Agoraphobia support thread

[rainbowninja]

Would anyone like to join a support thread about agoraphobia?

It's just one of the many anxieties I seem to have 😂.

I was pretty much housebound for the best part of a year but recently started to take some tiny steps back out in the world and I do mean tiny. Is anyone else in a similar boat and would like to share their experience/support each other?

I don't have a master plan and I thought I was done with CBT exposure type therapy but I've been feeling motivated to take action recently and wondered if anyone would like to join me?

Hello there @rainbowninja.

I've had agoraphobia since Sept 2018. In that time there were whole months when I never left the house on my own. I think the longest was eight months.

Hi @DisforDarkChocolate welcome aboard!

And thanks for sharing, it's so isolating being stuck in 😞

How are you doing with it now?

I can work and socialise (have previously been scared to be put of the house) but getting on public transport is a total no no for me and Im totally embarrassed to tell anyone I'm scared to get on a bloody train!!! I miss social events too. Sometimes I can feel overwhelmed and panicky if I Have to be somewhere e.g a lecture or training where I feel I can't get out. I manage in the whole but the doors that are closed to me in terms of travel and socialising really get me down at times.

I've never got to were I can just leave the house without a second thought. It took months to even get me in the back garden on my own.

At the moment I'm having a bit of a setback. I ended up working for 12 days in a row, left myself in pieces and now I'm back to not going out on my own at all.

I have had agoraphobia and panic disorder since 2011. From then for 4 years I was pretty much housebound.i tried CBT, talking therapy, accupuncture, hypnotherapy. But they were just a plaster that fixed things for a short term. In the end my husband was desperate and bought me a puppy , he knew this was either going to make me sink or swim. Thankfully for everyone, that puppy saved my life. I still have times where I can feel the agoraphobia knocking on the door and having covid last month and being stuck in the house for nearly 3 weeks was quite scary as it could have been the start of things getting bad again.
I still have panic attacks but I'm alot better at controlling them and know how to work through them.

@SlB09 yes, public transport has always been an issue for me too. I'm so jealous of people who have that kind of freedom. I'm sorry you're missing out on things, it's so hard to explain to other people.

@DisforDarkChocolate sorry to hear that, I do think us anxiety sufferers are probably more vulnerable to the effects of stress and tiredness. Hope you get a chance to rest over Christmas.

Hi @FrenchyQ, I'm glad your puppy helped! What do you find most helpful for dealing with the panic? I guess that's where I need to try and get to - no longer seeing the feelings of anxiety as an enemy.

So todays update is that I went out for a short walk with DH and DD and our 2 small dogs. It was a lot when I was feeling anxious and I think I'm maybe pushing myself quite hard because I'm also hosting Christmas and have a lot to do 😫 I'll keep updating but think I'm going to somehow prioritise self care over the next couple of weeks whilst doing the 'exposure' as and when I can.

That sounds good @rainbowninja. Any time you make it out is to be celebrated.

I'm planning to go out tomorrow (to walk of some of the stress baking I've being doing). I'll probably have to get my husband to walk to the end of the street with me though, or take my son.

Hello - another agoro here. I had this six years ago after having my son. It lasted a few months as going out with a baby was just too anxiety making. Covid lockdowns have made it too easy for my world to get very small. And now, I’m currently unwell, in peri and the anxiety has taken on a new level. I have not left the house beyond short walks, when I have HAD to do school drop off and medical appointments since the 1st November. I’m now on beta blockers but until my health gets better I can see myself in this vicious circle. And really, I’d prefer to be in my bedroom. My son is 6 and I feel so sad I’ve not done Christmassy things with him. I left my long term career this year as I couldn’t continue with the stress of homeschooling and work that had intensified. I’m glad I’m not having to be on sick leave but I also think it hasn’t helped me.

Thanks @DisforDarkChocolate 🙏🏻 it's easy to dismiss the small stuff sometimes but you're right anything is better than nothing!

Did you manage a walk today?

Hi @summernotwinter lovely to have you on board ☺️

Sorry you've had such a difficult time, I have a 7 year old daughter and feel similar about the things I don't do with her.

Sounds like you've had a lot of change the last year and being in peri won't be helping either, let's hope we can have another go at reclaiming our lives in 2022.

I hope everyone here had a lovely Christmas.

I've been out visiting people today, luckily my husband was with me so it was OK. Tomorrow I'm hoping to feel well enough for a walk, I definitely feel the need for some fresh air after eating too much yesterday.

I hope you had a nice time out and about today @DisforDarkChocolate and that everyone else is ok?

I've not ventured out for the last couple of days, mainly because we've had family staying and that makes me feel a bit anxious in itself and I can only tackle one kind of anxiety at a time 🤣

I've read a bit more of 'dare' again today though and I've been practicing it in my head whenever I feel a wave of anxiety.

It was nice but very tiring @rainbowninja.

I found The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k and Atomic Habits useful audobooks that helped reset my thinking.

Thanks @DisforDarkChocolate

Both those sound great, I'm definitely recognising that I need a different way to respond to the anxious feelings/thoughts.

I ventured out for a short walk today, the first in a few days so it was good to have got that under my belt. I'm still doing with it with some dread, waiting for the anxiety to hit.

I've got a bit of an aim actually and I'm almost scared to say it in case I can't do it but I'd love to be able to go to my mums next Christmas. She came to me this year as she lives about 120 miles away but I used to love 'going home' for Christmas. I don't know how realistic it is and maybe I need some smaller goals to start with but it's giving me some motivation anyway.

I ignored all my own advice @rainbowninja and just ate all the biscuits today when I couldn't face going out. This will not do for tomorrow!

My turn to do that today @DisforDarkChocolate, I made it out for a walk yesterday but today was a write off, just couldn't get going.

Today I managed to walk into town and do a few jobs. On my own.

The distraction of a trip to the accountants and very icy paths really helped.

Feeling happy.

That's great news @DisforDarkChocolate good to hear some positive news!

I had a CBT session yesterday and am resolved to make a list of the things I'm avoiding and starting to tackle them one by one.

How is everyone else doing?
@summernotwinter @FrenchyQ @SlB09 @MinnieJackson @LemonPeonies @Moonface123 @dancingthroughthedark @SomethingPunny @Butwhhhyyyyyyy @KrustyTheKat

Hi all,

Just thought I'd update, I've started to make a list of all the stuff I'm avoiding right now and it's a lot 🙈🤣

I'm having a go at tackling the agoraphobia by doing little but often. My CBT therapist said to give myself a target and then do it repeatedly until I'm bored. So although I have gone for a few short walks recently I have rolled it back to just going outside and setting foot on the pavement and doing it every 10 minutes. The anxiety is decreasing but I'm still having flare ups of worry and intrusive thought in the meantime.

Is anyone else using this method of 'deconditioning'? It seems tedious but I'll see if I can persevere. I've done it in the past and it's worked (until the next anxiety flare up) but I'm up for giving it another go.

I did exposure therapy a couple of years ago @rainbowninja.

I found it quite depressing at first. It took weeks to even get on my back step. What I found helped was giving myself something to do when I make it outside, so I'd pull up a few weeds, water the pots, hang some washing up etc. It helped distract me.

Thanks @DisforDarkChocolate

Funnily enough the first thing I've noticed is how self conscious I feel about just nipping in and out of the house and how worried I am that I will be seen and judged. Maybe I'll try and find some weeds to pull up on my drive!

Hello, I've come to join you all.

I've only just found out that what I have is agoraphobia. I always described it as situations where I had no control.

Mine has escalated dramatically this year, to the point I am now on meds and find leaving the house hard. Working on it but struggle when I have to go, eg tomorrow. Have an emergency dentist appointment for pain and wish I could cancel it and just stay home. Not sure im going to be able to go