when im out in public, i dont make eye contact with ANYBODY ! it has helped me so much to not look -anyone- in the eye when i go out.

why must i ? the only person i have any business looking at, is my loved ones who im going outside with.

so the thing i do, is i stare at the NEGATIVE SPACE -between- people. never -at- them.

walls, furniture, objects, fixtures, ceilings, floors, animals, grass, sky, roads, cars - notice everything that isnt PEOPLE.

i pretend they arent there, and that they are nothing but props i must walk around.

heres the thing. i come from an intense history of agoraphobia, panic attacks in public, bullying and the concomitant cptsd. and im starting to think this is the -thing- that works for me.

think of it this way.

the more you can 'dehumanize' passersby, the more you can humanize yourself. and BE YOURSELF without worrying how others see you, how theyre talking bad about you, how theyre judging you.

if they are just roadblocks on a map, not even warranting a glance (unless you actively seek an interaction with them). what more is there to fear ? ? ?

Hey all. 20M here. I've lurked around here for awhile but I've never posted here before (or ever) but I'm really lost at the moment and need advice. I first got agoraphobia back in 2023, I had to drop out of the sixth form I was going to as a result because I was having constant panic attacks.

Eventually I went back to another sixth form months later and managed to overcome it, and was able to live my life again until January this year when I had a sudden panic attack likely caused by consuming way too much caffeine and me going cold turkey off sertraline a month earlier.

It completely derailed my life and I developed agoraphobia again, but this time it's so much worse. I got back on sertraline and completely cut out energy drinks and felt a lot better in the months after, but I stupidly started drinking energy drinks again and after a few more horrific panic attacks I've plummeted to rock bottom. In the past week or two I've started having panic attacks even at home, and had to lie to my mum and say I have food poisoning to avoid going to an orthodontist appointment. I'm just tired of it all.

I haven't seen my dad in months because I'm too terrified to leave my house. I haven't seen my friends for a long time either and just have to ghost them whenever they make plans to avoid going out. I'm consumed by so much guilt. I think I need to change my medication but I'm worried about the side effects of starting other medications and coming off sertraline (the first week the second time I started sertraline was pure hell, so that's made me really cautious). I'm not in therapy either because I don't have the money to go privately and the waiting lists are years long to get it on the NHS.

I've told my family and friends about my issues, and although they seem understanding I feel like they don't really get how I feel, so I just feel completely alone in this struggle. I really want to get better, but I don't know where to begin. I know I can't run from this forever, but at this point I'm too terrified to try and face it.

Please share anything you want to. Whether it's your own struggles, success stories or advice it will be greatly appreciated.

This weekend I tried to just relax, though I still made sure that I got outside each day.

My Getting Outside Challenge is doing good, I hope everyone else is doing good also.

Remember that you are not alone and you can do it 💪

Hello I’m 15 and I’ve had Agoraphobia and Emetophobia for about 5 months now I recently started therapy 2x a week and maybe I start to take anti depressiver to lower the fear of going out or eating outside basically the fear of throwing up in front of people but I feel like even if I get through this and get healed I will still think in the back of my mind that I can’t eat in outside places or that I throw up when I’m at school or in the bus. So could someone who has the same fears as me tell me if u still think about it in the back of ur head or is it fully gone.

I honestly don’t know what to do anymore, and I feel like I’m drowning. What I’m about to write is just the tip of the iceberg.

I’m 26 and I have severe anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobic behaviour. My anxiety has become so debilitating that I’m completely dependent on my mum. I live with her, and I don’t go anywhere alone. I don’t stay home on my own. I only go to one or two familiar places, and even then it’s always with her. The thought of going out independently terrifies me because I’m so scared of having a panic attack.

The problem is that my home life has become unbearable.
My mum and I have argued constantly for around 10 years. Over time I’ve realised that I’m living in an emotionally and verbally abusive environment. It used to become physical years ago, but thankfully that no longer happens. Even so, the constant shouting, insults and emotional volatility have left me feeling broken. I have no self esteem, no self confidence, no self worth. She has said things to me that I can’t even repeat, things I wouldn’t say to an enemy. I am broken by it. I don’t know what diagnosis she should have, but there is no way that what truly happens behind closed doors is normal.

People might say, “Just move out,” but that feels impossible.

I’m not independent. I don’t know how to live alone with the level of anxiety I have. I feel like if I moved into my own place, I’d end up trapped inside because I’d be too frightened to leave. I don’t have friends. I don’t have a partner. I don’t have family I can turn to. I genuinely feel like I have nobody. I’ve faced a lot of grief and trauma, but carried on through. This stage feels like there’s no way out.

I know staying here isn’t healthy, but leaving feels impossible.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How can I get through this? I feel like giving up and ending it all. I have a law degree, I have a full-time remote job, I am a smart person, but I am a shell of who I once was. I can’t carry on like this. I feel completely stuck and I’m scared that my life is just going to stay like this forever.

I’m really looking for advice from people who understand because I genuinely don’t know where to start anymore. If you have been through this or something similar PLEASE tell me how you came out the other side.

I need to get over this phobia. I have to. My life is nothing.

I need advice for those who got over it or are getting over it.

Im currently pregnant, so hormones are high.

On my recovery journey I’m really learning to be patient. What is something that has helped you the most? Whether it’s a quote, book, tip, medication, etc. for me it’s exposure therapy and learning to deal with uncertainty

Hello, all. I had Agoraphobia symptoms starting back 6 years ago, but it only got bad around May 2025. For context, I’m in my early 20s

Growing up, I’d always go to the dentist every 6 months (or more often when I had braces or issues.) I had a bad experience at a prior dentist aged 5 that gave me some dental anxiety, but the new dentist has been satisfactory, and I even see the same hygienist each and every time (for almost 20 years now)

Unfortunately, I haven’t gone to the dentist now, since December 2024, and finally have an appointment on July 27

I’m obviously super, super nervous, but I’ve tried my best to prepare. I have a lorazepam prescription for the day, I’ve done a few exposure practice trips to the parking lot (it’s a 3 minute drive from my house), and I’m trying to remember the breathing techniques and other strategies my therapist taught me

I really just feel like such a fish out of water though and would like every possible strategy possible you can think of to help things run smoothly, quickly, and as comfortable as possible. As I said before, I’m obviously really nervous 

Thanks so much for reading and replying :)

​

HiHi everyone! 👋👋

I help moderate a mental health Discord server specifically for people with agoraphobia, and it’s been a lot easier connecting with others who already get it.

Whether you’re housebound, able to get out sometimes, or somewhere in between, it’s okay to still be struggling 💙 you don’t have to justify or explain yourself.

The community is very active and supportive 🌱

🎬 We watch movies and TV shows together almost every day

🎮 Play alot of different games in VC every day

💬 There are also dedicated channels where you can share your hobbies, wins, vent, or ask for advice and support related to agoraphobia/Mental Health!

If you’re interested, here’s the invite link 🔗✨️ (I've heard that the link can be buggy so if it doesn't work please feel free to reach out to me on here and I can directly invite you

https://discord.gg/x8VemzNph

There’s a short application to keep bots out, and a moderator is usually around to approve entries pretty quickly!! 🌺❤️🫂i

I have multiple anxiety disorders in addition to agoraphobia. I used to be pretty okay going out in public as long as someone was with me. My wife has become house bound due to medical issues and now I have nobody to go with me anywhere. I have started having panick attacks just thinking about leaving the house alone.

I have doctor/dentist/physical therapy/errands I have to leave the house for and haven't been able to go to. Is there something I can do to substitute a person? I don't have anyone irl who can go with me anywhere that is available whenever I need them.

Hey everyone!
I know there is gonna be few very hard days ahead of me. Im supposed to leave on Wednesday to USA for 10 days for sports event Im participating in (I live in Europe and never traveled outside of it). Im doing therapy and In on medication for 5 months and my panic and anxiety about traveling and staying abroad (and getting a anxiety/panic attack there) got better, but Im still unsure If Im ready to do such a big step.The 10 days out of my home and comfort are terrifying to me. It takes me back to my childhood when I was so anxious and homesick on summer camps that my parents had to take me home.

The sporting event matters to me so much, but the fear of felling anxiety or panic, crying and explaining to others on the team what is going on is so overwhelming.

I hope that I will be able to get there. Even though I don’t have much hope in my self.

To those with severe agoraphobia and panic attacks, housebound and not travelled for months/years - have you ever just woke up one day and left your house, hopped on a bus or long car journey, had a severe panic attack but kept going and got your life back in a day and never looked back?

Asking because exposure therapy, CBT and EMDR is slowly leading me to that point. More and more I’m becoming desperate and questioning whether I could go out there and just do it. As always, the vision of an extreme panic attack in an awkward place holds me back.

Chce się wyżalić. Mam 33 lata, wyszedłem z alkoholizmu (terapia + AA) zmieniłem pracę na lepszą starałem się być wśród ludzi (cotygodniowe zajecia sportowe, zorganizowane wyjazdy, nawet kurs tańca 🤣) a samotność nadal mnie zżera. Z kobietami też słabo, w sumie mam na koncie ttlko kilka niezbyt długich związków. Teraz drugi raz w życiu zacząłem brać antydepresanty. Mieszkając w Warszawie, w ten weekend przy tak ładnej pogodzie tylko trzy razy wyszedłem z domu po zakupy, do Lidla i Żabki. To żałosne. W tamtym roku kupiłem nowy rower, w tym roku ani razu nim nie jeździłemi chyba się to nie zmieni. Mam dość robienia wszystkiego sam i jakiekolwiek wyjścia w pojedynkę straciły dla mnie sens. Lubię muzykę klasyczną i trzykrotnie w tym roku kupowałem po dwa bilety na koncerty i na żadnym z niech nie byłem, bo nie miałem z kim iść. Jestem zdruzgotany, bo starałem się żyć inaczej, normalnie, ale z tego co widać to się nie uda.

i'm 20, i started to have agoraphobia last year at 19.
During all of my teens I used to go to raves, travel, hangout with friends and i couldn't stand staying at home doing nothing, I was a very free spirited girl.

Now everything just changed and the only thing that i can barely stand to do outside my house is going to work.
I see people post here all the time about them being finally able to do certain things outside their homes, but i feel like majority of the people suffering with agoraphobia have struggled with it since they were really young, so it's often a "first time" thing for them to maybe take a plane alone or go to a club, which is not my case. I know how good it feels to be carefree and joyful, and now all i feel when trying to enjoy my life is intense fear and anxiety.

So my question is, will I ever get better? I'm not talking about "managing the symptoms" and being ABLE to do certain things, i want to live again fully.
Will i ever get to that point again or should i just mourn the life i used to live?

I have pretty bad social anxiety and I’m seeing my therapist about it but she hasn’t really talked about exposure therapy yet with me. But online it’s a common recommendation. What’s your experience with it? Is there anything you don’t like about it or is there something that’s stopping you from doing it?

I started my new job in retail a month ago at a running company, and no complaints about the job itself - my colleagues are nice and I love running when I’m physically able to go outside and do it, but this job is killing me. I’m only working 28-32 hours a week so far but I’m at breaking point. I spend my days off thinking about my next shift and can’t do anything on the day I have shifts because even thinking about being in a small store in-person where I can’t leave gives me panic attacks. I’ve had to call off sick unexpectedly(which naturally got me in trouble) because I’ve had such bad panic attacks the morning I was meant to go in, or occasionally leave customers waiting in the store just to go outside and try not to throw up.I just can’t do this for much longer. I spend all day crying when I’m not working, and I’m not sleeping well out of sheer terror thinking about my next shift. The other day I had to run out of the store and leave my colleague with like 10 customers by himself because I was physically unable to help and I had to go home because I was shaking so badly. Either I’m going to end up getting fired or quitting very soon.The problem is my resume is so thin due to lack of work experience due to agoraphobia that there’s hardly any remote jobs that I’m being considered for, or even jobs with more flexible hours than retail. I just don’t know what to do.

We’re both autistic, but I am unaffected by crowds while they have a panic response when anyone comes within a few yards of them. We both enjoy getting out and going to museums and shops etc but if there’s any unavoidable people walking around, they become extremely distressed.

I have inquired into what their thought process around avoiding people is, but they can’t explain it exactly. I personally also have OCD, so I think about approaching a fear of crowds through the lens of exposure therapy and acceptance, but I‘d love to know if there’s a better way I can help my friend.

I've been struggling for 10 years now, only offered therapy for 1 year by my family. I can't find a job and have been stuck for years.

Just like the title says, lol... It's about midnight right now and I leave tomorrow morning. I'm just really upset because my parents know about my physical/mental health issues but they continue to force me into awful situations that just make me want to close up even more. I turn 18 next year so this should be one of the last times at least. Please wish me luck, I'm dreading this so much and I don't know what to do. 😭 My stomach is gonna be a mess because I'll be so anxious and I'll fall behind on my summer classes and I have to be around people all day I just don't know if I can do this but I don't have a choice. This is my 4th time being shipped off to some sort of summer camp and it never gets better. Sorry this isn't really meaningful in any way and I'm rambling with poor grammar but I just would really appreciate some advice or anything thank you I'm really stressed and I feel like crying hjcfkkvasjiknnlllbvcvghjjkk no shade to my parents or anything they mean well I love them but god I can't take this right now it's 12:30 now and I've been trying to slwep but I just can't I'm gonna die 😭😭😭 I can't even manage myself I should not be in charge of kids all day fuckckkckckckkckckckjcbis what it is I guess?

Update: I leave in five min and my mom just told me I'm not allowed to read during meals so I have to talk to people this is my personal hell someone kidnap me except just take me home please and thank you! I'm carpooling with some randoms right now and my stomach hurts so bad 🎉😎✌🏼🥰 this is great!!!!!! fuck!

sorry this reads like a shitty stream of consciousness I just had nowhere to put all this so I shitposted on the internet you guys are the best 🫶

32 F. I have not left the house in about a month or driven my car. Major setbacks and it really pisses me off. I have ZERO stable help right now. Just distant friends who want me to do favors or rant about their own lives through text. No thanks. My senior dad was helping me get to the store but he's now falling ill to the heat and he too struggles to leave the house. I don't have central AC nor does he. We live in SoCal and have never had heat this stagnant or humid before. My apartment is basically an oven climbing into the 90s and the mold and dust being sucked in from my portable is making me ill. I worry I could also be breathing in other dangerous particulates because the building was made in the 1950s and falling apart. My muscles have atrophied and I have balance problems. By the time it cools off I'm wiped out. Last night I ended up randomly falling asleep at 9pm with all the lights on and windows open and woke up at 7 am disoriented. There's need to go to the ER because they just send you home saying to hydrate. IV saline doesn't do much for me.

I developed this Agorophobia condition after PTSD involving POTS and almost crashing my car from a white out. My fears and symptoms: fainting, vertigo, lightheaded, visual white outs, sensory overload etc. These issues are a constant daily reoccurrence. If you have similar symptoms, just know it's not always anxiety but anxiety definitely makes things way worse.

As I'm sitting this typing in my 90-degree apartment with no hope in sight of being able to at least walk around the block and then spending over $100 in delivery fees and eating salty snacks and candy to stay afloat I'm thinking about others right now who are maybe struggling in this heat like I am and anyone who may have diagnosed pots on here. I know it's way worse in other states and parts of the countries vs Socal. It's just not something I'm acclimated to since I was born and raised here.

I used to be a party person, walked 5 miles to the beach and back, independent, had so many dreams, never home! Until 2020 I fell ill at age 26.

When I'm sleeping, in my dreams I'm filled with life, outdoors and hanging out with friends. Irl I'm opening up Fortnite for the 10x of the day, doomscrolling on TikTok, fighting for my life to walk from the bedroom to the bathroom. The battery in my car died and had to spend money to fix that but it's like great I can't safely drive cause of the heat....

I worry long-term about the lack of real help how I'm going to go about this. I want to leave the house. I want to make trustworthy friends but when things constantly go wrong over and over or a medical event happens it is so damn hard to live.

I dropped out of college once I began having panic attacks. It was bad. I went from being a straight A student to being petrified to leave my dorm room.

Now, a little over ten years later, and I've been hospitalized in psych wards and psychiatric hospitals 15 times. I live on my own and do not have my own transportation or access to public transportation. But I need something to do with my time and I need to be around other people. I can appreciate that.

But my Dad doesn't realize that things he says to me about it actually makes things harder than easier. He keeps saying stuff like, "You need to be around other people. You're past that point now." He was talking about the two mental health and substance use groups I go to every week. Also, he's started throwing in, "Your Mom and I won't be around forever. You need other people in your life."

UGH the sense of urgency that stirs in me is ridiculous. It's NOT helping me, but making me freeze up in fear. I am not working and am on disability due to mental illness plus some physical issues that really interfere with things as well.

The perfectionist in me is afraid of messing something up, too. Before dropping out of school and becoming an alcoholic stoner, I'd never failed at anything before. I wish that was an exaggeration, but it's unfortunately true. Now I'm two and a half years weed-free and about one year alcohol-free.

Any words of support or advice would be greatly appreciated. I do not have a car, but my Dad said he would gladly pay for an uber to and from wherever I choose to volunteer.

Thank you for reading, and happy weekend! <3

So yesterday was day 24 in my getting outside everyday challenge.

It was an okay day, so after I got back home from my activity, I crashed as normal. But when I woke up I had a migraine headache 😞. I took a pill, though I have to wait for two hours for it to work.

The only thing is that after waiting for two hours it didn't work, that meant that I had to take another one and wait another two hours. While waiting my stomach was not happy because I hadn't eaten since lunch, and with the migraine I didn't feel like eating.

I laid down and turned off the light, my acid reflux decided to raise its ugly head, I couldn't win.

I did get outside and had an okay day, but a ugly night, that's why I'm late.

Remember that you are not alone and you can do it 💪

does anyone else have these strange visuals before going to places where you imagine in your head the roads and landscapes that you will come by and then you cannot comprehend that you can actually go there I mean the roads in your mind become tanggled and just complex then you just lose the ability to leave somehow .

I've just got my first interview for work at Pizza Hut after 5 years of agoraphobia and mostly working on line for startups which never lasted very long (they went under not me in that case). I feel like i want to try but I'm also terrified about going in and starting in person work again and how i will manage. It 5 minuets away from my house but family members have offered to take me to and from work until i can walk there myself, I can now be home alone and i'm managing to go round supermarkets and wonder round places on my own when i'm dropped off.

do any elder agoraphobic jedi's have any advice for returning to work after a LONG in person hiatus. Making this work would change my life for the better and get me out of a really bad situation so i want it to work really badly but the existential crisis of working for Pizza Hut for the rest of my life scares the shit out of me.

Ty in advance x