wasn't want I wanted for my life... that's for sure. X

[alittlefickle]

@DramaAlpaca

Yeah, it wasn't want I wanted for my life... that's for sure. X

[alittlefickle]

@Viviennemary

Over the 24 years, I have had all kinds of therapy (countless times), hypnosis (which cost me so much and failed and I've tried pretty much every medication....

I'm currently on therapy session 11 (out of 12) ... hasn't helped ... I'm what the professionals class as 'complex needs'... meaning I have so many other issues going on it makes it challenging to manage.

[Hugasauras]

How did you manage with a young child? How did it affect him growing up?

[alittlefickle]

@MurderAtTheBeautyPageant

I want NOTHING more in my life than to be normal. I hate myself for being this way (although clearly wasn't my fault). I feel guilty every day. I have been suicidal/self harmed more times than I care to admit. Losing friends/being alienated by family members and losing relationships is just the worst. I deserve to be happy too, right? But being this way, it's clear to me now, my life wasn't ever going to be easy breezy ...

... I've tried and tried over and over again to be well. I put myself into situations that create panic attacks and instead of it working like it should (desensitising) it just makes me worse.

I'm what they'd call 'a lost cause'.

If I wasn't a mother and a dog owner, I wouldn't be alive. This isn't a life, I barely exist.

[Benedictcucumber]

You mentioned you have a child- how do they get to and from school?

[alittlefickle]

@ZealAndArdour

No partner - he got fed up and I ended it last year.

I've got a 23 year old son.

I HATE my life. I hate everything about being this way.

My goals currently are so basic, like, being able to focus on reading a book or manage going shopping without freaking out .... I've had to lower my expectations according with how my mental state is right now, and sadly it's not good.

[Tashface]

That sounds awful. You say you have a dog - how do you manage his/her exercise?

[NippyWoowoo]

Please can you quote the questions to answer them 🙈 it's much easier to follow than to have to scroll and see what the question you answered was.

I don't mean to be rude, I'm finding this interesting!