Diagnosed with agoraphobia and depression

[agoraphobicstudent]

Hi,

I'm new to the site, but came here looking for others to talk to. I find it incredibly isolating, and seem to have lost what few friends I did have due to it.

It's been over two weeks since I left the house, and that's good for me.

I was wondering if anyone else has lost friends through having mental health issues?

Agoraphobic Student

[Miche31]

Yes I have this. I'm not 100% housebound, but pretty close. I'm on a new med, day 6, and not doing well with the start ups. I've spent many hours in my bedroom just hiding from everything, :(

[agoraphobicstudent]

Bump

[MyNameIsTerry]

Yes, anxiety has cost me all my friendships as I couldn't go out drinking & sociallising anymore. I don't have agoraphobia, although I have experienced a little of it courtesy of both meds I have tried as the start up effects make me withdraw even further.

Whichever form you have it can be very isolating let alone being unable to get out.

I'm sure you will find plenty of people on here to talk to. What I would say is that some of the boards are a bit quiet as this forum is heavily HA based thesedays so you may get less responses. However, if you spread yourself around on the other boards you will come across some very friendly & supportive people.

[Davit]

I've never had depression but did have Agoraphobia quite bad. I don't have it anymore.

[agoraphobicstudent]

Thanks Terry. I joined the site hoping to talk to others about their experiences and help other people. I have noticed a couple of members leaving deliberately unhelpful responses to posts, either to myself or others though, so I'm not sure if this will be a permanent thing just yet. Thanks for your reply :)

[Davit]

Ignore the posts you don't want, there is help here.

[Jamesflames]

Unfortunately anxiety and depression have a bad habit of clouding your view of what is really happening in your life. I have found that most people, once they know you are having difficulties, are quite supportive. When I first experienced anxiety I was desperate to hide it from everyone but after a while I began to see that almost everyone has had some kind of experience with neurotic illness.

I know it sounds trite, but anyone who ditches you as a mate when you get depressed or anxious probably wasn't a good mate in the first place.

Good luck with it all. :)

[ricardo]

Unfortunately anxiety and depression have a bad habit of clouding your view of what is really happening in your life. I have found that most people, once they know you are having difficulties, are quite supportive. When I first experienced anxiety I was desperate to hide it from everyone but after a while I began to see that almost everyone has had some kind of experience with neurotic illness.

I know it sounds trite, but anyone who ditches you as a mate when you get depressed or anxious probably wasn't a good mate in the first place.

Good luck with it all. :)

I am afraid that I don't entirely agree.

Yes you will always keep real good friends and I reckon one can go through life and count real friends on one hand.

The trouble with agoraphobia, anxiet, depression etc. is that it is not usually visible to others and more importantly most people don't understand mental illness and don't know what to say so back off.
Not being able to socialise and within time people just lose interest in you, again there are exceptions.

Look round the site, read posts and communicate with those who you think you will feel at ease with.Good Luck.

[MyNameIsTerry]

I know it sounds trite, but anyone who ditches you as a mate when you get depressed or anxious probably wasn't a good mate in the first place.



I think the difference is that some ditch you and some you push away. I pushed mine away and after time, people move on. There is only so much you can expect from any friend, they are not family afterall and have their own struggles in life.