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	Have you or anyone you know ever been Agoraphobic? (fear of public or open spaces. Often diagnosed in conjunction with panic disorder) By AngelHeart Asked Oct 8 2009 10:42PM	40 Pts Rate Question

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Top Answer out of 12

by -Icy- on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:48 pm Permalink

my mom... she is on medication now and lives a fairly full life.

+5

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 10:42 PM

Thank you for your response -Icy Silver. I'm glad your Mom is doing better and living a fuller life. I know it is not easy to beat that mean ol' agoraphobic monster, but it can be done. :-)

-Icy- Oct, 10 2009 at 07:43 AM

it was hard for awhile. mom needed lots of support but yes she made it !

Answer 2 out of 12

by Hrududu on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:46 pm Permalink

Yeah - me.

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 10:42 PM

My heart goes out to you Hrududu. I know what a battle it can be. I do hope you will be able to overcome that monster and get back to enjoying life.

Answer 3 out of 12

by Jadey - Vive la difference on Oct 9, 2009 at 4:20 am Permalink

Yes, my little sister... and we suspect that my Grandmother is agoraphobic, to a lesser degree.

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 10:44 PM

Thank you Jadey. I'm sorry your little sister is agoraphobic. I hope with counseling and the right meds, she will beat that awful illness and have a normal life in the near future. I also wish the best to your Grandmother.

Jadey - Vive la difference Oct, 10 2009 at 02:03 AM

Thank you AngelHeart, this was many years ago that my sister was agoraphobic - she is much better now thanks and lives a great life =) Thank you =)

AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:28 PM

You're very welcome Jadey. :-)

Answer 4 out of 12

by j ninja... Is on Oct 9, 2009 at 12:11 am Permalink

I had it really bad at one time. .. Not good. :(

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j ninja... Is Oct, 10 2009 at 01:03 PM

Not quite :(

AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:31 PM

Keep fighting, j ninja. You can overcome it! :-)

j ninja... Is Oct, 15 2009 at 11:52 PM

Have or do you have it may I ask?

Answer 5 out of 12

by Samgiedavis on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:55 pm Permalink

Not personally. But once when I was driving to school one day drove past a man who was running really really fast but he was really old and only had his underwear on. We all laughed hysterically at first but then when I drove past him and looked in the rear view mirror I saw his face and he looked absolutely terrified. I said 'Wait, there's something wrong.' And stopped the car immediately. I wound down my window and asked him if he was okay and he ran past and said 'I CANT STOP! Agoraphobia!' and just kept running. He was sweating and crying and his mouth was foaming. I called and ambulance and we drove around the area looking for him. The poor guy probably went outside to get his mail and then realised he was in an open space.

I was late for school that day and missed an exam. But I had the ambulance driver write to the school and explain!

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AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:37 PM

Thank you for your response Samgiedavis. :-)
How sad for that older man to be dealing with agoraphobia. It was kind of you to call an ambulance for him. I hope he got the help he needed. It sounds like he may of had some other health issues.

Answer 6 out of 12

by MoonSinger on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:52 pm Permalink

Yes, I have struggled with agoraphobia several times. I am going thru a "bout" of it right now. It really sucks.

The worst I ever had it, I would not even walk out of my house, up the driveway and get the mail. It's like being a prisoner but no one else understands what it feels like to you.

(I have also been dx'd with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.)

If you know of someone with this disorder that you care about, the best thing to do is NEVER push them. Help them (if they want you to) to take "baby steps", starting with opening and standing in the front door.

They also probably need to find treatment. I, personally, having been caught in the "system of pharmaceuticals", would highly suggest dietary changes and supplementing with vitamins, herbs but of good quality.

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AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:45 PM

Thanks for your response MoonSinger. I'm sorry to hear you are going through another episode of agoraphobia. I know how it feels to be terrified to leave your "safe space."
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I agree it is best to not push anyone with this ailment. It is always best to start with baby steps.
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Counselling also helps if one can force themselves out the door long enough to go to counselling. I was able to do that after a few months of not going outside much at all. I would force my self to build up courage to get out the door and go to my counselling session. I have had some great counselors and I still go to counselling twice a month. The first few times I was very shaky while I was talking to my counselor. I was so frightened of being around anyone. I learned to relax more and more as I talked with my counselors. I could tell them anything and not worry about being made fun of for what was happening to me. Agoraphobia is a real ailment. (as you know)

Answer 7 out of 12

by Sharona Magic loves the hungry on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:47 pm Permalink

No, I cannot imagine how horrific it would be to have panic attacks.

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AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:51 PM

Thanks for your response SHARONA. It is definitely not a pleasant experience to deal with panic attacks. Thankfully I no longer have them. Sometimes I feel a bit "anxious" but no major panic attacks any more and I hope it stays that way.
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Sorry for taking so long to respond to you. I have fibromyalgia and sometimes I do not remember things well. It's quite frustrating to forget things. It happens when one who has fibro is in a fibro fog. We also lose our concentration easily and that can be very embarrassing in the middle of a conversation.
Sorry didn't mean to go off topic.

Sharona Magic loves the hungry Oct, 15 2009 at 11:20 PM

This has been very interesting and enlightening. I had no idea fibromyalgia caused such weird complications. I knew about the excruciating pain, but not the forgetting or the fog. I answer tons of questions a week so you don't have to worry about getting back to me. Sometimes I don't get back to someone for weeks. It's just a big assed site is all.

Answer 8 out of 12

by Caitlin on Oct 9, 2009 at 4:09 am Permalink

Yes, and it is terribly debilitating. Just awful!

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 10:48 PM

Thank you Caitlin. I agree it is awful. I have been there and it was one of the most awful things I have ever gone through. I finally took control of my body back from that monster and I can now go out in public without having a panic attack or feeling sick to my stomach. It took about a year and half to get to where I could leave my apartment and not be terrified of what was outside.
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I hope you will soon be able to overcome that monster too. It can be done but it takes a lot of pushing and forcing yourself out the door more and more until you can finally relax when out of your safe place. I wish you the best. :-)

Caitlin Oct, 10 2009 at 02:29 AM

I'm really glad to hear that you have managed to overcome it, well done to you! Thanks for your kind words!

AngelHeart Oct, 15 2009 at 10:29 PM

You're very welcome Caitlin. :-)
Be as positive as you can and you will overcome agoraphobia too.:-)

Answer 9 out of 12

by hawaii.jake on Oct 9, 2009 at 12:19 am Permalink

I have borderline agoraphobia.

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 11:06 PM

I'm sorry to hear that hawaii.jake. Thank you for responding. I wish you the best and hope you will be able to beat your ailment and go out and enjoy life more.

Answer 10 out of 12

by Thriftymaid on Oct 9, 2009 at 12:18 am Permalink

I don't fear public or open spaces, but I don't like to be in a crowd. If I cannot stretch my arms out and twist without touching someone, it drives me nuts. I need about 36 sq ft of floor space to myself at all times.

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AngelHeart Oct, 09 2009 at 11:08 PM

Thanks for your answer Thriftymaid. I don't like being in large crowds either even though I am no longer afraid to be out in public. I just don't like a bunch of people crowding around me or bumping into me and not apologizing for bumping into me.

Thriftymaid Oct, 09 2009 at 11:15 PM

I don't care about an apology -- I just can't stand a stranger to touch me period. An apology doesn't help. I have stood through a Church service because the only seat was between two other people -- I just can't stand that.

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