Agrophobia

I struggle so much with leaving the house. Either the anxiety happens before leaving, or I get so anxious and worked up when I'm out of the house either I explode because I'm in fight mode constantly. Feel like I'm constantly waiting for someone or something to go wrong and I'm going to need to defend myself. I've tried to speak to docs about it, but good old NHS aren't interested in the slightest. So most of the time we stay home. My mum guilt trips me alot about this. About how my little one deserves to be out and about more and that her being housebound is not good for her etc. which just makes the anxiety regarding leaving the house even worse and then I end up going out through the guilt when I'm not really able to and my anxiety flares up even worse! Is there anyone else out there who struggles with this?

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Me i literally have to take meds to take my little man to nursery, its awful. I know exactly how you feel

I used to struggle really bad I would have a panic attack every single time , I still find it tough but I’m nowhere near as bad as I was because I kept pushing myself to go out and do these things even if they’re hard , take it a step at a time xx ultimately you have to push through

I had really bad anxiety I referred to talking therapies and as I was pregnant I was seen really quickly and I’ve been having cbt which is really helping. They’ve also been accommodating to having sessions on teams and things if I’m not having a great day. Is this something your area offers? X

I go through this as well!! I’m so used to going everywhere with my partner and he drives but he works over night and sleeps during the day! It is so hard that it is so hard for me to do anything I am honestly still struggling with it but what has worked for me is planning out what exactly I’m going to do and trying to make it positive! I plan out everything I need and everywhere I am going to go to try and help! I also will talk otp if someone is available and just work my way out the door slowly sometimes it takes me hours and some days I don’t even go just try and be nice to yourself you’re only human

My sil struggled with this. She had a counsellor she spoke to on the phone. Ironic in the end that it was the house that was causing damage to her health & breathing (she had a lot of health issues) not outside germs. Unfortunately she passed away during Covid. Could you set small tasks each day ie going to the top of the road and back & then expanding it once you feel confident. Maybe set a timer so each time is slightly longer. Maybe write down what could go wrong and write down what you could do if that happened so you have a visual plan.

@Karen so sorry for your loss I can’t imagine what you went through! These are all amazing ideas thank youu I’m gonna try these as well

@Karen sorry for your loss Hun. These are really good ideas. I think I might just do that. Thankyou for the suggestions x

You don’t have to leave the house without a purpose. I had a lot of people pressuring / bullying me to leave the house . when I had my little one and it made everything 10x worst. I had my routine with my baby . which I felt comfortable with. He had opportunity to socialise . Please do what’s right for you not cave into pressure

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