Agoraphobia

yagazn

yagazn

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Agoraphobia is people who's afraid to go out or afraid not to talk to people or afraid of things.

I heard some of them who never go out for 5 yrs or even more, they had them delivery foods to their home everyday.
 
I would do that because I don't like to try to talk to people, but it costs $15 to get groceries delivered. So I guess I am more cheapskate than agoraphobic.
 
Bottesini said:
I would do that because I don't like to try to talk to people, but it costs $15 to get groceries delivered. So I guess I am more cheapskate than agoraphobic.
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You funny, I understand. But some people with agoraphobia is serious you know mind problem.
 
I wonder... you know - phobia is usually created when they encounter a situation that scared him/her - it's not something you're born with. I'm curious - how does one develop agoraphobia?
 
im not scared of going out but i am really scared of spiders aka arachnaphobia..like next level fear i freak out! lol I'm also allergic to spider bites so that could have something to do with it..but there just so gross!!
 
I'm mildly agoraphobic. I can go out and be with someone i trust, but I am real uncomfortable outside my comfort zone (my house). After about an hr or less, I get really uneasy and have to go home. I really don't like being out much, and I hate being out for long periods of time.
 
Oceanbreeze said:
I'm mildly agoraphobic. I can go out and be with someone i trust, but I am real uncomfortable outside my comfort zone (my house). After about an hr or less, I get really uneasy and have to go home. I really don't like being out much, and I hate being out for long periods of time.
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I see. What made you develop that kind of fear? Did you have a traumatic moment long time ago?
 
jiro123 said:
I wonder... you know - phobia is usually created when they encounter a situation that scared him/her - it's not something you're born with. I'm curious - how does one develop agoraphobia?
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For me, it's about being in surroundings that are uncomfortable or unpredictable. I just get this feeling like something is GOING to happen and I can't stand to feel so helpless. Being in familiar surroundings makes me feel safe, and when I'm outside of my comfort zone, I feel really edgy and uncomfortable.

You're right that I wasn't born with this. I wasn't. I developed it slowly over the last several years.
 
jiro123 said:
I see. What made you develop that kind of fear? Did you have a traumatic moment long time ago?
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Yes. I'm afraid of most people and I just don't like to feel vulnerable. Being out of my comfort zone makes me feel vulnerable. I am on medication and it helps, but that's one of the things I still need to work on.
 
Oceanbreeze said:
For me, it's about being in surroundings that are uncomfortable or unpredictable. I just get this feeling like something is GOING to happen and I can't stand to feel so helpless. Being in familiar surroundings makes me feel safe, and when I'm outside of my comfort zone, I feel really edgy and uncomfortable.

You're right that I wasn't born with this. I wasn't. I developed it slowly over the last several years.
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I apology for my insensitivity earlier. Please feel free to discuss it more if you're comfortable with it. People say discussing about fear/anxiety is liberating! That's what therapy is for. It's hard at first but as you talk more about it with others... you'll come to understanding your fear more and more clarity and then it gets easier to conquer it - I hope!

So you developed it slowly over the last several years... Your reason is that you don't like the feeling of vulnerability that you can't control in the environment that you're not familiar with. but exactly what happened? (if you're not comfortable talking about it - that's ok)

My friend shares a similar phobia but only in airplane. He has same reason as yours. When he flies, he gets terrible panic attacks because he can't control that situation... a feeling of total helplessness. I think I've mentioned it in my post somewhere else. He developed fear of flying after his plane had a bad turbulence incident so he never flew again ever. My other close friend told me about her friend developing a sudden fear of airplane and rental van/truck. I think I'd call it "pseudo-agoraphobia." She gets panic attack if she sees a rental van/truck because she thinks it's a bomb inside. Both of them developed a strong fear from 9/11 even though they had no direct exposure to those incidents. It's quite disheartening....
 
jiro123 said:
I see. What made you develop that kind of fear? Did you have a traumatic moment long time ago?
Click to expand...

I agree, one has to have had some kind of traumatic experience resulting in avoidance behavior. Denying it when it shows in reactions or "it's just me" answers will not help overcome this problem. They have to face it and "relearn" to be comfortable with social settings again.
 
jiro123 said:
I wonder... you know - phobia is usually created when they encounter a situation that scared him/her - it's not something you're born with. I'm curious - how does one develop agoraphobia?
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Through various avenues. It is an extreme form of social phobia, and translates literally into "fear of the marketplace." It is more acurrately translated to "fear of open places." It is a serious and debilitating illness.
 
jiro123 said:
I apology for my insensitivity earlier. Please feel free to discuss it more if you're comfortable with it. People say discussing about fear/anxiety is liberating! That's what therapy is for. It's hard at first but as you talk more about it with others... you'll come to understanding your fear more and more clarity and then it gets easier to conquer it - I hope!

So you developed it slowly over the last several years... Your reason is that you don't like the feeling of vulnerability that you can't control in the environment that you're not familiar with. but exactly what happened? (if you're not comfortable talking about it - that's ok)

My friend shares a similar phobia but only in airplane. He has same reason as yours. When he flies, he gets terrible panic attacks because he can't control that situation... a feeling of total helplessness. I think I've mentioned it in my post somewhere else. He developed fear of flying after his plane had a bad turbulence incident so he never flew again ever. My other close friend told me about her friend developing a sudden fear of airplane and rental van/truck. I think I'd call it "pseudo-agoraphobia." She gets panic attack if she sees a rental van/truck because she thinks it's a bomb inside. Both of them developed a strong fear from 9/11 even though they had no direct exposure to those incidents. It's quite disheartening....
Click to expand...

I'm not comfortable discussing everything that happened to cause my fears. I will say this much. I have an extensive abuse history. The people that abused me were both relatives and others that I knew. Some were teachers I had in school. Others were my peers. All this occured over a period of years, and, as a result I ended up with a serious lack of trust in people.

I am in therapy, and I take medication. I've also gotten alot better in the last year or so. Has my agoraphobia gotten better? Probably, not. But, if you really knew all that I have overcome, you would see that I am much improved compared to the way things used to be.
 
Oceanbreeze said:
I'm not comfortable discussing everything that happened to cause my fears. I will say this much. I have an extensive abuse history. The people that abused me were both relatives and others that I knew. Some were teachers I had in school. Others were my peers. All this occured over a period of years, and, as a result I ended up with a serious lack of trust in people.

I am in therapy, and I take medication. I've also gotten alot better in the last year or so. Has my agoraphobia gotten better? Probably, not. But, if you really knew all that I have overcome, you would see that I am much improved compared to the way things used to be.
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Keep going, don't give up. There's always something new to learn along the way! Good Luck!
 
Oceanbreeze said:
I'm not comfortable discussing everything that happened to cause my fears. I will say this much. I have an extensive abuse history. The people that abused me were both relatives and others that I knew. Some were teachers I had in school. Others were my peers. All this occured over a period of years, and, as a result I ended up with a serious lack of trust in people.

I am in therapy, and I take medication. I've also gotten alot better in the last year or so. Has my agoraphobia gotten better? Probably, not. But, if you really knew all that I have overcome, you would see that I am much improved compared to the way things used to be.
Click to expand...

I see... so that's how you come to developing a huge distrust in people. It's easy for us to tell you - don't give up.... try this and that... work hard. etc. etc. What I can tell you is to try to get at least one major support. For ie - a supportive friend or family member to go someplace less scary for you and try not to assume worst from each person you meet. Keep up and stay hopeful!
 
jiro123 said:
I see... so that's how you come to developing a huge distrust in people. It's easy for us to tell you - don't give up.... try this and that... work hard. etc. etc. What I can tell you is to try to get at least one major support. For ie - a supportive friend or family member to go someplace less scary for you and try not to assume worst from each person you meet. Keep up and stay hopeful!
Click to expand...

Already done, Jiro. Thanks! I've been at this for almost 8 yrs now. If it weren't for the people I've met over the internet, I'd have been lost. If you have the time, check out a poem I wrote. I posted it a few days ago. It's in the creative writing section. It's called "Words". (the thread title is "Word")
 
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