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Question for you all?

Mom2's picture

Submitted by Mom2 on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:10pm

What is Agoraphobia? I know it is a form of social anxiety but… Are you able to fly in an airplane to another country? Are you able to go trick or treating with grandkids? Are you able to go to the hospital with your child that is having a baby? Are you able to go shopping? Drive in a car for 3 hours away from your house? Can you use the excuse that you need one of your family members with you in order to do these things and you are able to go to these places?

This is an honest question….

Comments

Mom2's picture

Submitted by Mom2 on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:35pm

Thanks for that bit of info. I can understand have 1 person as security but to have a choice of 5 people? But then sometimes go out alone? Is it one or the other?

over step's picture

Submitted by over step on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:46pm

No one close to me knows I suffer other than my DH so that is why I only have 1. It can be both for me. I can go out on my own or may need DH to go with me if it's really bad. My case is mild though with what I call flare ups. At my worst(which rarely happens any more) I am afraid to leave my house even with my DH.

over step's picture

Submitted by over step on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:22pm

It's basically an extreme / irrational fear of be8ng public places or in crowds. I suffer from a mild case of it that is triggered in me by stress. It's quite real for the person who suffers from it and can keep you from doing anything outside of home in extreme cases. I some times use my DH as my "security blanket" when it's really bad but I have to face the fear so as not to allow it to keep me a prisoner in my own home.

Mom2's picture

Submitted by Mom2 on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:37pm

Thanks for that bit of info. I am just trying to understand it. So one day you can be fine and then the next have to have your DH with you? Are you able to go out alone? Work?

over step's picture

Submitted by over step on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:53pm

I can usually see it come on gradually but there are times it can happen over night. Like I said mine is escalated by stress. I don't have to have dh with me during those times and is quite difficult to get through. I have have worked hard to force myself to not back down and face those fears. This may not be so easy for everyone.

moeilijk's picture

Submitted by moeilijk on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:40pm

I think it can also just kind of 'hit' you. My MIL *used* to have it (before I knew her) and she told me once that she was doing fine all morning one day and then standing in line to pay for groceries she suddenly started feeling very afraid and had to leave the store to go home right then.

over step's picture

Submitted by over step on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 2:55pm

I still on occasion have those moments. I can usually talk myself down from it.

Snowflake's picture

Submitted by Snowflake on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 3:29pm

My mom has a major mental illness and is diagnosed with agoraphobia as well.

Yes to all of the above, but it has limited her life. She can get on a plane, but must be medicated and usually have someone with her. She will go to only familiar places, like the grocery store, but again only when someone is with her. In essence she MUST have someone with her, doesn't have to be the same person, but with someone she can trust in the case she had a major meltdown ( panic attack). She will only go anywhere new, such as the hospital or the mall if someone is with her.

It has limited her, and she basically stays only in her home most of her life. She has been able to hold down a job at times, but only in places that she has become familiar with, new is not good.

It is apparently scary and debilitating. Stress and anything new is a trigger for her. Mainly she has someone with her also in the case that she needs to make a quick exit before she has a panic attack. When she has an attack, she won't leave her home for weeks at a time. Not fun.