Do you know anyone who is agoraphobic?

[Lovely2CU]

I have a very good friend who has been "trapped" in their house for the last few years, she has been getting out a little for the last few weeks with her DH, but has a long way to go.

Tell me your stories if you know of anyone please...I might show them to her and give her some hope that she will eventually overcome this.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I think DH's grandma is borderline agoraphobic. It's really hard, she'll go to the grocery store and to the Dr, and occasionally to Cracker Barrel. Anything other than that, she'll make up an excuse (diarrhea, usually) and ot won't be discussed again. It gets frustrating because we'll make plans time and time again, and it won't happen. This apparently has been going on *forever.* She's 83, so we just figure we can't help it now.

 

[pumba]

my brother in law had two car accidents within two months and not long after that he was housebound.......
Some people dont get out for years and years....My BIL was in for 8 years before he took little outings......after twenty years I can say that he is an outdoors person and happy again....
Maybe therapy could of helped him or meds but he opted not to..........
One step at a time....

 

[tigercat]

I was borderline. I could go to my parents house but only one way. If dh went another way I just paniced and wanted to go home. I had to go there or there would have been trouble. I could go to the grocery store just down the street but no other ones. It took me a couple of years with therapy before I was okay. I now just have panic attacks if I am in a crowd.
tigercat

 

[Pixiedust34]

I have a friend with a son who has agoraphobic tendencies. He has panic attacks and phobias and they even pulled him out of school because his stress level was so high that he couldn't handle going to school.

He is under a doctor's care with meds and counseling sessions. I hope that he's able to return to school someday and that he will join some activities with other kids.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I have to wonder if I am (borderline), or if it's just my social anxiety. I can't go anywhere alone, except work and school. Running errands...I pretty much always have to have someone with me, or I have a panic attack.

 

[MushyMushy]

I was recently diagnosed with a mild case of it, and I was shocked, but not surprised if that makes sense. I've spent a good portion of the past 10 years only going places that makes me comfortable (store, local restaurant, the kids' schools). I used to stress over anything new. This past year I really came out of my shell and started going out without my husband and doing new things with friends, then out of the blue in February I was SLAMMED upside the head with panic attacks and anxiety. I didn't want to leave my sofa! Now I'm on an antidepressant, and am finally able to leave the house, but I get really anxious in new places. My heart just pounds and I want to escape.

I'm glad to hear your friend can get out with her husband. I think it just takes patience and baby steps for people suffering with this. I know I feel safer with some people than with others. Maybe your friend can learn to trust other people and start going out with them too.

 

[Tink888]

Growing up, the father of a real good friend of mine had it. He was able to leave the house and go outside on their property but he never went anywhere off property.

Unfortunately he did remain that way until he died of a heart attack but keep in mind this was over twenty years ago and there were not the resources or medications that exist now.

Good luck to your friend. That is wonderful that she is able to go out with her DH at least.

 

[Buckalew11]

You know who suffered from this and wrote about it? Paula Deen for Food Network. I think I'd ask your friend if she'd like you to get a copy from the library or something.

I was almost borderline several yrs ago. Scary stuff. I literally would make myself go places and park the car. Then go home. Then go back again and walk in the store. Then walk back out. Then go back again and walk around the store slowly, then leave. Then I go back and buy something and MAKE myself wait in line to buy it. I would literally have to do deep breathing to stay in line. It was awful.

"Baby steps" it was for me. And alone. I needed to go alone. Plus going alone made me feel less embarrassed in front of mom, DH, sister or friend. They MAY have encouraged me further each time than I went but I was afraid they would so I went alone!

When DH told me we were going to FLY to WDW 10 yrs. ago, I was panic stricken! I was afraid of planes, buses, and LINES! How would I fly on the plane? How would I get from MCO to WDW resort? How would I get on those darned Disney buses everyday??!! AND how would I possibly stand in lines at every ride and attraction? I couldn't even allow myself to even *see* myself on the rides--I was too afraid of even being IN THE LINE.

I dreaded that WDW trip more than anyone here could ever understand (cause how can one dread WDW?) but I did the trip (w/ some xanax) and enjoyed myself A LOT. Came home and planned a trip for the next yr. same time. That was a turning point in my life and one of the many positive things I associate with WDW.

Now I have Disneyitis. But that is better than agoraphobia.

Best Wishes to your friend!!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

My Aunt got it after suffering the severe traumas of losing her father and her DH being diagnosed with cancer. It went on for years and years before she sought help when her daughters hit high school.

She successfully pulled out of it with the help of a therapist. I was young but I can remember her taking about how he had her meet him at the mall and go on outings to desensitize her to being places with other people. I also clearly remember her getting a job in a shoe store in a mall as part of her long term therapy. I don't know if she took medicine for it or not but if she did it was probably anti-anxiety since we're talking about 30 years ago and I don't think we had then what we do now. I do absolutely remember her telling me that if I EVER had anything similar happen to me I needed to get help immediately because the longer a person struggles with the problem the bigger and harder to overcome it gets, even with help.