Chemical imbalance, hereditary or situational?

I have relatives that I've barely or never seen, but have found out they had been affected too. It's like we're sprinkled throughout the family for at last 100 years at least. My mom was affected by it, but didn't get diagnosed until she was 62, because she was hard headed, too proud, and kept super busy. Her mother definitely had really bad anxiety, but back then there was no term for it except maybe mad or insane. When I was diagnosed, I didn't know of anyone else in the family that had anxiety, depression or both, because it was so well hidden. As time went on, and information passed down, they came out of the woodwork. Maybe because it's less taboo now.

Therefore there is evidence it's genetic. My father had anxiety disorder. Not that anyone knew it at the time. It was only  later, after he had passed away and I myself began to suffer from it, that I recognized it in him. His Mom had migraines, he had migraines, I have migraines. I believe there is another "link"

Yes it's less taboo now because it is dressed up as stress which no one shies away from admitting. At one time so-called "stress" terrified sufferers for fear of being labelled "mental" and so it was hidden as best as the sufferer could hide it

My grandmother would have been 100 this year, but she was one that definitely had at least anxiety. She would get really bad, so my grandpa would brush her hair to help her calm down. He would also spring things on her instead of telling her in advance, because she would get so worked up that she'd get sick and couldn't go. He would say "Everybody get packed up, we're going fishing ", and that left my grandma with no time to worry about it.

As someone who battles with agoraphobia I can commiserate with what your Grandma went through. Impending jorneys of any kind, worry me days in advance

I'm somewhat in the same boat, because I've become very recluse, and have stopped driving due to panic attacks. Something like a planned camping trip won't bother me, because it's on some land we own in the country, and it's very serene. I absolutely love nature, so there's comfort there. When it comes to things such as meeting someone my husband works with, or anything I'm not familiar with, I can't do it. I've always liked the comforts of home, but used to be outgoing, now it's all just closing in. Hopefully it can be stopped before it gets worse. Does the sertaline help with the agoraphobia?

It helps to a certain degree, yes. But effort is needed when dealing with agoraphobia. Situations we can easily  escape, so to speak, are far easier to deal with. The trap is running away from places where panic strikes us. It's hard to stay and see it through, there's the unfounded fear of passing out, making a fool of ourselves, which never happens by the way.

The problem is running home, staying home is the easiest escape method but the one that allows agoraphobia to become firmly entrenched.

And thus our world becomes smaller and smaller until we are confined to home.

I too love nature And even as a child loved home, and was often curled up reading a book

I'm an avid reader as well. No electronic device can beat the feeling of a book in your hands.

I'll get the best nights sleep if there's a thunderstorm, or a heavy rain storm. The sound of the rain hitting the house lulls me to sleep quickly, especially if I have some windows open and can smell the rain. Ahhh, the simple pleasures of life.

Now you're talking! I'm always lurking in the charity shops buying

Books ! Bliss!

every once in a while our thrift store hands out big paper shopping bags and says we can fill the bag with books....for $5. It's amazing how many you can get in one of those bags.

I used to have one of those little machines that made all those cool sounds, rain, waves, storms, etc. Wonder what happened to that? i have to get another one. tv on low helps sleep, but not like these sounds you mentioned.

I sleep with a fan on all year round, because of the white noise. I also pop in my earbuds, and listen to an app on my phone that has a variety of nature sounds. Of course I always choose the rain.

I always travel with a small fan. Sleepy time. The rain is my favoite, too.

White noise! Huh! You should hear my Stephen snore! I swear it registers on the Richter Scale! Don't know about ear buds...I need cement pouring into my eardrums to block it out...The  only kind of multi-tasking that man can achieve is snoring and farting at the same time!

Wedded bliss, huh?

I was just on the inhale when I read this, Helen. I laughed so hard I couldn't catch my breath...so went to choking, then gasping, and finally to tears. I don't know if my mortality rate is going up or down...but it is sure a great ride.

I can tolerate his bodily out of tune orchestra if it made you laugh!

It seems the very least he could do is tune up. Do you have an oboe? I understand that's what an orchastra tunes to.

That sounds like my house for the last 24 years! lol

I'd tell you what they tune up to but the subject is unmentionables....and who needs an

Oboe when you have a human trumpet in residence?

You're fortunate! Mind's sounded like that for 45??