Have You Ever Experienced Agoraphobia

Alright wolfie, I really don't know if my experience as a little girl can be classified as agoraphobia. I was really shy and will always hide under the table whenever a visitor dropped by at our house. I found myself having difficulty talking with others too. When I started to take ballet lesson at age 5, there was still the hidden fear inside of me. I was so scared and nervous on my first ballet performance. Eventually, as I slowly grew up, I was able to overcome the fear and began dancing confidently in front of a large audience. Since then, I became more lively and even learn how to socialize with my friends.

No - not at all - open spaces don't worry me. If anything, I am more likely to be claustrophobic - which, of course, is the exact opposite - fear of being shut in. I don't have it badly, and I've never let it rule my life or stop me doing anything/going anywhere, but sometimes I do feel uncomfortable in a lift, or in an aeroplane. It's the idea of being trapped with no easy escape route I guess - in the open air there is always somewhere to run to!!

Yep that's me! I am always afraid to be around open space, crowed places I get nervous and wanted to run. I don't like to go somewhere I rather be here at home because I feel safe. I have always felt this way and no I cdon't go to counseling I try to cope with it myself or my husband tries to help me as he understands what I am feeling.

Once i was invited to a party where the host was a friend of my cousin and i dindnt knew a single person apart from my cousin , i was terrified that i would be killed by bore , or i would die before speaking to anyone as i knew no one , i wouldnt go to the party but at last i went but sorry to say i enjoy the party to the fullest i made a few very good friends , with whom i still have contacts over phone and chat , and after that i didnt ever had such a felling.

I still have an intense fear of large crowds and avoid them....we always go to the fair right when it opens so that we can be gone by the time the crowds show up....we go to the park and river during the week when everyone else is at work... I have just learned to avoid them and go on with my life...

I have had agoraphobia for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I hated going to places, I hated to go into the lines at grocery stores. I would sweat, feel dizzy, etc. It was always better if I had a friend with me. As I have gotten older, it's gotten worse. I really do not like to go anywhere. I do not work now either, so it's harder to fight to stay out of my shell. If I go anywhere alone (which is not often) I sweat, I have heart palpitations, I fee dizzy, on and on. I think part of the reason I have this is because I was abused by my step-father as a child. It didn't matter what I did, he always found fault with me. Now I always feel scared that someone is going to get "mad" at me for not doing what I want them to, while I'm out in public. I'm sure it has to do with a lot of other things, but this is one of the major reasons. It's very sad because deep down inside I love people. I love to meet new people, and see new things. This condition makes it very hard to do that. It's even hard for me to post to discussions on the internet - but I am forcing myself to, and it gradually becomes easier.

i am the exact opposite pal , I am claustrophobic , if I am shut in a cupboard or any enclosed space I just faint ,when I was young and worked in a grocers shop the staff shut me in the walk in fridge for a laugh , when they opened the door a few minutes later I was out cold on the floor , so I don't actually now the feelings pal I can sympathies with you hugs xxx

Yes I have. I started having panic attacks and it fairly quickly developed into agoraphobia. I don't know what triggered it all off but I suspect it was an accumulation of things from my childhood and teenage years. I was 20 when I became agorophobic and I hardly left the house for about two years. It was really a very bleak period for me and I vividly remember how desperate I felt at times so I totally sympathise with anyone going through the same thing. It took me a long time to get back to "normal" and even years later I would still experience the occasional panic attack but once I learned how to cope with them - once I learned to stop fearing the fear if you know what I mean - they were much more manageable. Although I did eventually speak to a doctor about it (who simply prescribed beta blockers which I didn't take) the thing that really helped me was a book by Dr Claire Weekes who specialises in anxiety and nervous disorders. She's written lots of excellent books on the subject.

Do not remain so, wanting to destroy, is strong God be with you, fall in real only want the Life accepted, to live

No I don't think I have. Though I do get irritated when there are throngs of people around me. I have not had the urge to set my hair on fire and run for the nearest exit. I feel sorry for folks in this position. It sure would limit what you could experience in life.

Not really. I don't like places with a hell load of people, especially rude people who have no life's. (well they do) sticking there noses into others conversations and then acting like you them lol Seriously though, I haven't. Kudos Brian, ~Joey

When I had very sever depression I also had symptoms of Agorophobia which was purely down to the effects of the depression! I would have stayed under the covers of my bed with the curtains drawn all day, every day if I could have! Luckily that is the only time I have experienced it and I did have help as I was already receiving counselling for the depression - don't know how I would have got through it without any help! xxx

sometimes i have agoraphobia when there are times that i'm not to exposed to the people and when i just stay here in our house for a long time. i have a shy type to face other people because i don;t know maybe i'm just shy. but if i go almost everyday especially in the mall. my agoraphobia is going out. maybe the solution is make more companion and mingle with other people around me and its so nice to do that. you become more sociable and more confident with your self....

yes many times i am taking treatment for depression and it help me for Agoraphobia but it it lot of patietnce and srelf help.

this is going to sound crazy..but we went to Fright Fest at this amusement park called Great Adventures...it was halloween and they had people running around the park specifically to scare people..after almost having a heart attack being followed by a man with a chainsaw, I noticed it seemed as though the people that were doing this only seemed to be after me and my friends..as crazy as it sounds, I really thought I was in danger after a while..so I don't think I am Agoraphobic, but they had me not wanting to go to anything else like that ever..

I always have this at times, where I prefer to be alone and stay indoors. There are times when I stay home for a long period of time, I avoid mingling with people, a sort of solitary confinement, I guess. And these are the times where I feel a little depressed, that being alone is the only way that I see as the only solution to escape the "real" world for a while.

My friend had an similar problem dealing with open sapce, he just couldnt come out with us for roaming or partying ,may be just beacause he was used to indoors and rather preferred staying at home as his favorite place from where he couldnt be detached.

I have never been afraid of open spaces instead I am claustrophobic. I do have panic attacks sometimes when I feel that I cannot escape from a public place. I have been in the middle of an aisle at the grocery store and panicked because a bunch of people blocked both ends and my kids had to clear a path for me because I could not speak to ask these people to move so I could get out of the aisle so I could get out. It does not happen all of the time, but it has been happening to me for many years. I always blamed it on my claustrophobia, because I reasoned that the people in the aisle closed me in, but I guess it better fits the definition of agoraphobia. I have no idea why I am this way.

i have felt a bit agoraphobic from time to time...butin general, wheni have a fear of being in public, it has nothing to do with a fear of no escape. It has to do with my hatred of being in crowds. Oddly enough, this fear doesn'tapply when itcomes to going to a show. i love those crowds. i guess that is because i amsurrounded by people who are like me and that is more comfortable to me.i generally don'tliketo be in large crowds,thoguh.

well, i am thankful that i don't have such phobia. otherwise, i wouldn't want to work in the academe... =)