How do those of you with agoraphobia cope with appointments?
I had agoraphobia for a while 3 years ago after i was attacked. I worked hard and over came it after a year or so. Then last winter I became very ill physically and I ended up bed ridden for a long time. It turned out I had a very underactive thyroid and CFS. I am still working on my health now, but have started thyroxine and slowly gaining some energy back. With it my anxiety and agoraphobia hit again, as well as a loss of confidence.
Now I am back to being fearful of appointments because I had a huge panic attack at a blood test in the nurses room when my ill health started and now I find it too hard to face blood tests. I need a blood test for a yearly check and can't bring myself to go, my GP would come to my house but I can't seem to face that either incase I panic infront of him and show myself up and panic that bad infront of him like in the nurses room.
I live in fear of ever needing to go into hospital or for a scan or something. I need to overcome this as I am human and at times we need apppointments and I can't ignore them forever but I can't seem to face them like I did last time. Since being ill I have avoided them at all costs and my GP has had to come to my house as I was so ill physically, which he hasn't minded doing but I feel a total idiot but I don't seem to have the strength I had last time to face it. Back then I just had panic attacks to worry about, now having a physical illness and weakness that effects me going out and gives me a lot of fear of going anywhere incase I feel weak and ill out and about which puts me off appointments even more.
I just wondered if anyone else struggles like this and how do you cope with it.
B