I have been suffering with Agoraphobia for about 4 years now, often finding it difficult to leave the house, & wanting to stay cocooned in bed with my 3 duvet's, I have missed an awful lot of GP appointments because of my Agoraphobia, and then made excuses as telling people who know me in the flesh seems to often make me feel insecure, this includes my own parents who I only told about a week ago
I'll miss other appointments too, I'm afraid of peoples reactions as a lot of people say I come across as being really confident, but that's just because when I do have to go out I often hide my feelings.
Am also afraid of what else my GP might suggest, like extra anxiety medication, I don't really like taking medication.
My agoraphobia once got so bad that I glued my windows of a bedsit I used to live in shut. I felt humiliated when I was questioned by my support worker at the time & don't want to feel like that again, just the thought of discussing it makes me panicky
I think it's definitely worth telling your GP, and mentioning that you would rather look at other options (if that is the case) than medication. Gradual exposure therapy (forgot its proper name) and CBT are meant to be helpful in overcoming agoraphobia. I did some gradual exposure as a teen, as I couldn't take the bus/train or walk most places on my own, and it really helped.
Perhaps if there's a friend you trust who could come and support you at the doctor's, that might be good, or try writing down your fears about being judged (or mention them when you see the GP).
Thanks, I have thought about writing things down but if I do I might get carried away with trying to explain too much at once, my GP appointment isn't until Tuesday & although part of me wants to tell my GP, I may just cancel my appointment as I have to take a bus just to get there, I don't really have any friends close by who could come with me, I'm so apprehensive I often have to go vomit before leaving the house. When I was in the hospital I met a few OC's (Occupational Therapists) they were great & really reassuring - I did ask about seeing an OC outside the hospital but the answer was I'm not ill enough they don't feel I need it or could benefit from it, I used to have a housing support key worker who'd take me to appointments & support me through things like getting out the house & catching a bus, but that ended last year around April time as the support is only for 2 years. I'm just really feeling on edge, think I'm gonna try & stop thinking about it for the time being & go to bed, get an early night, guess I've just gotta hope that by tuesday I feel strong enough to go & to tell my GP so I can get some better help. I didn't know that such a thing as gradual exposure therapy existed, so I guess that's kind of reassuring :)
I think its really important that you get to speak to your GP. A lot of GP practices do telephone appointments now so perhaps you could send your GP a letter outlining stuff and request a telephone appointment or a home visit?
I know that my mum finds it easier to go out with someone else so maybe you could arrange a friend or family member to come with you, perhaps say you don't like sitting in the waiting room on your own if you don't feel able to share the reason. Perhaps a friend from further afield wouldn't mind coming just for one appointment and you could do sociable things afterwards?
Perhaps google services in your area so you have some idea of what is available before you speak to your GP.
Considering what has made it worse I would. I'd also see if they will write a letter to support you with the housing situation. You could take a photo of your 'spare room' to show them. Can you get someone to come with you? MIND have a befriending service and maybe there is something similar. Don't worry about seeming to be confident. I have a full time professional job and no one would ever know that I see a clinical psychologist because I can hide it so well. It hasn't stopped me getting support and he understands.
Thanks guys, our Local Mind has been so short staffed & the befriending service stopped because of a lack of funding, but guess I could ask today if there is anything else in place that could be accessed. I'm going to my anxiety management group today, and there are 2 of us who suffer with agoraphobia, I don't know wether the other person has spoken to the GP so I also may ask him & if he has get some reassurance/advice from him about what is possibly available :)
Ah, that must be frustrating that they're having difficulties. I hope the group went well, and you group it helpful. Your GP might be able to suggest alternative sources of support.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
Well it's 02:10am & my GP appointment is at 11am, I am going, I am going to discuss it, I feel like I've tried to cope by hiding it for far too long now, it feels like, it's just getting worse, not better so am gonna write a list of the things that I need to discuss while I lay here & try to get some sleep, have had my friends here with me & their gonna be leaving soon, at least it's kept me calm & focussed until now & motivated to go, I just can't wait to get this over, the nervousness is driving me crazy.
Well about to leave the house, ready to catch the 10:20 bus, I feel like I wanna throw up, I have written some stuff down so hopeful that'll help, also am taking a few stress balls with me, to try to be as calm as possible, argh nervousness is like making my heart race :(
Well, I went, it didn't go bad, but neither did it go good, I got myself all worked up, felt like being sick all morning. I spoke we had a lengthy conversation when I mentioned the Agoraphobia, he just shrugged, dismissed it & said it's all part of my depression. I wasn't offered any help or guidance, not given any details of any kind of services, just given my regular medication & told to see him in a month
