My experience with agoraphobia

[Julian of Norwich]

I have GAD and one "symptom" of that can be social anxiety. The more the social anxiety, of course, the more likelihood that you will experience agoraphobia. My social anxiety made my stomach tighten up whenever I was going to any place with more than a few people (kids didn't bother me), including my family who has semi-large functions once a year. It became agoraphobia quickly and I didn't know what to do. I was Roman Catholic at the time so I was supposed to go to mass every Sunday, but I couldn't make myself go. All I could think of were those many people judging me. The priest told me just to do what I could do. I came upon agoraphobia easily and tho my family kept encouraging me to get "out" I couldn't do it. It was boring, really a rotten life, but grocery shopping was the only way I got got "out". I live on a very tight budget ($1150/mo.) and so couldn't afford to have groceries delivered. Finally my psych. dr. increased my dose of anti-depressant and that got me out of it.

 

[Angeleyes7715]

I have GAD and one "symptom" of that can be social anxiety. The more the social anxiety, of course, the more likelihood that you will experience agoraphobia. My social anxiety made my stomach tighten up whenever I was going to any place with more than a few people (kids didn't bother me), including my family who has semi-large functions once a year. It became agoraphobia quickly and I didn't know what to do. I was Roman Catholic at the time so I was supposed to go to mass every Sunday, but I couldn't make myself go. All I could think of were those many people judging me. The priest told me just to do what I could do. I came upon agoraphobia easily and tho my family kept encouraging me to get "out" I couldn't do it. It was boring, really a rotten life, but grocery shopping was the only way I got got "out". I live on a very tight budget ($1150/mo.) and so couldn't afford to have groceries delivered. Finally my psych. dr. increased my dose of anti-depressant and that got me out of it.

Agoraphobia sucks alot have been there I don't think many people know what it is though.