Just want to say hi: diagnosed with agoraphobia

[Aggy]

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all.

I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia.

I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to come and compare notes.

You all seem very nice and supportive of each other. That makes me feel better already and think I will like it here.

That's my first post, so look after yourselves and I'm looking forward to making a friend or two.

-aggy

[AGrace]

Hi aggy,

Welcome to Beyondblue. I hope you will find all of us here very friendly and supportive. Feel free to post, ask questions, or even just read some of the threads. There are bound to be others who have had a shared experience. 

Good to hear you've sought treatment for yourself. Often this is the hardest step.

No friends? You'll have plenty here, is it the illness that gets in the way of meeting people? Or are there other barriers? 

No family? That's a tough one, hopefully you'll feel like you're part of a really big family here. I have my parents, 3 sisters, 3 brother in laws, and 5 nieces and nephews. Im happy to hire them out!!! 

Look forward to hearing more from you.

AGrace

[geoff]

dear Aggy, it's nice to have you join us, as there is a huge following here on the site, where some people come and go while there are others that are constant responders.

Let us know how your medication is going, because sometimes it can be difficult to find the one the works, so it might be a jumpy beginning.

Look forward to hearing from you. Geoff.

[Aggy]

Thanks so much Geoff and Hi.

I'm still waiting for the meds to work and I hope it's soon because I can't stop shaking with worry and fear..

I know it will take a week or so yet for them to take effect.

I will post my progress.

-Aggy

[Aggy]

Hi Amber and thanks.

I'm not used to anyone being concerned about me and appreciate your kind words.

It must be nice to have family to help sometimes, but I am a loner.

I can't tell anyone in my life about how I feel so it's nice to be here and talk to people that won't yell at me, judge me, or put me down.

-Aggy

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy, 

Like others, I welcome you to the BB site. The people here are wonderful and helpful, even though they are going through tough times themselves. 

Though I have struggled from Depression for some years, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and agoraphobia myself a month and a half ago, after my divorce. I thought I had been getting better about leaving the house myself, but due to a downswing in mood and longer time between appointments, I have been getting worse myself this past week. 

It took all of my willpower yesterday, to leave the house through the anxiety shakes and attacks to just go to my sisters house, despite the fact that all I had to do was get in her car. 

Enough about me though, I just wanted to say welcome and I feel for you. I have some idea of the hell it is, staring at your door and knowing you should leave but bieng unable to make yourself take the step, with every fiber in your being screaming against it.

GA

[Aggy]

Hi GA and thanks for the welcome.

I completely understand how you felt about going out in that car.

I notice that using willpower you were able to achieve a goal. Well done, I think that's great and hope willpower can work for me too.

Thanks again for the welcome and your concern GA.

-Aggy.

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy,

Great to hear a reply from you.

It was a combination of willpower, shame at her seeing me break down, guilt at wasting her time if I couldn't go and the relief that if I go out with her that day, I don't need to see my family for a few weeks and they wouldn't worry. So not all good things, but a combination of them worked.

My suggestion is to start small and work up. So if like me, you spend alot of time in one room of the house like your bedroomand on bad days get shakes just thinking about leaving my bedroom. Just go out to the lounge room and do something distracting you would do in your bedroom. Have breakfast near a window, or near the backyard. Then go outside just on the front steps or in the backyard, eventually working up to going out to public places. 

Medication helps immensely. I would still be trapped in my house if I didn't have it. I hope it goes well for you and you notice some effects soon. Do you have a follow up appointment with your gp?

GA

[Aggy]

Hi AG.

Thanks for being so helpful. We have a lot in common it seems. The shame and guilt are things I relate to very much.

I tried getting to work today. It took me an hour and my work is 250 metres from where I live. But I got there.

I could only manage four hours but I think it was an achievement. I came home for my tea break for ten minutes but went back for two hours.

I play my guitar everyday and that keeps me from worrying about stuff for a while.

Maybe able to work up to outside on the porch one day but I always stay inside with the door locked when I can for now. Baby steps seems like good advice.

I have another week to wait for meds to work, but it's good to know that I will be better than I am now. I live in a country town and the doctor I saw wont be back for my next appointment for three weeks.

I have a psychiatrist appointment tomorrow. It's at the hospital and I'm starting to shake just thinking about it. I'm terrified but I know I must go and get help.

Thanks for your kind message and I hope you are doing well today.

-Aggy.

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy, 

I never really appreciated being in  the cbd until I heard stories from those suffering in rural towns. I didn't realise that I really have been taking accessible healthcare for granted. Yes the public mental health system in my state has problems, including long waits to see psychologists if you can't find a bulk billing one, or afford one privately. There is a level of intermediate care that is missing, since you either get an 8 week wait to see a psychologist or immediate admittance into a psych ward for crisis situations. There should be a level of care inbetween. But thats neither here nor there. 

I can certainly empathise with your anxiety over the appointment. I have a gp appointment today, the first after two long weeks without support even from my psych as she was away for a week. I have been on the edge for the past week, with anxiety creeping higher. Today its like my head has turned down the depression dial which has been up in the past few days and cranked the anxiety one instead. Probably because I have to leave the house today, have to get to my gp if I am to get the help I need.

 I am on disability, unable to work but I am glad to hear you not only have a job, but that you were able to go. That is an achievement to be proud of. Are they understanding of your condition or do they not know?

Thankyou for your positive wishes, and  I hope your appointment at the hospital goes well.

GA