I'm not sure if im agoraphobic, i've got a big fear of open spaces, example being on the top of a hill, big shopping centres, places where there is lots of big spaces, being on a beach even. I avoid crowds whenever i can like church congregations, somewhere where i can't escape from, standing in long ques at the supermarket etc etc i'm fearful i'm going to panic or pass out or something when i'm in those situations, it's definatly got worse over time, can anybody relate?
I've looked it up on google and it sounds similar, i have spoken to psychologist about it and when i got a letter through the post from her it mentioned agoraphobic patterns.
Anybody else the same? and do you find that sipping from a bottle of water helps just a lil bit?
I don't think I am agoraphobic although I do have similar issues in crowded/noisy environments and large rooms or spaces but I put that down to anxiety linked with Depression. The only thing I have found that helps is listening to my ipod when I go out or holding onto something cold...for example if I have to go shopping then I will head straight towards the drinks fridge and pick up a canned drink and hold it as I walk round. I think it is about concentrating on different sensations, or just something other than your anxiety/bad thoughts/concern about the situation. I guess sipping water would also fit into that.
My old psych said I had agoraphobia. Though when I say that to people they assume it means that I can't go outside but that's not what it is, I am terrified of any situration where I cannot escape or when escape would be embarassing. So for example I cannot cope with crowds, I cannot go on busses as if someone sits next to be I feel trapped and unable to get off the bus until after they do (so missing my stop), I can't cross bridges either as I know that once on there is no way off if something goes wrong.
I have a sort of "safe zone" within which I can walk about and function freely, but if I step beyond that then it's a bit like when you walk up some stairs and think that there is one more step than there is, and your foot just falls through thin air as your stomach jumps. The problem is the edge of this "safe zone" seemingly can alter with no warning, on some days I can freely go anywhere, on others I cannot leave my room.
I can't do queues either, like you I panic and fear that I may pass out, or that I am being too slow and annoying the people behind me, or just that everyone else deserves to ge tto the tills before me so I shouldn't be queueing anyway. I can't use non-self service checkouts as I jut panic so much that half the time I leave the queue before getting to the front, for some reason the self service queues are easier though (no idea why)
I've been put on medication for anxiety which has helped imensly. Sipping water helps a little too, I think though that is because as the panic starts you start to feel more and more warm until the heat is just unbearable and suffocating, and I think maybe sipping water helps to prevent that a little
i can definitely relate to this. i'm not sure if i have agoraphobia or whether it's more just general anxiety.
The best thing i have found that helps is listening to my iPod loudly [as Pomegranate said] to try and drown everything out. Well actually the best thing is having someone's hand to hold but that's not always practical. But generally gripping things tightly [bag, shopping trolley etc] i find can help.
It is something that can be really difficult to deal with. i really struggle with going out on my own which has caused me a lot of problems.
i have suffered from this in the past.. i found a good way to deal with it was having positions or things i could do to make myself feel better without people noticing.. like, admiring scenery, tying a show lace, coughing, scratching an eye brow, looking in my bag, checking my phone, that kind of thing.
i also found that if i smiled quickly at anyone that made me feel nervous, like walking past someone, it helped. also, a really good thing to do is to think of one thing you like about a person or situation if they make you feel nervous, 'i like the carpet', 'her hair is nice', etc., as it gives you something to muse over.
sarah get agoraphobic at times but when she does doesnt want to leave the house and is scared of anyone coming over and knocking on the door. but we havent officially been dx'd with it. she doesn't always have it just occassionally. it may have to do with the fact that she is very aware that she is so young and in such a big body and that she can not pretend and pass herself off as hiding as well as serenity and me.
I am not a dr or anything and not trying to dx you but have taken some college psych classes in the past and to me it sounds like more of an anxiety thing maybe social anxiety or social phobia? im not sure tho. would be best to see your dr, about it and let them figure it out. good luck SADIE
Surprising how similar everyones feelings and thoughts are, using my ipod has helped in the past, i remember being at a fireworks show in november, i don't like fireworks that go up high and produce really large light showers, it's so big it freaks me out and i start panicking, i had my ipod on at the time and it certainly helped, also just the simple act of turning around to avoid what was going on helped, but, i was also aware of people wondering why i was not looking at the fireworks lol
I like to hold my fiances hand whenever i can, it's something to grip and it's also like a kind of distraction of a some kind of different feeling if that makes sense, i think that's where i find drinking water helps, if i didn't have a bottle to drink i'd look really strange with teh way i'd act, having a bottle of water to drink kind of makes me look normal and hides how i'm feelin, sorry thats a bit of a ramble.
Focusing on other things that are around me helps aswell, but i just don't want the feelings there in the first place, it's an arse.
I'm not sure what you'd call it, i know it's some kind of anxiety issue but not sure on the exact term, not really important but just nice to know.
but that's not what it is, I am terrified of any situration where I cannot escape or when escape would be embarassing. So for example I cannot cope with crowds, I cannot go on busses as if someone sits next to be I feel trapped and unable to get off the bus until after they do (so missing my stop), I can't cross bridges either as I know that once on there is no way off if something goes wrong. 
