Agoraphobia: Fear of Leaving Your House

Do you have a fear of leaving your house or know someone who has a fear of leaving their home? I got my life back and so can you. Read my story and find out how I got rid of Agoraphobia.

My Agoraphobia started when I went to kindergarten. My mother had to take a broomstick and poke me until I crawled out from under the bed. I did not like the idea of being in a classroom full of kids.

As a child I was not too sociable. I stayed in the shadows! I didn't bother nobody. I did not like crowds. It didn't take long for the bullies to notice. Kids use to bully me in school because fear made me into a victim of bullies.

At the time nobody knew what Agoraphobia was including my doctor.

When I got in my teen's the Agoraphobia got worse. I started fighting in school. I started skipping school. My grades were barely passing.

I started using drugs and alcohol. I became depressed and suicidal. I knew something was wrong.

I had seen several doctors for several years. Taking every antidepressant on the market. I took pills for panic attacks, anxiety attacks and depression but nothing worked.

I just felt so alone inside with a huge voice inside screaming for help, but no one could hear me!

The more responsibilities I had in life and the more people I had to deal with the worst my Agoraphobia got.

I felt like a prisoner in my own body! I started drinking and drugging in my early teen's. I started to get into trouble in school for finally standing up to those bullies.

I signed up for a job program and wound up going to beauty school. It seemed like I was finally getting my life back.

I got a job making really good money! I was finally happy!

I stopped the drinking and drugs. I stop seeing mental health doctors and stopped taking their pills. I was finally free I thought!

When my mother died of cancer my Agoraphobia started to come back. I knew something was wrong but didn't know what? I was scared to drive at times or go shopping or go to any public places.

I even feel uncomfortable if there was too many people in my house. So someone told me to file for disability for my back pain and for Agoraphobia.

I had to show my mental health records which went years back. Records for being in mental health centers and rehabs.

When I filed for disability I had to show them all my medical records and statements from friends and family.

When I went to the disability doctor he had a name for my symptoms called Agoraphobia. I had no idea what Agoraphobia was so I did some research.

If you're not sure if you suffer from Agoraphobia here is the symptoms that you may be experiencing. When I finally got a name for my mental illness. I was able to deal with my issues with Agoraphobia.

I found out I had to deal with the fear. Fear was the main cause of the panic attacks and anxiety attacks.

I started keeping a journal of my thoughts before, during and after my attacks. While jounaling about my attacks. I realized my fear was centered around fear of having another attack.

The more I was worried about having a panic attack the more I had panic and anxiety attacks.

I came to realize that my thoughts were triggering my Agoraphobia symptoms.

So I started paying attention to my thinking and thought process. Every time I started to have a negative thought I would stop the thought and replace the thought with something positive or happy.

Watching what I was thinking took practice and work.

It took about 2 weeks to where I didn't have any more attacks. The panic attacks and anxiety disappeared.

I started to venture out of the house. Telling myself everything is great nothing to worry about nobody is going to hurt me.

I didn't have any type of anxiety the first few times I went shopping. Which gave me confidence in myself.

The more I did the more confident I got to do more. If I felt panicky I would reassure myself everything is alright and keep doing whatever it was I was doing.

Over a period of time I had less and less attacks. I haven't had any attacks for 3 years now.

I am not saying I will never have another panic attack or symptoms of Agoraphobia but as long as I don't worry or focus on having anymore attacks I don't have any attacks.

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