My panic disorder has caused me to have agoraphobia

@supercalifragilistic @supercalifragilistic I have had many panic attacks and I know how awful they are. I often feel very nauseated to the point of vomiting too. I have also had bouts where I find it really difficult to leave the house, I still hate going into stores or malls.

However exposure is the best thing you can do. You can start small. You can just put on your shoes and coat and walk to the end of your driveway and check your mail. Do that for a couple of days and once that becomes a little easier, work up to walking to the end of the block and back. And so on … it will feel terrible but the key is to learn to tolerate it so you can re-teach yourself that you will survive.

Eventually you will be able to get back out there. Good luck!

@supercalifragilistic That is a great idea from @ashleyharris728
Do you think this would be good to try?
I wonder what the trigger might be. It sounds like sometimes, not all the time. The lighting, the ambient noise situation, the number of people around you, the weather? Might it be a memory of a bad incident from the past, similar in some sense?

Something to try, not saying it will work. Try journaling or writing down your thoughts about these panic attacks. Write yourself a letter talking to them, how they debilitate you, how you would like to live your life as it was before they appeared. Take a deep dive into your emotions, and ask why they are appearing now. Ask them to please let you be.

And, be gentle on yourself.
Ginger

Thank you both for your help! I will start slowly exposing myself.🌷

@supercalifragilistic awesome to hear you have hope that things can get better and that you believe you can get better. Let us know how it goes!

@supercalifragilistic
I received help from a friend a book ( Hope and Help for your nerves by Claire Weekes) it is available through Amazon Prime. It is a great help for panic attacks. Don’t give up, I just will say a prayer for you.

While I had an anxiety attack some ten years ago (early 70s) that stopped my breathing in early dawn and on seeing emerg was told I am likely worrying/fretting about something. I said, 'me? I'm retired?' Later on seeing my GP I was told the same and offered CBT (essentially thinking things thru). Of course I said, I know what it is, and can do Myself; need no therapist. She said, 'it's not the same' but I said: Let Me try first. That was the first-and-last time.

I had to Sit with MYself and ask: What's going on? It turned out my five years of researching, writing and getting edited a book manuscript about 'health without healthcare' (that's right...I still do no meds, tests, special diets/exercises, and haven't seen my family doctor for over ten years and rarely before that. Am able to live well with some age-related infirmities.)

But I had to accept sometimes in life years of hard work can be 'wasted' as you can't convince Others what might be a sensible approach to good life.

Yes APA recommends that we become our own therapists via CBT.
I believe we humans are fallen and broken toiling thru Our Own lives, little to do with Others. Agoraphobia is opposite of the human Need to play and connect and talk and laugh together. Our lives are hard enough; why make it harder.

I wish we all take back the good lives that await us!

Our local big box store (Lowes) has a big garden department on one end, open, light, and on weekdays usually no customers, or just one or two. And a few birds flying around looking for spilled seed.
It's nice to spend a few minutes breathing with the plants before going into the store.