agoraphobia

GAVINSMOM · Post by **GAVINSMOM** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:46 pm

For any of you that are agoraphobic I need advice. I started having panic attacks a couple of years ago and I was a bit agoraphobic in the beginning but it passed fairly quickly and I was able to go places. But here lately I have been going through a lot of stress and have become totally agoraphobic. I can't even go to the store anymore.This fear is very strong and I don't even know where to begin to get over it. It has been a couple of months since I have been in any store I will go and sit in the car but I can't bring myself to go inside. I thought it would pass when some of the stress went away but each day it seems to be getting worse. I feel like I just want to crawl in a little hole. Any advice would help!
Teresa.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:44 pm

Hey Teresa....im with you on this... i dunno how to to get out of it. i have been agoraphobic since March and i can only go three minutes away from home but when i do go to the store i feel so anxious but longer i force myself to stay in the store i get used to it. It's really hard and i hate it so much. Im a stay at home mom of 2 kids and i want to enjoy my life with my family but then this is holding me back.

But n e way you are not alone in this...

I wish you the best.

Bitchy · Post by **Bitchy** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:50 pm

I can certainly feel your pain. That is why I am just starting this program. Soon after I began getting panic attacks, I was diagnosed with agoraphobia 4 yrs ago... I hardly ever left the house - I was consumed by fear.
I have tried so hard to overcome this - it is a nightmare! A little progress so far, but one thing I've learned: you need to go in that store. Before, I could not go in a store either. But then I went in for just a few things (express lane) and left quickly... I survived! I did that for awhile, then gradually bought more items each time I went. Now, unless I'm having a Really horrible day, I can at least get my shopping done. I've got a long way to go still; I can't travel very far from home, but at least I'm getting my own errands done.
You have to start small, so you're not overwhelmed (baby steps). I am still a work-in-progress, but after all the research I have done, the answer seems to be "face your fears."
(I know - WAY easier said than done, but that is what I am working on).

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:40 am

Please know that you'll get better. Feeling hopeless and helpless is not the answer, although it's easy to head on that path at times. I'm a mother of 4, happily married for 29 years, previously overcame pretty crippling shyness that stayed with me all through high school with many panic attacks based on events that occurred during those years. I had overcome much and taught fitness for many years and also taught natural healing classes.....but when change of life hit it all came back with more steam than I could handle. Thanks to my natural healing background and my N.D. I've come very far....and I honestly wouldn't have left the house if it wasn't for Lucinda's program. Two years ago these were my limitations: quit going to church, quit singing specials at church, couldn't even think about going into a grocery store even with family present, couldn't drive, wouldn't go into restaurants to eat and definitely would not eat in front of anyone and during those days it even bothered me to eat at the dinner table with my own family. Sad but true. I've come so far and you need to stay strong and courageous...face your fears when you're ready and do it anyway. That's the only way I've overcome much and now can: drive many places and actually drove a group to a Christian training that was two hours away (not without some boughts of anxiety but I used the tools in the program and got through it), I go into the grocery store now and only have a level 1 or 2 of anxiety where before it was off the charts. I currently do better when someone is with me, like one of my daughters....but I'm gaining and did attempt groceries on my own severa times and survived. I can go into restaurants with my family now, and I'm not totally free but focus on other things and use the positive self talk and generally do well and I can eat in front of my family feeling pretty free. Recently I went out to dinner with a group of girlfriends and was anxious about it but did fine and I actually had fun. I do better when everyone else is eating, but I do make sure I'm not the last one to finish so the focus isn't on me. It's a process and you absolutely cannot give up or give into the fear. I sing on our Praise Team at church now, for the past couple years, and although some weeks is pure torture being my anxiety escalates when I'm in front of a large group....I've managed and people are shocked when I tell them I'm very nervous and panicky feeling when I'm up there ministering because they state they could never tell. I trust in God and know he didn't give me a spirit of fear and I know exactly where this came from....and that makes me all the more determined to overcome. There are many sources in the Christian realm and good teachings out there on fear. I feel I've come close to being an expert on fear being it's been my focus of study, especially strongly over the past couple years. Hope I've helped some and know you aren't alone in your suffering. Too bad a group of us can't meet at the grocery store and conquer it together!! One by one those mountains would crumble. Hugs and prayers to you.