Can you recover from housebound agoraphobia

[bukendaa]

I haven't left my house for 2 months at first it was just taking a week break now I fell totally housebound when I try venture out I do not make it far without a panic atack..what do I do? My family and myself are starting to worry my grandma came down from up the coast to see me 5 hour drive wants to take me to movies,shopping etc I want to go but fells so disable if that's the appropriate word to use!

[Jamesflames]

Yes you can. It will take some determination and time, but there is no reason at all why you shouldn't soon be back out and about. At one time I was sure that my world had shrunk to a small area around my home but after a bit of effort I was able to make this safe area grow until it stopped controlling my feelings.

I suggest you have a listen to the mp3s here:
http://www.junior-anxiety-depression-exchange.org.uk/Relax.html#HowToRecover
Claire Weekes knows what she is talking about. I have these mp3s on a player and when I get anxious I put them on and feel a lot better again.

Also take a look here:
http://www.paniccure.com/Overcoming_Agoraphobia/Overcoming_Agoraphobia.htm
Don't let them sell you anything but just read the bits about overcoming agoraphobia and cognitive techniques.

What you need is to start feeling like you are making steps to recover. Once you feel happier about your progress it becomes so much easier. It takes a while but you WILL do it. :)

The first thing to do is contact your doctor though. Hopefully they will give you some meds. Possibly anti-depressants for the medium term and possibly tranquilizers for now. Don't be afraid to take them.

[butterfly00]

yep, I did it. I was competly house bound couldn't even go to the super market which was 2 blocks away. DO it gradually. Go out side or to the letter box wait tfor the anxiety to come , then wait for it to go ( and it will) then the next time go to the end of the street wait for the anxiety to come and then go. carry on etc etc. It will be scary but you will feel so goo donce you are done, after you can get somewhere - for me it was the supermarket notice how each time you do it it becomes easier.
If you have access to one het a Cognitive behaviour therapist, they are FANTASTIC.
I got over mine a couple of years ago and even now sometimes I get that familiar anxious feeling and ideas that something bad will happen but because of all the practice I can talk myself around and do thing calmly - I have a life again!!

[lauz_lea]

I did it. I never expected to become agoraphobic, and I don't know how it happened but a few months ago I couldn't leave the house, everything about the outside world overwhelmed me.

My house was my safe zone, and so was my friends house so I started making small trips between my two safe zones, via a familiar route. Then I started taking different, longer and unfamiliar routes between my two safe zones, gradually increasing my overall "safe" area. Once I cracked that, I ventured even further and started visiting shops etc within the area, shops I was already familiar with. It was a long process and some days I felt like I was going backwards a little, but I practiced everyday - NEVER "tested" myself, just practiced. I'm back at work now and even went into town on Saturday. I knew I had to tackle it before it got completely out of hand but it was also important to plan trips to places I really wanted to go, places I knew I would enjoy once I was there.

Good luck, you can do it, and you will.

[eeyorelover]

I was housebound for almost 5 years!
I can tell you that I spent a lot of time hoping that the feelings I was having would just go away and one day I would wake up and be able to go out and do what I used to be able to with no problem!
That day never came!
My world just kept getting smaller, the more I gave into the fear.
Start out by just going outside, even if it's just on your front step.
Yes you will feel anxious! You may even have a panic attack, but the key is to remember that what you are feeling won't hurt you physically!
As you venture out more, those anxious feeling do subside!

I can now do almost anything..(still working on driving!!!!).
YOU CAN DO IT!!
xxx
Sandy

[grotbags]

Yes you can. I was housebound for several years and roombound for about 6 months to a year (I think?). I'm still agoraphobic in many ways as I am going through a setback and can't go out alone, but with my safe person I can do car journeys, shopping, days out, meals out, socialising etc - all the things that you have to look forward to! You might feel like you'll never get out there again, but you will, and you'll appreciate it a thousand times more than other people who've never been ill and who take it all for granted.

I got over being bed bound by writing a list. The useless people from the mental health team didn't do anything for me because they were too busy accusing me of having an eating disorder, which I didn't have. One day I sat in bed and drew out a diagram with boxes on to tick. So I had things like walking to the top of the stairs and back - once in the morning and once in the evening. When I got comfortable with that, it was walking to the bottom of the stairs and back. This was the start of my recovery and it might sound weird but it helped me more than anything. Of course, it progressed to walking outside, walking down the road, and then what happened? Life started to take over and I didn't need to write my lists with tick boxes anymore.

[Gatsby]

Yes you can. I've been housebound agoraphobic for 7 years, and in that time i've stepped foot out of my house around 15 times. 5 of those this year. I'm getting better, slowly but surely!
Good Luck!

[PJriverside]

Yes, things can get better!! :D
If anyone had told me a few years ago I would be taking my children on a camping holiday I would never have believed them! (It's only 8 miles away but to us it's a family holiday!) :blush:
I was housebound at one point, even hanging the washing out was too much.
I have taken very gradual steps over the years. I found making my own 'safe' limits a good way of pushing my boundries.
I think the key is finding a way that suits you. Some ppl find CBT or councelling helpful. For me, Prozac and a supportive family have helped millions. Just keep taking small but realistic steps and give yourself lots of praise. x x x