Aa
Agoraphobia and housebound
This is something I have been interested in discussing on this forum. I'm just wondering how many of us are agoraphobic and to what extent. I know that I am and fight it all the time but make sure that I do leave my home most days. I have a very dear friend who hasn't left her home in almost 7 years. She has had all kinds of therapy and has tried SSRIs and other meds but is now VERY meds phobic and even with the CBT she finally gave up and just stays home. I'm wondering if there are others on this forum who are like her or are the majority like me. I wish there was something I can do to help her but she is just plain scared to leave her house. She has tried on occasion and has had some success but very minimal and therefore doesn't leave home. We don't even discuss it that much anymore. Our discussions are about everything but... I have to say that she is a perfect example of someone who would benefit from more CBT and medication because she definitely doesn't have any depression, she just has GAD with panic. I would love to know who on this board has agoraphobia and if they have been housebound or are still housebound and how they are dealing with it.
Hi AJ,
Seems like you have a lot of issues to sort out at the moment, but one step at a time.
I feel you need to shop around for another family doctor - new perspective and one who is willing to help you through your hurdle.
Psychiatrists seems okay - ask him whether he can help you learn some simple relaxation strategies. You mention Lunesta which I believe is approved by the FDA for long term use but the feedbacks are not very positive and it is an expensive pill too. I can't get Lunesta here, we have Stillnox and Ambien and recently there has been lots of bad publicity about this drug with like 500 people complaining about dangerous side effects. Please I am not anti-med, just what I heard on the news lately.
So if you are having trouble sleeping, first of all, don't worry it won't kill you, just makes you very tired. When you remove the worry of not being able to sleep well, you will begin to sleep better.
Herbal medications can cause allergies too, so try to be like a scientist and be objective and see whether certains things make you sick. I know I start have shortness of breath after drinking chamomile tea - so much for making me feel relaxed.
A timetable tabling out your daily activities and time for worry as well - helps for some. Your therapist may come out with a plan.
But right now, I think your priority is to find a sympathetic, intelligent family doctor and learn to relax.
Take care.
Sumi
Seems like you have a lot of issues to sort out at the moment, but one step at a time.
I feel you need to shop around for another family doctor - new perspective and one who is willing to help you through your hurdle.
Psychiatrists seems okay - ask him whether he can help you learn some simple relaxation strategies. You mention Lunesta which I believe is approved by the FDA for long term use but the feedbacks are not very positive and it is an expensive pill too. I can't get Lunesta here, we have Stillnox and Ambien and recently there has been lots of bad publicity about this drug with like 500 people complaining about dangerous side effects. Please I am not anti-med, just what I heard on the news lately.
So if you are having trouble sleeping, first of all, don't worry it won't kill you, just makes you very tired. When you remove the worry of not being able to sleep well, you will begin to sleep better.
Herbal medications can cause allergies too, so try to be like a scientist and be objective and see whether certains things make you sick. I know I start have shortness of breath after drinking chamomile tea - so much for making me feel relaxed.
A timetable tabling out your daily activities and time for worry as well - helps for some. Your therapist may come out with a plan.
But right now, I think your priority is to find a sympathetic, intelligent family doctor and learn to relax.
Take care.
Sumi
Hi Barfer,
That's wonderful you have a pool to swim in, swimming can be very relaxing. No I haven't gone swimming in a few years, I used to go swimming at the local gym, but they closed down.
I do try to exercise when I can, mostly physical work outdoors, landscaping, etc..... Before I became sick last year, I worked out on my treadmill 7 days a week, walking 3-5 miles.
At times, I do have too much adrenaline, and start bouncing off walls. Exercise is very healthy.
That's wonderful you have a pool to swim in, swimming can be very relaxing. No I haven't gone swimming in a few years, I used to go swimming at the local gym, but they closed down.
I do try to exercise when I can, mostly physical work outdoors, landscaping, etc..... Before I became sick last year, I worked out on my treadmill 7 days a week, walking 3-5 miles.
At times, I do have too much adrenaline, and start bouncing off walls. Exercise is very healthy.
Hi Sumi,
Thanks for understanding, you have been very helpful & comforting. In the past year, i tested positive for allergies/sinus, I've tried a few different meds for allergies, and had a reaction to them all, Allegra D was the worst, had a bad rash from using it. I used an Asthma inhaler, which caused upper airway restriction, I was ambulanced to the ER. I cannot take any antibiotics, penicillin, my allergist is trying to figure why my system is so sensitive to medications.
I think it's because I have hardly taken a scription med in my entire life, my system has always naturally fought off illnesses. The only med I never had any problems with were painkillers, aspirin, vicodin, etc....
Sorry to read, you were not takin seriously about bb side effects. Hope your doc has found the right treatments for you.
I try to be cautious what I share at forums, cause not everyone's experiences are all negative. I'm happy that medications can help people, my mom included she has had 2 strokes and meds have helped her through the years. Everyone's experiences are good or bad, made a decision to share my experiences to help others.
I honestly don't think it's the harm medications can cause people, but how a doctor handles a patient having a hard time on medications. I think that was the case with me, once medication had done harm to me, the doc was like whoopy doo. So it's hard for me to take medications now, with no confidence in doctors.
I told my doc Klonopin was not making me feel well, what does he do, increase my dose. It's as if he didn't hear me at all. But it's all in the past.
I'm sure if I find a doctor I can be confident in, I will accept treatments from the doc.
What upsets me in the past is, my primary doc wants to throw all these psych meds at me, while my psychiatrist didn't prescribe me anything and tried to talk me through my issues. I thought I was being prescribed medication to aid sleep, not psych meds. Lunesta is a sleep aid medication. It's a long story, and I'm getting worked up again.
Have a nice weekend.
Thanks for understanding, you have been very helpful & comforting. In the past year, i tested positive for allergies/sinus, I've tried a few different meds for allergies, and had a reaction to them all, Allegra D was the worst, had a bad rash from using it. I used an Asthma inhaler, which caused upper airway restriction, I was ambulanced to the ER. I cannot take any antibiotics, penicillin, my allergist is trying to figure why my system is so sensitive to medications.
I think it's because I have hardly taken a scription med in my entire life, my system has always naturally fought off illnesses. The only med I never had any problems with were painkillers, aspirin, vicodin, etc....
Sorry to read, you were not takin seriously about bb side effects. Hope your doc has found the right treatments for you.
I try to be cautious what I share at forums, cause not everyone's experiences are all negative. I'm happy that medications can help people, my mom included she has had 2 strokes and meds have helped her through the years. Everyone's experiences are good or bad, made a decision to share my experiences to help others.
I honestly don't think it's the harm medications can cause people, but how a doctor handles a patient having a hard time on medications. I think that was the case with me, once medication had done harm to me, the doc was like whoopy doo. So it's hard for me to take medications now, with no confidence in doctors.
I told my doc Klonopin was not making me feel well, what does he do, increase my dose. It's as if he didn't hear me at all. But it's all in the past.
I'm sure if I find a doctor I can be confident in, I will accept treatments from the doc.
What upsets me in the past is, my primary doc wants to throw all these psych meds at me, while my psychiatrist didn't prescribe me anything and tried to talk me through my issues. I thought I was being prescribed medication to aid sleep, not psych meds. Lunesta is a sleep aid medication. It's a long story, and I'm getting worked up again.
Have a nice weekend.
Hi there,
Benzos are benzodiazepines - ie anti anxiety medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin , Valium amongst others.
Bye for now.
Sumi
Benzos are benzodiazepines - ie anti anxiety medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin , Valium amongst others.
Bye for now.
Sumi
At the risk of sounding incredibly dumb - what is/are benzos? I read the postings and can't figure out if they contribute to agoraphobia or not.
The comment about Wal-Mart - my daughter loves it; sometimes I just have to leave everything and get out; it's like being in a surreal movie. So many times in this Forum I have read about someone's fear or phobia and thought I was the only one who felt that way.
Barfer - I'm really glad you began this thread and that all the other folks have told their stories and/or given information regarding meds.
lonewolf
The comment about Wal-Mart - my daughter loves it; sometimes I just have to leave everything and get out; it's like being in a surreal movie. So many times in this Forum I have read about someone's fear or phobia and thought I was the only one who felt that way.
Barfer - I'm really glad you began this thread and that all the other folks have told their stories and/or given information regarding meds.
lonewolf
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