Agoraphobia and fear of falling over?

[grotbags]

Ok so I have a long history of agoraphobia - very severely - and I have been getting better in leaps and bounds over the last few years. Last year in fact, I was so much better that I really did have good quality of life which included a lot of socialising etc.

Anyway, last autumn I got an ear infection but i didn't realise I was ill. I assumed it was anxiety related, which was a mistake because it set me back by years. (Later diagnosed as ear infection/labyrinthitis and fluid on ears.) I was wobbling around, dizzy as hell and feeling dreadful, and toppled over in public one day with the vertigo. Since then I have not been out the house on my own. I can go out fine with my safe person, but if I don't have someone to hold onto if I need to, I will panic, get rooted to the spot and feel as though I am going to fall over. It's weird because I don't feel scared of the thought of nipping to the shops or whatever anymore, but it's this fear of falling that is debilitating. I can't walk around the shops or even up the street alone in case I fall, but with my safe person I don't think twice about it because I know I can hold onto them. I know it's still agoraphobia, but it's very different to the last decade + of my agoraphobia.

Well done for still reading, if you are. Has anyone else experienced the same? Did you try any meds for the dizziness? CBT? Anything?

[Anxious_gal]

I often feel weak and dizzy. I have some kind of ear problem too.
My ears get blocked up and I get a loud ringing and terrible dizziness.
I've only ever had doctors look in my ear and they tell me it looks fine but i really wish they would do some sort of test so I could find out and fix what ever the heck is wrong :(

Even walking around the house can be scary and it makes it more difficult going places alone.

Is there anything medically that can be done for your ears?
Sorry you fell over :( If it helps I trip over all the time lol but it's because the foot paths have too many holes and cracks or the path will have a slope and i won't notice it until i trip up.

[teez]

hiya ,,ive suffered from agoraphobia longer than i havnt rofl,,and at 49 thats a long while,,and in answer to your post yeah ive severe ear problems ,,when i was 14 i had a bad infection in my ear,,which flares up every now and then,,at its worst i was bed bound for two months,,couldnt even turn my head without being sick,,but i also have the feeling every now and then like the grounds moving under me or as i say like im aboard ship,,i cling onto anything about to get me around the house,,i also cant walk without a cane any more it really helps if i have a sudden head spin it holds me up,, i also find i stick close to walls while walking,,it does knock your confidence a bit but if it helps at all in between attacks now i can walk my dogs without a cane and even manage walking round our asda without turning my knuckles white clinging on the shopping trolley ,,just have patience any illness can knock an aggies confidence and set them back a step,,it will pass for you

[joy]

Ask to be referred to aEar noseand throat specailist

Joy

[grotbags]

Can I ask what kind of ear problem you have Mishel, or are you still undiagnosed?

Hi Teez. I can relate to needing to walk with a cane (I don't, but then I always need someone to hold on to). I also think that this has set me back and made me lose confidence...

Joy, yes I am thinking of asking to be referred. Thing is, I don't feel dizzy at home or in bed like I did last year and at the beginning of this year, so I'm not sure whether this is still to do with the actual ear problem or whether it's simply a loss of confidence and has given me another phobia.

Thanks for the replies.