[Guest]

Just wondering how many others are agoraphobic and how that affects your experiences. I am dealing with trying to get out and do things to get through the dp, but it's hard with agoraphobia because it's hard to get out. Luckily, I'm able to get out if I'm with someone I trust, but I'm working on getting out alone more often. Anyone else?

 

[kenc127]

Yea, I had this crap badly for a while. Now I'm actually able to get out more without any anxiety. Yet, I still get freaked about going to far from home, but at least I leave the house.

The best way to get through it is to just do it. Go out with friends, go to the store, drive around, whatever-just get out. Just go against your desire to stay home and avoid places. It may mean that your anxiety will increase a lot, but believe it or not, that is when healing begins. I've notciced that sunny days really provke my symptoms, and then I get anxious, and then I get freaked and want to go home. So sunglasses really help during the daytime because it kills some of the stimuli. Also mornings can be hard. But 'just doing it' seems to be the most effective thing I have noticed in the past 5 months in dealing with the agoraphobia. Hang in there.

Ken

 

[Guest]

wow, i never heard about anyone else having trouble with sunny days. i have trouble with the sun as well. I need to remember to use my sunglasses. Thanks!

 

[Guest]

yeh, thankfully agoraphobia was a stage for me, probably 6-9 months.
same for me, living a normal life, despite any sensations, overcame it - + 5HTP.
The thing is, when your at your worst, you need to fake it, as hard as this sounds, faking it reminded my brain of the time in my life when driving the car to the shops and buying an icecream was normal.

 

[shadowness]

yeah i have had agoraphobia for about 2 years now....it started really mild...just feeling uncomfortable going out to the point now where i cannot go out on my own or go too far from home...

the dp/dr has made matters so much worse as i do not only feel scared but i feel so disorientated...i feel likethe whole world is about to disappear or something...

yeah during sunny days i find it more difficult as my vision distorts even more...

once the dp/dr goes...going out will be a breeze i think

 

[Guest]

How long have you been suffering from dp now, shadowness ?

 

[shadowness]

How long have you been suffering from dp now, shadowness ?

i have dr and dp....i think the dp is worse than the dr...

but i have had it for about 5-6 months now i think....it does not seem that long but i think it is...but i am not sure...hahaha...

i feel very silly sometimes complaining about it when some people here have had it for so many years...

but i suppose having this for 10 minutes or 10 years...it is not nice to experience at all no matter how long you have had it...

 

[Guest]

Was just wondering cuz you say that youve been agoraphobic for two years, so the dp kicked in just like that ?

 

[shadowness]

Was just wondering cuz you say that youve been agoraphobic for two years, so the dp kicked in just like that ?

yeah...i have had GAD for over 4 years now and agoraphobia for about 2...

now i have had dp and dr ever since the allergy to effexor (venlafaxine)...

before then i NEVER used to have obsessive thinking about my existance and never used to monitor my thoughts and feelings...

i never even had pressure in my head and neck either until after effexor...

 

[Guest]

Holy shit, that drug thing is really tough..

 

[dreamcatcher]

i think youd class me as agrophiobic, i wasnt before i got dp/dr i really enjoyed going out but now i can go out if someone is with me but on my own the anxiety increases and i feel like running into walls, iam trying to do stuff on my own, my therapist has been trying to help, been adviced to go for little walks round the block and try go a bit further each day, also do the same in the car, can go anywhere with company but not on my own. I AM INTERESTED IF ANYONE STILL HAS THE FEAR REALLY BAD WHEN THERE IN THERIR OWN HOME BECAUSE I SEEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO RELAX THERE EITHER :?:

 

[Guest]

I AM INTERESTED IF ANYONE STILL HAS THE FEAR REALLY BAD WHEN THERE IN THERIR OWN HOME BECAUSE I SEEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO RELAX THERE EITHER

Well, yep, that's the real killer and you never see it coming.

I was agorophobic for over a year - at 19-20....literally could not leave the house. Then it happened all over again, about 8 yrs. later....and lasted about 4 months.

I started by being afraid to go out alone. Then I had to have a certain person with me. Then I had to have the certain person and couldn't go too far. Then not far at all. Then not out at all. Then I needed the certain person and still couldn't leave the house.

Then....I couldn't feel safe in my own house at night. Then not during the day. Then I didn't feel safe unless I was in bed. Then....there was nowhere. I had backed myself into the corner of my bed and there was no place left to retreat to.

TRUST me....go out. Today. There is no way to hide; "it' will follow you into the recesses of your mind and whatever it takes to feel safe today, won't be far enough away tomorrow.

KEEP fighting. And keep going out.

Peace,
Janine

 

[dreamcatcher]

THANKS FOR THAT JANINE- I AM GOING OUT BUT ALWAYS WITH MY PARTNER, I KNOW WHERE NOT SUPPOSE TO USE PEOPLE AS CRUTCHES BUT I DONT FEEL STRONG ENOUGH TO GO SOLO YET, I WISH I COULD, BUT HEARING U WHERE LIKE THAT AND ARE NOW FINE IS A GREAT HELP