Agoraphobia Support Group

I'm new to the site.

I have struggled with agoraphobia now for over fifteen years. I'm very depressed. I have a lot of complicated problems. I'm a gifted artist who also suffered a brain injury at birth which caused some language and communication and social problems and I was also subjected to extreme forms of abuse and neglect growing up. I think perhaps I've given up on myself or written myself off because it is too much for 'me' to handle.

I'm working on trying to make some changes but it's very slow going. I don't even know how to do the friend thing. I'm so tired of the journey and only barely here, anymore. But I can do this. That's what I keep saying. I just feel like I'm really alone out here.

Thank you for the site.

Misty

Hi Misty.... I'm kinda new here too but from what I have seen the folks are really nice here. I think joining this group is a positive step for you. You will find that you are not alone out there. We are here for each other. Never give up. We will make it thru this! hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Perry

Dear Misty,

Welcome to the group.

You have a very touching story. I am sorry you have gone through so much. I am not surprised your mind has told you it is best to avoid the world. Oh, that brain does not always serve us well, does it.

I can certainly relate to the fears and the depression and I want to tell you that you are not alone. It was such a joy for me to find that there are people out there who understand, who go through the same struggles. You don't need to be alone any more. It might be just a forum to some but to us it is a joy, it is friendship.

The steps we take are small for some but to us they mean everything. Slowly towards recovery is better than standing still. Let us help you and share so that we can learn from you.

Please be aware that in the lounge we throw around a lot of jokes, some of them a bit off color. If you are sensitive to that kind of stuff please ignore it. Some of us just find humor, flirting and being goofy so refreshing and necessary. A lot of us have forgotten how to laugh.

Please stick around, you are part of the group now and we are happy you have found us. Nothing is off limits, we will always answer your call. Jump in anywhere.

Anna

Post edited by: Anna321, at: 11/25/2009 03:55 PM

Thank you Perry and Anna very much for your messages. They are very well received and much appreciated.

I just moved to this area several months ago. People here have been very nice. My upstairs neighbor who is only in his early twenties has given me some of his homemade soup and cookies again today before going out of town. It gives me hope that the world isn't just full of people who will hurt, use or abuse you in some way. I am a disaster but am trying to get through the challenges so I can become a relatively normal person again.

I'm not the greatest with jokes but it is nice when you can relax enough to enjoy the funny side of things. That must be a sign of good health and improvement and I hope to get there with that too. I hope to be able to learn how to have friends somehow. It feels very hard and has become very fooreign to me. And I have become ashamed of the deterioration that has occurred for me as well. I tried so hard for a good outcome but I guess I failed. I'm fifty now, I'm just beginning to try again and I won't give up. Today has turned into a better day. Most days lately I have really begun to question my existence and have been doing a lot of crying, mainly because I have been in so much pain with memories that are so unbelievable and hard and also the isolation is nearly destroying me and I'm here alone and new to the area. I will hopefully enroll at the University soon which is why I moved here.

Sad beyond words, hopeless and alone, but determined not to give up.

Misty

The brain injury is likely a cause for some of the problems I have with anxiety and agoraphobia, something called sensory disintegration which just means I have an overactive nervous system that is hyper-sensitive. If I were to be honest I would say most of me, at this point, really just wants to give up. I'm tired all the time but I think it's the depression. I can hardly think straight. I hope I'm able to find some sort of support network in real life that can help in some way. I can't live like this much longer.

Hi Mistyblu,

Welcome to a wonderful group of people! I am so sorry for all of your problems. I have worked with people with traumatic brain injuries and am also a special ed teacher. I worked with the sweetest young lady in high school who was thrown out of car in an accident. My admiration for people with TBI can't be measured -- I'm being totally honest.

Did you receive any rehabilitation specific to head injury? Sadly, I know that depression and anxiety can manifest themselves after a brain injury.

You are welcomed and loved here! There is no judgment, no pressure to post, no pressure to tell everything -- boundaries are respected here, and you just can be YOU!

I LOVE your kitty picture! I have two precious kitties of my own -- Angel and Purrcy. Purrcy is also polydactyl. They are my 'children'. I have posted a picture of them on my Profile page.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you. You are not alone in this, and you won't be again...ever. A big hug goes out to you from me...

Hi, welcome and Happy Thanksgiving! Stick around and find some peace here.

Thank you Connie and AngiePants,

The brain injury occurred during birth and delivery due to aspyxiation and has been a lifelong challenge there. And the abusive environment I was born into was an even worse challenge and no help to me there either.

I'm glad I found the site and hope to learn, grow, make some progress hopefully and maybe even a few friends, though I don't hold out too much of hope there. I've been where I am too long. I probably just need to whine and moan a while 'til I get that outta my system and then maybe I can feel a bit more normal, I hope.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all...

Misty

Welcome Misty!

I am glad you found this group! It sounds like you are having some hard times. I am sorry that you are feeling so hopeless. You have found a warm group of people who know this struggle. You are not alone and I hope you find comfort in that.

Hugs to you, and Happy Thanksgiving! Krista

Thank you Krista! You're very sweet.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.