Agoraphobia Terror

[blondguy]

Hey Everyone! (New Posters are more than welcome to post too!)

I just wish to clear the air on 'agoraphobia'. This condition is an 'extension' of Anxiety disorder that some people suffer and some that dont. I have noticed that there is some confusion about this illness on the forums.

Agoraphobia is not only a fear of leaving one's home it can be a fear of walking 100 meters down an ocean beach from your car knowing its a 'safe place' and have difficulty walking any further as the need to return to your 'safe' place is very real and very powerful.

This is not an anxiety state but sometimes can bring on an anxiety attack or even worse 'hyperventilation' if a sufferer is too far from their safe 'place'.....It is not a fear of leaving one's home.

I carry a paper bag 'just in case' I hyperventilate which I have only done once about 40 meters from my home in 1997. It takes 20 minutes for me to walk around the block with my dog. I can only get half way and have to turn around around as the 'fear' of getting to the point of no return scares me like a person would fear being stuck in an elevator. So I walk my dog (Prince) in straight lines everywhere so I get 45 minutes a day

I can drive to Perth from Melbourne without a problem. My agoraphobia prevents me from being too far away from my safe place whether its my home or a vehicle.

I have a crackerjack therapist and GP that have been helping me with my 'minor' agoraphobia. They have said that because I refused meds from 1983 to 1997 I actually exacerbated my anxiety levels to the point where I actually laid the foundation for the agoraphobia that I have now.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as this really gives me the 'sads'

Thankyou for reading my post 🙂

Paul

[Steph]

Hey Paul

After reading what you said about agoraphobia, a light just switched on in my head and I realise that I suffer from the same thing. I always wondered why as soon as I leave the house I feel anxious and desperate to get back home as soon as possible. When I am back at home in my "safe place" I feel so much better.

I also find, that when I go on holidays the hotel or wherever I am staying transfers to my new "safe place". Going on a holiday or just to visit family is often very hard and I have a great deal of anxiety leaving home. I am still trying to learn how to deal with this.

Sorry I haven't been helpful, but I just wanted you to know that what you said has been very helpful to me! I understand things a bit better now. Only 8.30am and I have already learnt something!

All the best

Steph

[blondguy]

Hi Steph, thanks for your reply...It actually is a huge help to me:-) Its actually a relief to know there are other people that have the same issue. You bring up the point of 'transferal' of a safe place. So very true and also such a pain. 8:30am and learning...cool! I love your attitude Steph. Paul:-)

[pipsy]

Hey guys. You have my attention and curiosity peaked. I mentioned in an earlier post, a bf I had many years ago suffered agoraphobia/hyperventilation problems. Whenever he tried to go traveling in a car, he would hyperventilate. He told me he'd had a vasectomy (the youngest man in N.Z) to have had this op. I assumed the op had triggered some imbalance causing the hyperventilation. I had no idea he had agoraphobia, I'd never heard of it, and, as I said, my sympathy at that time was non-existent due to my upbringing. If what he said is true, perhaps agoraphobia/hyperventilation could be more medical in which case the condition is not necessarily triggered by mental health problems. The mental health side could be a side effect triggered by a medical condition. To treat the condition first find the medical problem. I'm not saying all cases of agoraphobia are caused by medical problems, I'm just pointing out that in this case, the root cause was initially medical as opposed to mental health issues.

I might add, to my knowledge my ex bf is taking medication for the condition.

Lynda

[Artax]

Hello Everyone

loveing this thread. I find it difficult to be anywhere but work and home. When I do go out I have my little dog with me dad even babysits him while I am atwork.I get very uncomfortable and worry about him when I do have to leave him at home alone rto pop to woolies or something.

I like to drive and spend alot the time in the car. I get uncomfortable in new places so I tend to get drive thru ect instead of getting out. My car is my safe place. So much so I have several for when one is at mechanics ect as I feel trapped if I have no way out as such.

Thank you for all the information andthe knowledge I am nor alone.

Artax

[blondguy]

Tony WK. Your words spoke volumes as usual. Thankyou for giving us your 'clarity'. Nice1 🙂

Tony WK has made a great point which I will quote "Because I'm driving it, I only can concentrate on the controls, not the inner workings if the car that are far too complex for the average person to comprehend"

Happy Trails. Paul

Hey Lynda

[Jessme]

Hey Paul, I don't know much about agoraphobia but it sounds about as much fun as health anxiety. Does it feel similar to seperation anxiety? I know what that feels like as I have panic attacks being more than a 5 minute drive from my husband. The further away from home I am the more panicky I am too so maybe I do understand it a bit. What fuels the panic when you leave home?... Is it the Unknown? Or do you think it is an evolutionary instinct to want to be close to a safe haven? I like your posts, they are very supportive and non judgemental by the way.

[blondguy]

Hello Artax🙂 Thankyou for replying and sharing. I am glad that this subject has been of value. I feel less 'alone' that I am not the only one here that has their car as a safe place..Paul:-)

Hey Pipsy: Thanks for your support on this matter. Your ex's medical trigger could be a reason for sure. From the study I have done on Agoraphobia, its still a type of anxiety, just more deeply ingrained. Mine started after the family court in 1996. To me its like scarring of the brain coming from years of anxiety disorder and life events x

[blondguy]

Hey Jessme and thanks for replying:-) Good point about 'seperation anxiety'..it is similar to this yes.

The further we drive away from home or walk too far away from our car...are all types of anxiety. From what I have learned there can be deep seated insecurities or even some degree of low self esteem (even little amounts)This fuels my 'fear of the open and being away from a safe place' Thanks for the nice compliment Jess. Paulx

Dumping that fear is crucial where recovery is concerned and due to the stigma that is attached to mental illness we must acknowledge people's suffering to decrease the stigma that is real in the community. Paul

[blondguy]

Hey Tony WK

Thankyou big time with your support on this. If you can do a check on your BBC forums for an update 🙂

Paul

[white knight]

Paul,

I've been in Perth for 10 days as part if ourtrip. I love the place but was homesick. Then 3 days ago we left and found a nice spot on the beach.

Its off season so 3 vans in total. We lunch with green parrots feeding from bread on our shoulders. I'm no longer homesick.

I believe that traffic, crowds shops etc contribute to my symptoms.

Its just a thought.

Tony WK