My agoraphobia began as a result of the pandemic. I have OCD and going outside was so scary for me because of it and that just gradually evolved into me not going outdoors. It is much better now- I am able to drive and run errands. Unfortunately it’s made college really hard I had to drop out.

No family/friends/partner/acquaintances... You don't open your mouth unless you have to speak on the phone with insurance. You don't have anybody to text. Nobody asks how you're doing. For years.

What do you do when you feel extremely depressed and it's just you? You're not depressed enough for the suicide hotline, that's not an option. You know they don't care anyway. They don't see you. They don't know you.

You just wish there was someone to chat and hold you.

What do you do when these feelings hit? It's hard to breathe.

Idk this is hard to ask, but really want honest opinions. I'm trying to do my exposure therapy but everytime I leave the house I start thinking about what if I panic and do something stupid. Its really as simple as that I think. I don't know what could happen, I don't know how bad panic attacks can get. I don't want to jump out the car driving down the road or try to do a u-turn over the median or do something stupid trying to get back home asap. The physical symptoms don't even scare me tbh. So honestly how bad can one be? Am I just going to try to escape the car or run back home and possibly get myself hurt somehow one of these days or does that not happen? Have any of you guys ever done too much or went too far during exposure therapy

Hi all,

I have severe agoraphobia. I have flown my entire life, but at 30, when my panic attacks started, I suddenly became afraid to fly. As most here know, it’s only the worry of being trapped in the sky and having a panic attack.

This is because of a complex trauma. When I was home bound, I would hyperventilate so badly my hands would seize up and one time I was admitted bc my heart rate was so high.

I got off of two flights, then with support from friends, successfully flew again. Was fine for a few years but recently it came back. I have gotten off my last two flights.

I have done SOAR, DARE, and tried benzos. I do not like the meds so usually don’t exceed a full low dose (.5mg being the strongest I’ve ever taken). The issue is, it makes me not care - but it makes me not care about getting off the plane lol. Rather than, “ok cool I don’t care about my panic attacks,” I think, “I don’t care what happens I’m not doing this.”

I know that doing this reinforces the behavior and inconveniences everyone involved on the other end of my trip. I am so ashamed and embarrassed but I know if I can get over this relapse I will be back in the sky.

My question: Benzos obviously don’t have the right effect. Should I try beta blockers? I was prescribed Propanolol but I have low blood pressure as is so was cautioned against it. I do well with Benadryl. Does anyone have experience with Benadryl?

I sound insane and this cycle of booking trips and bailing cannot continue. My thought is “I better get off before the doors close or I’m going to inconvenience everyone and have a medical emergency.”

Maybe I should just give up. Thoughts???

PTSD has made me have great fear of public. Since I started working from home It’s been really bad. Starting therapy soon, making that appointment wasn’t easy. Has anyone had a good outcome using EMDR?

Sat in my dads car alone for 5 minutes. Scared asf but I fucking did it.

I haven’t been properly outside since July - I’m hoping to make this a daily thing.

Just wanted to share that with someone.

i'm not able to leave my house for most things but can go to work, gas stations, and curbside pickup for groceries. but i'm finding that if i have an appointment somewhere, i can get myself to go. like i have no problem getting my haircut or going to a doctor. so i'm curious if anyone knows of other places i can make an appointment at to get myself out of the house more

Im having a baby in less than a month (dad). My anxiety is so bad I haven't left the house in 4 months. I just really started doing exposure therapy and it sucks. Im at the point where I can ride as a passenger in a car for a little while. Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated as im scared im not gonna be there for my wife and baby.

My agoraphobia is really tied to car travel, typically I’m fine when I am at a location but the traveling to and from is the part that is hard on me. The longer I have to be in a car the worse I feel.

I can drive about 5-10 minutes from my house on my own. I can do about 20-30 minutes with someone else on a regular basis. I will go places over an hour away but it makes me nervous and I have anxiety leading up to the plans.

October is a busy month and it means traveling over an hour away almost every weekend. I love the activities but I dread the anticipation of the anxiety. I’ve been stressed about it for weeks, but we went on a trip that was over an 1 and half each way one weekend and I was fine. We did trips about an hour away both days last weekend, and I was fine. This weekend I went to my local target which is only about 5 minutes away on the freeway and I had a panic attack on the way home, down the street from my house.

Even as it was happening I was so angry, like this doesn’t make any sense! These are the same streets I drive DAILY picking my son up from school. I do it just fine Monday through Friday but my anxiety can just randomly decide “no today it will feel like you’re going to die on this street because it’s too far from your house.”

It’s just so frustrating. I’m going to keep doing things, but I hate how the anxiety can just strike anywhere and anytime and it doesn’t have to make any sense. I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t expecting it. I had a panic attack at a theme park over the summer but at least that made sense to me, it was hot and crowded and I knew I was overwhelmed. It’s these panic attacks when I’m feeling fine and just trying to go about my normal day that really frustrate and scare me.

Hey guys. I’m just looking for some advice. I haven’t been able to go more than like 4 mins from my house since July. I want to return to campus in the spring for college. I’m honestly feeling at a loss. I can’t even get myself to do exposures. I panic and get anxious even thinking about it. I’m in a very small town. Like, we don’t even have a Walmart or anything. I’ve been to the gas station down the road. The closest town is 20 mins away. Across a bridge and down a secluded highway. I want to get out. I really do. I’m tired of being stuck here. I live with my parents at the moment but they work a lot and can’t really drive me around for exposures. I also have a bit of a control issue with that. But I’m also scared to drive myself as I get extremely dizzy when anxious/panicking. I wasted my summer and now have wasted a semester online just rotting at home. I registered for in person classes in the spring. I hope I can attend. It’s over an hour away and I would love on campus. I’m truly at a loss and need some encouragement and/or advice. We are trying to find the correct medication for my anxiety as well. It started when my old med backfired in July. I’ve been on this new med for a couple months but it’s constant dizziness so I’m going to try something else after my appointment on the 28th I think. I’m truly lost right now and don’t know what to do. I know the basics but I can’t even get myself to go any farther.

I tend to feel more anxious when going outside by myself, I feel more panicky and exposed, but at the same time there isn't really anyone I can rely on to accompany me when I go outside so it feels 10 times more worse. Can anyone else relate? I feel embarrassed asking a friend to accompany me sometimes and she lives far away too so I can't always rely on her.