I feel like my agoraphobia is getting worse and worse. I have been agoraphobic for 3 1/2 years and housebound for a year. Most days I can't even go into the garden, but I try and do so as often as possible.
For the last eight months or so I have been terrified of having anyone over to visit. My anxiety goes through the roof when I know anyone is coming over and I have to fight so hard not to panic with people in the house. As soon as they leave I usually do end up panicking as I can't hold onto it any longer.
A few months ago a close friend came over for lunch and I felt reasonably ok, and then the next day we had an electrician in as the electrics had gone in one part of the house. I was incredibly anxious the whole time he was there. The following morning I woke up and started panicking almost straight away. I was in a state of extreme anxiety / constant panic attack for two weeks, at several points I felt like I wanted to die rather than go through it. Since then I've not invited any of my friends over to visit as I haven't been able to face the consequences afterwards. Although my o/h has had a few friends over occasionally for an hour or so, which I've just about coped with by hiding upstairs for most of their visits.
But I have a close friend coming to stay the night in two weeks time and I have no idea how I'll manage it. She's emigrating to the US and flying out from an airport near me. I may not see her again for a long time, and haven't seen her for a year as it is. I would hate to cancel, but I'm terrified
Does anyone else with agoraphobia suffer from a fear of people visiting? If so, how do you cope?