Agoraphobia

Try again!!
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/agoraphobia#.XOKmd3WZu00.email

Rufus How kind, thank you,

All is most interesting but two words summed up my problem ‘avoidance behaviour ‘, it was avoidance by choice which led on to ‘irrational fear’, just no one has said that, just ‘anxiety’ or ‘irrational fear ‘ .

Again thank you x

That's kind of you, Rufus.
I hope you're beginning to overcome your fears now Annie. I got the impression you were going out in the gardeden occasionally, for a short distance.
I have a friend who has a similar problem - she does go out, but only a short walk then panics and needs to dash home.

It was so kind .

Fennel I am trying ( very trying) had great plans to have a small garden at front of my bungalow and park Fred in the back garden , sitting out the front I may meet some neighbours. Been living here over 2 years and still don’t know anyone. As avoiding people by choice got me into this wretched phobia I hope meeting people close to my safe place will help.

annie I suffered from severe claustrophobia for over 40 years. Panic attacks, the works. Even the thought of being in a confined space could being on a panic attack to the point of nausea, heart pounding, sweating and fainting. 40 years, no lifts, no trains, no planes, no backseat of cars, no rooms with locks. Unable to use a toilet away from home as I couldn’t shut the door.
I worked at it, one small step at a time. It took time.
I can now go in a lift and cope. I have been on the underground ...in a tube train ?. It can be done annie. Don’t give up hope. Just one small step at a time x

Doodle thank you x. 40 years ? Yet you overcome it. Then I can

You can indeed annie - stay strong.x

Thank you Luckygirl

to you Annie it’s a cruel and hideous condition xxx

Thank you Mycat, it’s so difficult to go from a person who loved roaming the mountains to a person fearful of an area in the middle of a Cul de sac. Yes it is cruel.

Annie you're such a strong person and have come through so much. You will get the better of this, even if it takes a while.

Thank you Squiffy, 3rd year I am missing the Hay Festival , ?

Annie, baby steps, we are all rooting for you to overcome your phobias. How kind people are, to try and help.
Have you yet managed to get out on the faithful Fred?
Sending hands across the ether, as it were, to give you a lift.

Thank you Auntieflo

Decided Monday evening to sell Fred. Tuesday I found out
a gentleman from Red Cross gives six weeks support for scooter users to gain confidence, Fred stays ?

Annie you have to decide in your own mind what you want to achieve. All we can do is support you in what you decide, but we can't change you. The only person you can change is yourself.
Sometimes I just don't want to go out again in this big bad world.

That's good news Annie about the Red Cross gentleman. I have a good feeling about it!

Thank you Danni, wish I had known about the help from the Red Cross last Summer but no matter , I know now , am on a waiting list

Oh Annie, that is such good news, re the help from the Red Cross chap. Onwards and upwards ☺️

annie it was really 40 years. I thought I would never get to grips with it and to be honest for about 39 of those years I didn’t even consider trying. It was easier to avoid all situations that might make me panic than to even attempt to combat it. The most difficult part was actually the inability to go into a pubic toilet and shut the door and lock it. I was so terrified of being shut in, which would of course mean that I would suffocate (genuine fear of many claustrophobics). My panic levels were very high. I have written this so that you can know how ever long it takes you can not only overcome your phobia but you can get to a point where it isn’t a battle and fight all the time. Every year my tolerance improves and I would say in most cases now I cope really well. Lifts, tube trains, planes AND going to the loo and locking the door. I can do it all now. I hope and pray that you have the strength with God’s help to try and overcome your phobia and enjoy your garden and the outside world again x

Auntieflo yes, onwards and upwards x I was going to advertise Fred for sale on Monday evening on our local
‘For Sale’ site. It was a bit late to apply for permission to post
so left it until Tuesday, the day I heard about The Red Cross,
coincidence? No.

Doodle thank you, I know only I can change me but encouragement certainly helps so much x

coincidence? No.

It was meant to be, Annie.

Doodle - so very pleased for you that you have overcome your fears

Decided Monday evening to sell Fred
Annie; don't ever think of doing that to Fred! You'll regret it every time you see someone riding a red(?) scooter, thinking that it's Fred. He's your best bet for getting out and about in comfort and safety; how would you achieve that without him? Not in a wheelchair, that's for sure!
Freda has a cheap mobile phone always charged up o/night and a roadside breakdown assist policy, so we feel fully safe and confident where ever we are.!
Intrigued by the Red X help. What's involved?

Rufas Fred is blue , what’s a ‘Red X’ ?