Agoraphobia

[chaekyu]

Hey girls and guys, I have been suffering from agoraphobia for about four years now, but within the last year in a half I have become home bound. And it's no fun being 22 years old and still living with your parents. They treat me like I’m a kid and I have to live by their rules or else, so basically I feel stuck.
I have tried certain medications and none of them have helped with my condition. I also suffer from panic attacks and have feelings of de-realization; does anyone else feel like this? Or know of any way to get over this? If so, I am open to any suggestions or or comments. Thanks

[hahninsik]

Hi, I was waiting to see if any of the other members wrote to you first, but I don't want you to think we didn't see this.

welcome to the agoraphobia forum, I’m ddee.

I've suffered from agoraphobia for almost 9 years now, wow. That just hit me.........and mine is also related to panic attacks. I had a traumatic situation in 96 and it all hit me almost 2 years later at work. I was having a bad night anyway........and I just all the sudden couldn't hear or breath and ran to break. When I got back, I called my husbands psychdoc from my desk, and got in the next day where I was dx'd and went on medical leave. after 2 weeks I went back and resigned. I then filed for disability since I have other dx's that are debilitating.

AFter that I couldn't leave my house. I tried baby steps, but had to have someone with me every time I felt like getting out and they weren't always available.

They put me on xanax again, don't take em is all I can say. They are too addictive. I can go out at night, and if I have to go to the doc or the store, I wear sunglasses, they really help. Even at night, they give me a sense of being boxed in, but without any claustrophobia. I don't really have that any more anyway. But that is a different story.

I used to be very extroverted and social. People still don't bother me...it's the wide-open spaces...I feel like a target. Go figure.

If you have friends, and have a chance, now is the time to deal with this. Baby steps though. You don't want to end up like me. I’m fortunate and haven't given up completely on healing of course, but I am older, and have done everything I really wanted to ever do, before this happened. You on the other hand are so young and have your whole life ahead of you.

Working can be the hard part; with agoraphobia it is best to work in an environment where you can be your own boss. And have limited contact at first with people, at first.... if you can..........I'm sure it's hard for you to depend on your parents, and have to live there. But the sooner you can over come this the sooner you get out. The whole issue is based on our fear of panic. Just like with any other phobia.

[joung]

I had severe agoraphobia with panic attacks for 20 years and eventually had to diagnose and treat myself, I have run an agoraphobia self help gro
up and have helped many recover and to start new lives
most agoraphobics are much too sensible to become addicted to valium, its very useful to get the recovery started
Medication helps, but cant work if the sufferer is in a high state of panic or anxiety
the sophisticated therapies are a waste of time and money. This applies to all psychotherapy especially
also be aware that many agoraphobia expert therapists had and still have agoraphobia and panic attacks themselves, they claim to be able to cure others but haven’t seen the need to cure themselves, have been associated with agoraphobia for over 30 years, back when most psychs refused to recognize it and thought panic attacks were a sign of a severe mental illness