Shyanara

That's what I do. Put myself in uncomfortable situations a little bit at a time. It has worked for me.

Some things I couldn't do in small pieces (like riding the bus to NYC), but I did it when I was in the mood and felt I could succeed.

I have noticed that anticipatory anxiety (worrying ahead of time) is something that makes my panic worse. When I rode on an airplane a few weeks ago, I didn't let myself worry beforehand. I really need to get on a plane again soon b/c the fear comes back unless I keep doing something over and over again.

This is such a slow process & I have to keep taking risks. I think the hardest part is actually getting the guts to do it.

I have had anxiety problems all my life....I didn't get my first full blown panic attack until I was 20. I finally decided that I needed to try meds again and have been on Zoloft for 6 years but its not a miracle drug. In fact when I was on it at one point I couldn't do much of anything. I would not go to restaurants, would not drive very far because of my panic attacks. My Zoloft got up to the highest dose I can be on and I have been a lot better but I still can't drive distances, I think more for the fear of having a panic attack then anything else. I will definitely check out the forum that you guys were talking about. Now I am dealing with trying to loose the weight I have gained from being on the drug because getting off the drug is not an option for me. I would appreciate any suggestions on anything.

Oh, aren't phones the worst?

I have an 11-year-old daughter and her friends can't come over to play because I am afraid of them. The crowning moment happened about six months ago when a neighborhood girl rang the doorbell and my daughter ran to answer it without waiting for me to escape to my bedroom. I fell in the hallway trying to run to my room. (At over 300 lbs, I find it easy to lose my balance.) To hide from an 11-year-old. I just huddled there on the floor, crying.

I can't even imagine driving a car again.

Now that I have this new therapist, I'm so afraid he's soon going to start pushing me to do more things. Like driving again, going into a supermarket. I'm so afraid.

I can't even walk to my mailbox in the daylight.

Hi everyone here. I am new to the site, have depression, anxiety, panic, and agoraphobic issues. No longer on any meds, did about three years of "cognitive therapy" (didn't think it would help), prior to that years ago did years of talking therapy where you go over all the awful things that has happened to you, write in journals, etc. I can't recommend the cognitive therapy enough!!!!!! It might work for others, it's worth a try. I still have bad days, bad times, but feel more in control of myself than ever in my life, but still it's not perfect. Thanks!

I'm not there, but I fear I could get there. I do not like having my kids' friends over. I adore the kids of my own closest friends and they're welcome here anytime, but I dread having other kids here and I really don't know why.

You mention your therapist making you do thinks like driving again. This is what I wonder about with therapy. I don't really want to do the things I don't want to do. You know? I don't want to drive in the city or in unfamiliar places. If I wanted to do those things, I wouldn't have stopped doing them. I'd have persevered and forced myself on my own. For instance, I was petrified to take my kids to the amusement park alone because I have no sense of direction, feared I wouldn't be able to find the car, and then there's the whole crowd mess...but it was something I wanted to be able to do with the kids so I did it again and again and now I'm fine with it. But I want that. How is a therapist going to help me through something that doesn't seem like it's in my best interest? Why would I want to talk on the phone? I can get by without ordering pizza. Why would I want to go to a crowded restaurant on a Friday night and wait in line when I can go on a week day at around 5:00 with no wait? That's what I struggle with. What good would a therapist do? But it would be nice to know that I could maybe have the power to keep things from continuing to get worse.

OK, I've been lurking on this thread too long. I'll admit I'm agoraphobic, have social anxiety, ptsd, and who knows what else. I don't have medical insurance, on no medication, or any psychotherapy. I did try to get help for my depression through the state, but they can just kiss my a...

I just seem to get along here at home, keep myself busy with crafts, food (well healthy food now), and my cat keeps me company. DH drives me to the store when he can, I hate driving! I can, at least sometimes, get myself to the grocery store that's only 3 miles away. I don't have to take a major street to get there, so at least I'm lucky there.

Yeah, I have the phone thing too. I only pick up when I recognize the number. Don't answer the door either. DH has to pay the pizza guy. Poor DH, hes only one man against all my chaos. I feel sorry for him.

Sorry I've been mia since starting this thread. I came down with the flu and it's taken me 2 weeks to get over it. I know, so crazy to get the flu in the summer but that's what it felt like.

I want to thank all of you for sharing. I'm still so emotional after reading the posts made since I was last here I just don't know what to write. I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't comforatable with company, or phones, or people coming to the door, and don't get me started on repairmen.

Eliana, I also feel the same way as you about seeing a therepist. I've been there, done all the talking, writing, and cognative therapy. I've seen dr.s in person and had one who would treat me by phone. I'm tired of being told what to do by people who have no real idea what I'm feeling. I also tried a mailorder course. Not the one you see in on tv, this is an older one. It made me so stressed to listen to the cassettes I never made it thru the entire course, though the relaxation tape helped so much I still pull it out when I can't sleep.

My big problem at the moment is being forced to see a doctor by my local jury duty board. Since I manage to get out and vote every few elections my name is in the jury duty pool. Every few years my name comes up and I explain about the agoraphobia and they let it go but this year they have decided I have to go to a doctor and get a letter from him explaining it all. I don't have a dr anymore as he moved out of my comfort zone. I'm thinking I should call my state rep about this but that scares me too. Really, what right do they have to force me?

oops, gotta go, the puppies are reminding me it's after 5:00 and they want dinner.
I'll check back in a few days,
bliss