Agoraphobia Support Group

I assume that a majority of you have families to kind of help you. I am curious to know if there are others like me who are completely alone and how do you function with this problem. How do you get essentials like groceries and make doctor visits? Are you able to have a positive attitude or does the silence wear you down? Any feedback would be appreciated.

I am glad that you posted this question. Although I am not 'physically' alone I think that Agoraphobia is a lonely illness. It requires us to face our own inner turmoils and fears. there have been times that I have been in a group of people but withdraw into myself. I have found that this group has supported me during those lonely times with understanding. That is a priceless gift that we give each other here...unconditional support and understanding.

Cheryl

I have family support but I don't get any leeway because of agoraphobia... I have to do my own shopping and get out for whatever else I need. In a way I think this is a good thing, because it forces me out of the house, but it gets rough sometimes. I've definitely been "stuck" before during times when I just couldn't force myself out to the store. It was very tough a year ago or so when I could barely leave the house. I wouldn't eat for days at a time because I couldn't force myself to even walk to a gas station on the corner.

I agree with Cheryl, this is a very lonely illness

I live with 2 family members, but technically, I'm on my own - I buy my own food and use public transportation to get around since I am too freaked out about having a panic attack while behind the wheel of a car. The silence wears me down a LOT - I've gone 3 days without uttering a word to another person. When I've tried opening up to family or others, they tend to brush me off or talk down to me - a famous line being "if you weren't such a weak person, you wouldn't be doing this to yourself". Yeah, the silence and loneliness sucks, and some days it's hard to keep a positive face.

i am completely on my own and i love it! (god, i'm so lonely) i love that i don't have to take care of anyone except me. i can come and go as i please and no one steals my peanuts or cheddar cheese. seriously though, if i had someone to lean on i might never leave the house and that is not an option for me. if i quit pushing myself out the door, it's over and agor wins the war. for right now, i still win a battle here and there and that keeps me hopeful. without that hope of normalcy someday, i would curl up and die! well, you know what i mean said the drama king. come to think of it, i sure could use a good back scratchin, my wood thing i won at the fair just aint cuttin it anymore.

apple jax - so sorry to hear your family doesnt understand. I too have had times when its really hard to explain to the signicant other what i'm going thru. Having made alot of progress lately, I can see it from both sides. A non-agor individual just can't see inside our shoes. My wife gets car sickness. I try to explain that my car sickness is panic attacks. I think she gets it when I said that. I guess that answers the question on the living by myself. No I'm not alone and like silver, I wish I was and lovin it! lol.. You can't live with em, and can't live without em is a very true metaphor. I would have to say though shes been very supportive in the getting me out of the house and helping me to overcome arena.. just not in the helping me to make it without meds arena. I have been fighting that battle as a true agor should though and have been winning, proving over and over again to her I CAN do alot without taking meds she wants to plug me on. Overcoming being agoraphobic is probably one of the most challenging tasks I have ever had to deal with and with each win its getting easier and easier. Luckily shes lactose intolerant and hates peanuts silver! yukka yukka yukka!

Good question, Daifuling.

I'm single but I'm fortunate to have friends, some who are close at hand. My brother lives in the same apartment building as me, so does a friend. What I've had to do a lot of in the last few years, though, is swallow my pride and ask friends for support. Mostly this has been for absolute essentials, like going to the doctor's. However, I've still put off asking friends to support me to go to the dentist and until recently the eye doctor's. I hate that I don't feel like I can independently cover my basic health needs. I've never had to ask anyone to pick up groceries for me (fortunately!) as I live in a neighbourhood where I can walk to a health food store and fruit/veg store.

It IS hard to be on your own and completely self-reliant, I get that.

Silver posted a reply in another post... I think it was him... about calling the local church and seeing if anyone there would be willing to help you with transportation, being a support person and such. Some people in this world are actually really nice and helping others is what they live for! It is a great feeling to help others. Why not give that a try?

I am single and although I live below my mother we do not have a good relationship. It is hell getting to the market, I hate even stepping outside to get the mail! I am at the stage now where I pray I do not have an emergency of some sorts. I do not think I can bring myself to walk into a Dr's office. You know it is bad when you'd risk dying rather than getting help for yourself. I have found what works for me in the past is try to go early in the morning, when places are less crowded, or after rush hour but before school lets out lol. Yeah I have it down to a science. LOL

If you do not have someone who can go with in person and you have a cell phone, take that along with you and just keep talking. Just go a little farther each time, now if your driving make sure your hands free! For myself I would rather be alone if I could not find someone who knew my story completely and someone I felt comfy with but that is just me. I'd rather flip out alone than with a stranger not understanding what is happening..

We all have to give ourselves a huge pat on the back. It is extremely lonley and every day that goes by we survive it we have to look at that as strength not weakness. It takes strenght to survive any type of illness not just the physical kind.

When friends and family still do not understand after 20 years, they may never and I may never meet someone who will but at least we have places like this, supose we have to just keep talkin!