Scared to leave my house

[anxietyhelpplease]

I've been feeling really unwell lately, and it's resulted in me being too scared to leave the house. In a month I haven't left.

It's almost like I'm scared something terrible will happen in a public place. My head starts spinning, I feel weak, my jaw feels clenched and I can't get my words out properly. I feel as though I am losing control of my whole body.

Does anyone understand any of these symptoms? And how can I work through this and be myself again?

I forgot to say, I fully know this is all anxiety. But it's seriously ruining my life and I need any help really

I also realise I've accidentally posted this multiple multiple times. How can I get the others deleted?

Sorry to hear you're feeling like this . And I know it's horrible but it's a common part of anxiety and you can overcome it.

I would suggest you get the thread moved to Mental Health for some more support - if you report this thread (top right of thread) and ask for it to be moved, and you can also then ask for the other threads to be deleted.

I know this isn't your question but there are multiple repeats of posts on many threads today. Not your doing!

It’s called agoraphobia.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/agoraphobia/

You can get free online therapy here from home:
www.iesohealth.com/en-gb

I know it's called agoraphobia, but can someone really just suddenly be affected by that? Usually I am an outdoorsy person - out all day and evening and only coming home to sleep. It's only been the past month or two that this has happened and now I'm trying to break it.

I'm struggling big time to be honest, with how to deal with this in the least scary way.

I would go to GP and explain what is going on and that you think its due to anxiety.

I think counselling may help if its anxiety - presumably you are getting thoughts before this happens if its anxiety and you can work through those thoughts. Tackle it in little steps. The doctor could also prescribe meds which may help.

Did something happen to make you more anxious? Normally such a sudden change that dramatic would be for a reason. Doctor may want to run a few blood tests etc to check nothing physical going on but could be say you are hyperventilating that would make you dizzy and weak. I'm not sure about the jaw maybe body tensing up. Tell doctors everything, they will have more idea than me.

@PenguinsRabbits I'm terrified to even get to the GP. It sounds and feels mad but I'm absolutely terrified, tried to go once but had to turn around after a minute because I felt like I was going to pass out. I will phone and ask for a phone appointment though!

Nothing has even happened that should have caused such a change. I am so confused, terrified and miserable. I can't even go to the shop for food. It's pathetic

Same thing happened to me. I had been very unwell with dizziness etc and it made me scared to leave my home incase I became unwell out in public. The only way I recovered was to force myself every day to go outside. First of all it was just standing in my driveway for 10 mins. Once that stopped giving me bad anxiety I would go a bit further and stand at the end of my street. Eventually I was able to walk around the local park, and then able to get on public transport and go into a shopping mall or the cinema etc. It took about 6 months to get to that point. I still have the anxiety there a bit in the background but I remind myself that I’ve gone outside loads of times since I became unwell and other than feeling dizzy and anxious nothing bad has actually happened to me and I haven’t collapsed.
I might have recovered faster on medication but I was too scared of potential side effects to take anything.
Deep breathing exercises and distracting myself by listening to music or a podcast when outside helped a bit. Good luck x

Sorry about the random name change fail here
@Ellabella989 that actually sounds EXACTLY like what is happening to me. It's absolutely horrific.
Thank you so much for letting me know that one day this will get better.
I'm going to try and walk about in the garden today, then perhaps try a little further tomorrow. All I want to do is do the normal things I did before without a second thought, god how I took it for granted!

Sorry to hear that - try and get GP on the phone. You can self-refer for counselling from NHS here and sometimes that is on phone too:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/free-therapy-or-counselling/

Do you have someone that could come with you if you need to get out? - hope you have someone to look after you. I would at least try and tell a friend, family or a neighbour so someone can give you support if you don't have a partner who will help.

So sorry you are going through this. After being very poorly I spent 10 weeks at home without leaving, until yesterday.

First you need to phone your GP surgery and ask for a phone appointment and explain to your GP exactly how you feel.

Peoples homes are their safe haven.
You have been ill, and this is a place of safety and comfort for you.
Do not put any pressure on yourself at all!!
It can be a long process and this has happened to me on many occasions over the years.
From my experience (it has happened to me on many many occasions over the years) focus on telling your GP first. Don't even think about setting yourself goals. It can make you feel worse, the pressure and build up to trying to leave your house.
Are you on any anti anxiety medication at the moment?

I've been given diazepam to try but I am too scared to try it because of the side effects
I am so glad to hear other people have experienced this. I've been too scared to tell anyone and even speaking to you all is making me feel a little better. Thank you all so so much

This is a basic guide for social anxiety - maybe slightly different to that but same basics.

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/socialanxiety.htm

@PenguinsRabbits thank you so much. I'm going to give that a read just now and try and start making myself better.

Thank you so much for taking the time to find that for me.

I’m going through the same. Been so ill I’m scared to go anywhere and I’m off work.

Diazepam was the only med I liked but it’s not a long term solution as it’s addictive. It’s the only one I tried that gave me no side effects x

Poor, poor OP

I suffered the EXACT same.
I had a rare illness and was in hospital 6 months, had to learn to walk again.

After about 2 years (when I was walking fine etc) I suddenly could NOT leave the house. I was so scared of falling over, my legs would start to shake and I would feel horribly dizzy.

I hope it helps you to say it will get better, but you do need to go out for a minute of so a day. Or. you will go mad! I had to, as I have a young DD.

Diazapam is great, but as others have said, NOT AT ALL a long term solution.

I also couldn't make it to the doctors. The problem is you look fine. Nobody knows.

Huge hugs and

Have you had blood tests done? Being deficient in iron (ferritin) and b12 can cause dizziness, anxiety, palpitations, blurred vision etc

Thank you all for the support and helpful advice. Today I managed to walk up the street with my headphones on. I was panicking, got dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out BUT I did it and it feels like a massive victory.

Tomorrow I am aiming for round the block! Thank you all. Talking about it helps so much

That's great news - well done. Sometimes anxiety increases before it decreases by the CBT method of exposing yourself to fears gradually definitely works.

Well done OP little by little you will beat it.