Anyone recovered even partly from agoraphobia?

[Graphista]

18 months housebound and I'm so so so sick of it.

But I currently have no support from local mh team and no real support with meds which I think could possibly help.

To cut a very long story short, I have severe contamination ocd which over the years has led to agoraphobia as a way of avoiding triggers.

This is the worst it's ever been and I am so fucking sick of it!

I feel I'm letting dd and myself down every single day and I'm bored, frustrated, depressed and angry.

Cbt has never really helped certainly not when I'm at my most ill, but I think I'm basically at a point where I'll try bloody anything! But then I say that but I've had a lot of problems with meds which make me very nervous of trying new ones! (I know I'm an awkward contrary pita yes?)

I need to change something, but whenever I try something goes "wrong" and I'm triggered back to being ill again.

So sick of it and want to break the cycle but really don't know how and quite honestly I don't think even the local mh people know how to help me.

There has to be something I can do?

So if you've succeeded at this please tell me how?

Hi @Graphista,

I do not have agoraphobia, but my mum does...

I feel I'm letting dd and myself down every single day and I'm bored, frustrated, depressed and angry.

I just wanted to reassure you, from a daughter's point of view, that I absolutely do not feel like my mum has let me down.

Not me but someone close to me. Yes, you can recover but you need to pay for proper therapy.

If you want to change, it is completely possible. Like hoarding, it is complex and difficult to break but completely possible. Spend the money if you have it. You won’t regret it.

Thank you.

I appreciate the kind comment.

Has your mum not found anything helpful?

I have considered private (parents would help I think depending on cost)

But when I've looked into private healthcare for this it seems just more of the same? Anti depressants, cbt, exposure therapy

What is the difference with going private?

I also worry I would waste money on quacks, because there's no way of checking the validity or quality of private providers?

Whilst my mum has been having ongoing problems with agoraphobia for a few years now, we're only just at the stage where she has decided she needs help to work through it.

We're really at the beginning of exploring what options are out there for her.

One thing she has done though is sign a consent form which has allowed medical professionals to call me. They then explain their roles, and the different treatments and routes they can offer, so I can almost 'prep' my mum for who will be calling her next.

I'm just really relieved that she's chosen to try and take a step in a new direction.

I really, really hope you find the right thing for you. Do you have a good support network?

Do you have someone you trust who can make sure your daughter gets out for a while sometimes?

Daughter is 18 she is out and about no problem sorry should have made that clear.

Just had letter today about referral to psychology but communication within the mh team very poor and disorganised and I had concerns about wording of the letter which seemed to indicate they didn't realise I was housebound so I've called up and asked that this be recorded and the psychology team contact me prior to booking me appointments so I can fully explain the situation to them.

FuzzyPixel my daughter can contact the mental health team on my behalf if needed as can my mum but neither feels able to help much as they don't know what to say to them or what to ask of them.

As my daughter is relatively young herself she lacks confidence dealing with such things which I understand. Mum has a lot on her plate and similarly feels nervous of "saying the wrong thing" to them particularly given the problems I've had with them.

How are you doing?

Well you’ve made a start with getting psychology appt.
now there hard to get on nhs, as you normally seen at first point entry so see cbt therapist or counselling.
So you must of spoke to gp? Maybe some time ago, hence appt.

Did the psychologist dept say they’d come and visit you at home? You really need to be assertive with them
And tell them you haven’t been outside for 18 mths.

Whilst waiting in that, could you have a telephone consultation with your gp regarding meds?
There are probably a few newer ones about now?

Are you able to go out in your garden (if you have one) or to the gate?

Think your getting mix up with private consultation and private health insurance
If you see a psych privately(who would assess you for meds only, for your condition, they can offer more different med than a go can) it just means your by passing the nhs waiting list and get to see them at a time/date you want.
Regarding private health insurance, that’s a monthly payment, they wouldn’t take you on if you have not been med free for 2 years. Your not allowed to be on any meds as that counted as pre existing illness.