Afraid of being alone in public

Posted , 7 users are following.

I had this condition of having fear going out /being alone in the public, especially during peak hours with large crowds. But I am rather ok during middle of the night where there is not much people.

This situation have persisted for a very long time.

Is it a severe mental condition?

What condition is it?

Do I have to seek for a specialist?

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    It sounds to me like classic 'agoraphobia' or fear of the public. People who have it stay inside their homes and have a fear of going out. I guess it's an anxiety condition but a doctor will be necessary in order for you to be professionally treated and diagnosed. I had panic attacks and fear of going out when I was 21 years old and dealt with it without seeing a doctor - or I should say failed to deal with it and trust me that was no fun ! That's why I urge someone like yourself having the kind of experience you're having to see a doctor and get treated. There may be some experimentation required in order to settle on the proper treatment but in the end you will achieve stability.

    • Posted

      I have yet consulted any specialist in this field but i believe i do have panic attacks.

    • Posted

      At times even if there is a need of going out alone with the fear, I will try my best to be more calm. I even had to use my phone for no reason to ease the fear.

  • Posted

    What you have is called Agoraphobia and the best solution is for you to try cognitive therapy. It can teach you new ways to think about or face situations that cause panic. These new ways will help you be less afraid. You may also learn relaxation and breathing exercises. Sometimes your therapist may suggest exposure therapy, in which you try to slowly do some of the things that make you anxious.

    You can also contact a doctor because are many drugs that a doctor might suggest for agoraphobia. The most common kinds are antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines. Doctors often start with a low dose of one of these medicines that raises the level of one of the "feel-good" chemicals in your brain called serotonin. Some of the medications that help balance serotonin are citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor).

    You'll probably take medicine for at least 6 months to a year. If you feel better and no longer are stressed when you're in places that used to scare you, your doctor may begin tapering off your medicine.

    Lifestyle changes may also help. Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Skip caffeine and alcohol. They can make your symptoms worse.

    I hope all these helps you out with you healing.

  • Posted

    Thank you for your info. It's very detailed.

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