agoraphobia sufferer?

Question

i have agoraphobia and panic disorder and want to get over it and live my life again but cannot afford to pay for help as i am on benefits you see. i cant go doctor they are useless, been loads before so dont suggest that i do that. i dont want to go on antidepressents and i just want to get better. i cant walk in open spaces, been like this for 14 years now. im in my early twenties now.
when i go out its like i cant walk, i have to be right up against the wall and im aware of everything and every1 around me, thats when the panic starts its like my lifes one big panic attack.
is it possible to get over my agoraphobia myself by going out morer and more than i have ever done?please help me and yes only serious peeps only.
thanks so much
xxxxxx

Answer 1

Do you live in the UK? If so, psychiatric treatment is free on the NHS like most other treatments, especially if you are on benefits.

If your GP has been no help then seek a second opinion (easy enough to do if you are registered with a medical centre or change practices if you prefer) and get referred to your local psychiatric hospital - then you can be assessed properly and given the treatment that is right for you (whether medicine or counselling).

If you need advice on local services, contact your Primary Care Trust or NHS direct. Good luck honey

Answer 2

It sounds like you have the determination, but you are going to take a long time to defeat it alone.

Don't expect much from this 10 second solution, and I am not a psychologist, but it seems that you can try two things.

1) Self inspection: Something has or may have happened to you that has triggered or heightend your reaction (to some extent EVERYONE has the same issues... yours are simply disproportional to the threat. ) Try to identify when this started to happen and what might have been the cause or the trigger event in your life. Something causes you to perceive what everyone else accepts as normal to be a threat (hey.. but then again maybe YOU are right - grin)

2) Outside help. Find someone you can trust and talk to them about this. Ask that person to go for walks with you short ones at first ... then longer ones and more distant from the walls. This has two pluses and only some passing horrors as you try to cope.

a) You may solve your issues or at least moderate them
b) You will have found a great friend.

Good luck to you...

..

Answer 3

The studies I have heard say that you can get over irrational fears like agoraphodia by doing what you are afraid of. You brain is telling you that something bad will happen to you in a open space but this is not a rational fear. Going out more and more should help in theory. Once you do it more and more you should be able to convience yourself that nothing bad will happen by being in the open. Sometimes you have to stand their though and take the time to analyze why you are feeling this fear. There may be a simple reason for it. I used to panic in crowds because I was almost trampled at a concert once. I really had to take a second to remind myself that that wasn't likely to happen in the hallway at college.

Good luck, also see if you can't find a free councilling service in your area

Answer 4

hi - as someone else has said, the NHS provide free psychiatric help so go back to your doctor, or try another one, and tell them you want treatment.

In the meantime, how about gradually taking youself off on short walks, like to the end of the road and back, that kinda thing, wean yourself into a more positive way of thinking and reacting? Im no psychologist but I think the 'little and often' approach couod be a great start for you. Let me know how you get on! Hugs, bxx

Answer 5

Miss Libra & Jim - I'm sorry but that is insulting !
And I'm sure if the "Lord almighty" was so great he wouldn't have allowed this person to suffer in the first place !

I agree with the 3rd answer - you need to go and seek help from a doctor that will listen to you - and you may need some form of medecation to balance out things in the short term.

My fiancee suffered from this and it is horrible for all involved esp the sufferer !

I just slowly got her out and about about 10 meters at a time !

Answer 6

oh honey i am so sorry. i have it also and im 54 yrs. ld. u cant get over by yourself i doubt. i tried and it didnt work. try to go to a psyciatrist.some of these people will take medicaid or medicare. some of them have sliding fee scales so you can go in for 10 dollars a visit. some will work with you so try that. i know what you are going through and it is h--. take care and i hope you can get help you can afford. this is a seriuous problem with people. merry christmas.

Answer 7

i used to have agoraphobia when i was younger and its horrible but it is over come able if you just have faith in urself ... i know ur probably sitting there now telling yaself ya cant cos thats what i used to do lol

i was advized to just stick my head out the window on them days i couldnt manage it or to just stand in the garden or out the front for 10 mins everyday.
when it got to going out i had to keep telling myself these people can do it ... i should be able to too.take it little steps at a time, eachtime walking further and further, but dont push urself too hard it will all come with time and effort. take deep breaths and believe in urself cos you can do it babe :D
sorry i wasnt much help to you =( xxx

Answer 8

a million. i'm 26 years previous 2. My rigidity started whilst i replaced into just about 20, it started with a panic attack, the over the subsequent 3 months it stepped forward til i replaced into getting further and added rigidity indicators and finding it greater sturdy to pass out, then sometime once I went out i replaced into freaking out the entire time and actually scared n it replaced into awful so as that replaced into the factor that i finished going out. I even have long gone out on and rancid short distances over the previous couple of years once I even have had some style of help worker yet on the 2nd i'm totally housebound 3. i've got not 4. people encouraging you to step outdoors your convenience zone relies upon who it quite is and how it quite is finished. i think of abit of encouragement may be good because it quite is tough to get the incentive to do it once you're feeling quite awful, in spite of the shown fact that it must be performed in a amazing, encouraging, supportive way, no longer in an average pushy way, and if the the agoraphobic person says no then do no longer push it too lots or you're basically gonna lead them to unhappy or aggravated or lead them to sense like failur cos they might't do it. you have to be information and supportive no longer mean approximately it 5. seek for medical care going via utilising the medical doctors. it quite is amazingly hard to get the help you elect cos alot of persons do no longer do residing house visits, which i think of is probably area of the clarification that agoraphobics go through with this ailment for as long as they do. yet I call my medical doctors and he refers me to some the place else and then they do a pre-assesment after which you ought to pass on a waiting record. i'm presently on a waiting record for psychology/CBT and function been on that waiting record for just about 7 months now. 6. I even have been agoraphobic for 6 and a nil.5 years, because might 2006

Answer 9

Well, in order to get better, sometimes we need to do things that we don't want to do. In your case, that might mean taking an anti-anxiety medication, to help you when you go out. And seeing a doctor. If you're not willing to do that, I'd have to wonder how serious you are about getting better.

Answer 10

You're one of those people who say "Yes, but.." if anyone suggests a solution to your problem (doctors, anti depressants, anything that might actually work)

So, while you are not happy as you are, you are more afraid of changing than of continuing as you are. Whatever anyone else suggests, we will be wrong or useless, won't we ?