I hate "spending" 5 points to ask a ???? but this is a serious issue in my bf's life.?

Question

She is scared to leave her house. She is on meds but they do not seem to help w/ this issue. She is in a relationship and it causes a strain cuz she will not go to his fam's house for holidays or little get2gethers. Shopping, work, school, ect. 4get about it! It is horrible to have to live like this. Poor gal. When she does go out it is no fun She gets crabby and wants to go home asap. 4get about social stuff like bars or clubs. She feels like everyone is judging her
and looking at her. I do not think they are but try to tell her that. She is 29 and has been like this off and on for years now. I am surprised she is not an alcoholic or suicidal. But it is a possibility. Trying to prevent this. Any advice out there? Anyone ever go through this? Please help us! :)

"BF" means best friend. I am a girl who is asking for advice for my friend. My question is how do I help someone who is intensely afraid to leave the house? Wondering if anyone out there has ever been agoraphobic and gotten over it, has anyone known anyone who is like my friend Katie. Once again thanx :)

Baltimgirl and Percy Thank U thank U thank U!!!
Everyone else Thank U!
For those who did not understand my ??? re read it now. Is it clear?

Answer 1

Has she ever been to therapy? Sometimes, solving problems is about finding out what behaviors are disrupting someone's life and then working to correct those behaviors...this is done in a therapist's office by way of a process called cognitive-behavioral therapy. That combined with the correct medication could have a profound effect on the problem. Encouraging her to find a competent therapist could work wonders! :)

In the meantime, know that it is HER decision not to leave the house or socialize, and the most that you can do is encourage her to do so. If she chooses not to, do not let it interfere with your own life or your ability to have a good time. You can help as much as you can, but don't sacrifice your well-being for hers.

Good luck! :)

Answer 2

My aunt had the same problem and was on Valuim for 7 years.

Come to find out her "panic attacks" were caused by internal bleeding that caused her to experience anemic reactions where she literally couldn't move or breath because she was so tired. She just thought she was having a panic attack because she was in public walking around, and this was causing her to "leak" internally.

Also, if it is MENTAL, there are DOZENS of medications, trust me. Simply have her doctor put her on a new one or a new "combination." She does NOT have to stay on the same ones that do NOT WORK. There are way to many out there to help to stay on ones that don't.

If she's seeing a regular doctor, call your local COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC, or Health Clinic. They should have a visiting Psychiatrist at least once a month that will charge according to what she/her family makes, so it should be CHEAP. They will then prescribe what she needs and then change it according to what works, doesn't work. She needs someone who understands this kind of medicine and not a "regular" doctor. Thanks for caring for her!!!!

ps it sounds like an anxiety disorder. But only a doctor can say.

Answer 3

Yes...I suffered from debilitating Social Anxiety Disorder (formerly known as Social Phobia) all of my life. The symtoms are some of exactly what you mentioned... fear of being judged, laughed at, making a mistake in public and embarrasing yourself. It is a fear of being around large crowds of people or meeting new people. Your friend though sounds like she's also suffering from Agoraphobia.. the fear of losing it in front of crowds to the point that she just doesn't want to come outside. The best help she can get is CBT.. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to unlearn her "negative thought" patterns. Our fears are irrational and we know they are but it doesn't s top us from being afraid that we are being judged left and right by people who most likely are caught up in their own lives to ever give us a second thought. Medication can help take the edge of initially but the best therapy is a combination of both meds and counseling in your friends case. Look up Agoraphobia, Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attack and Social Phobia to get even more information. Social Phobia is the U.S. 3rd highest mental disroder that there is. This disorder is often accompanied with Depression and can make life feel unbearable.. Your a great friend to want to get her help... I hope this helps a little or at least points her in the right direction

Answer 4

this person is taking the wrong medication, or is going to the wrong psychiatrist, or is not being honest with the doctor. there are alot of doctors out there. if this one has been her doctor for a while, over a few months, and the medications aren't working at all, then there is something wrong. unless there are other symptoms the drugs are controlling. you need to get a diagnosis, and figure out the best thing to do about it. this is a hard one. don't try to save this person though. all you're gonna do is wear yourself out.

Answer 5

mY 26 YR OLD WIDOWED DAUGHTER IS GOING THROUGH THIS AT THE MOMENT - SHE ALSO HAS 2 YOUNG CHILDREN - THE MEDS WILL WORK IF THEY ARE THE RIGHT ONES FOR HER -THERE ARE SO MANY AVAILABLE - IS SHE BEING MONITERED PROFESSIONALLY? SHE WILL ALSO REQUIRE REGULAR COUNSELLING. HER SELF ESTEEM IS NON EXISTANT BY THE SOUND OF IT AND SHE MAY NEED TO JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP. MENTAL ILLNESS IS VERY DEBILITATING AND NOT UNDERSTOOD BY MAINSTREAM PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY. THE RIGHT MEDICATION WILL WORK BUT IT DOES TAKE TIME - IT TAKES A FEW MONTHS TO START WORKING AND MUST NOT BE STOPPED - EVEN WHEN CHANGING MEDS IT MUST BE DONE GRADUALLY. WHEN MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE START TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER THEY STOP THEIR MEDS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY DONT NEED THEM ANYMORE THEN THEY JUST SLIP BACK AGAIN. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH FOR THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THEM BUT DONT GIVE UP - THEY NEED CONSTANT RE-ASSURANCE. TRY SMALL OUTINGS LIKE A PICNIC IN QUIET PLACES TO START AND GRADUALLY INTRODUCE THEM TO OTHER PLACES FOR SHORT VISITS WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE - THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES AND SHE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. TRY AND BUILD HER CONFIDENCE IN HERSELF. POINT OUT POSITIVE THINGS WHEN YOU DO GO OUT AS THEY TEND TO ONLY SEE THE NEGATIVE THINGS AROUND THEM. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU IT IS A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD - ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - DONT GIVE UP ON HER AND TRY NOT TO LET IT BRING YOU DOWN ASWELL. SHE IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AROUND

Answer 6

I am confused, When you say b/f do you mean a friend or someone you are in a relationship with ?
This is very confusing.
Who is she? I got the impression it was his g/f ?

Answer 7

this is agoraphobia, totally treatable with the right meds. Does your friend have a doctor? Will she listen to you to go to one?
Good luck to you both!
Cat
☼ ♥ ♫ ♀

Answer 8

I'm really sorry, but I don't have any idea what or WHO you're talking about. All you keep saying is 'she'. She who? Did you re-read this? Did it make sense to you? Sorry, but I just don't get what you're trying to ask.

Answer 9

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS LIKE YOURS. TRY TO GET HER OUT. TAKE HER TO THE MOVIES. TELL HER ABOUT NOLONGERLONELY.COM. IT'S A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

Answer 10

honestly she needs a good detox program and an excellent therapist to show her or facilitate to her that she needs to make and control her own life in order to be truely happy with it.