Posted , 5 users are following.
I have been agoraphobic for eight long years and I'm wondering how I would go about getting help to help me get around as I will not go outside unless I'm with someone I trust,I was told by my gp a number of years ago that I would need to go outside from time to time so that I would not end up a full on agoraphobic.
I'm starting to worry that I'm gonna be left on my own with no help, I can't ask my family as I don't get along with any of them so need to get some sort of help,I also suffer from mental health issues and have done since I was a child any input will be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
0 likes, 14 replies
archemedes Xman
Posted
Xman archemedes
Posted
Its an awful feeling and worrying from day to day.
archemedes Xman
Posted
Have you considered asking your doctor if he thinks a referral to a clinical psychologist might help you?
stephx Xman
Posted
I don't like going to shopping centers because of it and it's too crowded I hate it I also have others like not liking to eat in front of people ect I have health anxiety too I'm on overload but not wanting to be left alone the fears and reasons why keeps changing over the years it's crazy and does not make sence im 22 I should be going put on my own unfortunately I have had this all my life I have never been able to go out on my own and would make excuses for people to go to shop for me ect so I don't have no advice but as you have only had it 8 years you need to find the reason this all started I know mine started through weirdos I was at my nana when little playing on my own and a drug gym came and stood by me staring I got scared and ran into the house he walked into the house and put my scooter in this I think scared me to ever be alone again xx
Xman stephx
Posted
I did report the matter to the police but said they can't do anything about it as I have no evidence to prove it,and was advised by them that I had two options 1.stop going out all together & 2.If I had to go out make sure I had someone with me so that I would have a witness as they told me that they would not do anything with a witness.
Before 2007 I was absolutely fine able to go out on my own without any problems at all I've always been an outdoors person up until 2007 when all my problems started to be honest being followed was undoubtedly the trigger for the paranoid personality disorder.
stephx Xman
Posted
I constantly think somebody's out to get me I constantly look back while im out Poole go what are you looking at it was a habit that started when I was about 8 😐 .
I don't trust people I always think there going to harm me and it causeAww no that's awful !!
I constantly think somebody's out to get me I constantly look back while im out Poole go what are you looking at it was a habit that started when I was about 8 😐 .
I don't trust people I always think there going to harm me and it causes panic attacks I was told it's just anxiety though but I don't know who really knows .think it's from traumatic experiences though why was these people chasing you ? Because before me and my mum ran our of a cycle track they was a man at the bottom.pacing and he just randomly started running at us (when I was 13 ) my mum panicked and rang my dad and to this day I think what if the man was actually just doing exercise haha and started running our way so I think mainly because of things like that theys panic attacks I was told it's just anxiety though but I don't know who really knows .think it's from traumatic experiences though why was these people chasing you ? Because before me and my mum ran our of a cycle track they was a man at the bottom.pacing and he just randomly started running at us (when I was 13 ) my mum panicked and rang my dad and to this day I think what if the man was actually just doing exercise haha and started running our way so I think mainly because of things like that they stick in your head and change your whole view on things also it may be these people was not following you it just felt that way because they was doing things and had to come your way .
I think this may be part of a traumatic experience too like been bullied or even reading the paper about a story where somebody was followed that sticks in your mind and you constantly belive everybody is out to get you I sometimes run if I'm alone to the place I have to be I look like a physco running in heels haha like im doing a marathon but that's how it has made me
millyimp_1322 Xman
Posted
I am sorry to see you too are Agoraphobic.I have been this way since 1965.I was given tablets
every 2 weeks for 2 years by my then Dr,who treated me for bad nerves( as it was the seen as).During these 2 years I was completely housebound ,(my then husband taking me to the Dr`s and straight back home.These tablets did nothing at all for me .
I was then sent to see a physchiatrist ,it was he who helped me the most,listening to me ,asking me questions of how it made me feel,and trying to get down to the root cause,not just taking tablets.Great big strapping young men ,who you wouldnt imagine being this way .
He suggested I go to a self help support group ,this I did .This was amazing seeing others in the same place as myself.
Unlike the Dr`s they had all the knowledge of knowing exactly how I felt ,we each then were able to give each other the kind of support we knew we needed.
After while we were able to go out (with each other ) as we knew if one of us needed to get up and leave ,the others all knew and readily understood ,we even said we would all of us leave .
Although I had and still have a good family,they simply didnt understand ,and I was unable to explain fully as I myself didnt understand what was happening to me either, not having had anything like it before,so I fully understand you and your fears .
Prior to that I had been able to travel anywhere and everywhere without problems at all.
You say you also suffer from mental health problems ,many years ago my then dentist told me I now had a transferred Phobia (the Aggie ) had tranferred itself into a Dental Phobia.
However, I know ,if I didnt have the IBS , without a shadow of a doubt I would be able to go out any time and anywhere I wished regardless of the Aggie.
I would suggest trying to find a self help support group for agoraphobics,and join that.You would find others in the same position as yourself to be more than helpful.
By all means if you feel the need for medication then take it ,I am however much more into using complimentary therapies .
I wish you well
Take Care
millyimp1322
millyimp_1322
Posted
millyimp_1322 Xman
Posted
I am sorry to see you too are Agoraphobic.I have been this way since 1965.I was given tablets
every 2 weeks for 2 years by my then Dr,who treated me for bad nerves( as it was the seen as).During these 2 years I was completely housebound ,(my then husband taking me to the Dr`s and straight back home.These tablets did nothing at all for me .
I was then sent to see a physchiatrist ,it was he who helped me the most,listening to me ,asking me questions of how it made me feel,and trying to get down to the root cause,not just taking tablets.Great big strapping young men ,who you wouldnt imagine being this way .
He suggested I go to a self help support group ,this I did .This was amazing seeing others in the same place as myself.
Unlike the Dr`s they had all the knowledge of knowing exactly how I felt ,we each then were able to give each other the kind of support we knew we needed.
After while we were able to go out (with each other ) as we knew if one of us needed to get up and leave ,the others all knew and readily understood ,we even said we would all of us leave .
Although I had and still have a good family,they simply didnt understand ,and I was unable to explain fully as I myself didnt understand what was happening to me either, not having had anything like it before,so I fully understand you and your fears .
Prior to that I had been able to travel anywhere and everywhere without problems at all.
You say you also suffer from mental health problems ,many years ago my then dentist told me I now had a transferred Phobia (the Aggie ) had tranferred itself into a Dental Phobia.
However, I know ,if I didnt have the IBS , without a shadow of a doubt I would be able to go out any time and anywhere I wished regardless of the Aggie.
I would suggest trying to find a self help support group for agoraphobics,and join that.You would find others in the same position as yourself to be more than helpful.
By all means if you feel the need for medication then take it ,I am however much more into using complimentary therapies .
I wish you well
Take Care
millyimp1322
Xman millyimp_1322
Posted
I have had all the treatment that the doctors and psychiatrists had to offer I don't like being in group sessions it makes me feel very uncomfortable,every time I went to see a psychiatrist all I ever got when I explained my situation about being followed was "Its all in my head" but I was followed on four separate occasions so I know that I'm right that I'm being followed and to here from a psychiatrist that it's "all in my head.",it is extremely frustrating with the psychiatrists giving of no regard for what I told them
Xman millyimp_1322
Posted
I told my doctor that I would not see another psychiatrist as they seem to think that they are right and that I'm wrong because I have a mental illness and therefore did not stop to think am I right which I know I am,a person just does not stop going outside for no reason. I have been followed on numerous occasions as I've already stated.
I can't take medication and was taken off all meds in 2008 because of a serious illness which hospitalised me saying that the meds they had me on did absolutely nothing for me.
millyimp_1322 Xman
Posted
I am sorry you had the experience you had with pyschaitrists etc.
I had a very good one,and one I was very glad to receive.
I don`t mean group therapy in the sence of being altogether in a session of sence of a group leader .This was a group of people all going through the same problem,from which we all benefited.
What Aspinan,suggests is ok provided you do (as he says) in YOUR OWN TIME AND IN YOUR OWN WAY) REMEBERING WHEN YOU STEP OUTSIDE YOUR OWN GATE ...YOU DO ALSO HAVE TO COME BACK TOO. however we at the support group were advised against doing the exposure way,as it can cause to many stebacks. However xman it has to be your own choice.
Wishing you well in which ever way you choose
Take Care
millyimp
Aspinan Xman
Posted
First of all is to be realistic and expect to feel anxious beforehand, during and after but your fist small baby step if simply to go to the end of your drive, path or to the garden gate on your own, or simply to step outside the door on your own and do this as often as necessary before you feel ok to take the next step, which maybe to next doors gate etc, only progress to the next goal when you feel comfortable perhaps with the medium term goal of going to the corner shop to buy a paper.
Take it at your pace but expect to feel anxious as it's unreasonable to think you won't, it just desensitises you each step of the way.
exposure technique is generally done under supervision of a therapist but if someone could how yo the library for you there are books on it with different methods.
There are meds available which are used for agoraphobia mostly anti depressants and benzo's but can be used to take the edge of anxiety.
Good luck Xman.
Neil
bonnie21356 Aspinan
Posted
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