Agoraphobia

Hi Ken

(((Hugs Hun))) Just never give up trying keep hanging in there and take baby stepts on things you need to do. Try just focussing on getting that one thing done in a day and get threw that day. I'm sorry your treatments and meds didn't work for you but it sounds like you are trying very hard.

Keep up the good work and please keep us posted on how you are doing.

Ken *hugs* hang in there.

Ken,

Have you had any accomplishments/lil steps you would like to share with us? Sometimes we can grow by accepting our accomplishments.

Hi Ken,

I completely understand what you are dealing with here. I have been housebound not too long ago as well. My suggestion is (as Lyn said) "baby steps". The only way to recover from this horrid disorder is Exposure, not Avoidance. The more you avoid, the worse it gets. It's a self-perpetuating dragon, the more you avoid it the bigger and meaner it gets. The more you face your fears, the more likely they are to fade. My first day back to work after months of "hiding", I literally had to pick up my legs and put them out the car door, take one step at a time, concentrate on only that (it's just one step...it's just one step). Well it works, as silly as it sounds. I am not housebound anymore, although the tendencies are still there. I could easily revert to hiding at home if I let myself do it. Best wishes and (((Hugs))),

Bear

HI

Thanks for all your suggestions and support.  What worries me is I have taken the little steps after i got out of the hospital over a year and a half.  It lasted for three four weeks.  Some how i think when your stuck you need a push over the hill.  Mabey not a big one just get over the hump rather than go back in the safe house.  Your thoughts would be appreciated.  Thank you all for your support and answers.  I am at a point to do something or like people say the longer in the more to get out.

Thank you all

Ken

hi ken, im sorry nothing much has helped, but dont get discouraged, as they said, baby steps are huge actually, and its much easier to try baby steps than huge ones. Good luck and keep us posted, to me the tiniest step is wonderful. I think we all believe that. You can do this, we are all behind you :)
shell

Keep coming here Ken please '

You have many friends and plenty of support as you know
Your friend
Lyn

Great idea lil one
Mom

Give it a shot Ken and remember you have that wonderful sense of humor
Lyn

Hi Ken, I am sorryt hat you are finding things tough right now. Don't give up though, do little steps each day and things will get easier. You will get days when things are easier and days when things are harder but don't let it hold you back, keep going.

I hope you start to get better real soon.

Ken,

How are you holding up?

I understand agoraphobia, I dealth with it seriously for 1 year and up and down for 7 more after that. I can't tell you why but I have always been able to face my fears and work through them. I never let the fears within me keep me at home even though walking out the door was tremendously difficult. I am well now and agoraphobia free for the last 20 years. I did it by simply not letting it have the ultimate power over me. I got up every day, I went to work, I did what I had to do and I looked inside for honesty with myself about what I was afraid of, what was causing the fear and not letting it get the best of me.

Funny story - After the worse year of my life, the year that agoraphobia hit me hard, my husband and I moved to Denver, CO. We were only going to be there for 5 months so I got a job in a daycare and didn't worry about career goals. One day we were going to take a field trip with the kids. We needed to transport some of the kids by private car because the van wasn't big enough and I was the only employee that had the right kind of insurance. One of the issues that I had was driving on the freeway. I don't know why but after 7 years of never having a problem on the freeway, it terrified me. We were going to a skating wrink with the kids and in my mind I though okay, right down the street. Imagine my surprise/panic/terror as I followed the company van onto the freeway in Denver! I was terrified but made it through just fine and I don't even think the kids knew anything about it. I am sure that reading this story is not as funny as that day was in my head. In my mind I always imagine that trip as a keystone cops sort of affair. It just goes to show you that life jumps up at you at any moment and we all have to be ready to roll with it.

I don't know what the "switch" is that you need to flip, that only you will know. I can tell you that if you keep making steps everyday, even small ones, you will be alright. This is a great place to come. Keep posting.

How are you my friend
Hoping you are reading these posts and seeing the compassion and support you are receiving
Be well
Luvs Lyn