ArLynn Presser is a 51 year-old romance writer and mother of two who has suffered from debilitating agoraphobia for nearly three decades. On December 31, 2010, ArLynn resolved to begin proactively managing her disorder by hitting the road to meet all of her 325 Facebook friends for the very first time. One year later and she has met 292 of them.
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The term agoraphobia has been widely misunderstood. Its literal definition suggests a fear of “open spaces”. However, this is an incomplete and misleading view. Agoraphobics are not necessarily afraid of open spaces. Rather, they are afraid of having panicky feelings, wherever. these fearful feelings may occur. For many, they happen at home, in houses of worship, or in crowded supermarkets, places that are certainly not “open”.
In fact, agoraphobia is a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Typical “phobic situations” might include driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings and social gatherings.
Agoraphobia arises; from an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have repeatedly occurred before. Once the panic attacks have started, these episodes become the ongoing stress, even when other more obvious pressures have diminished. This sets up a “feedback condition” which generally leads to increased numbers of panic attacks and, for some people, an increase in the situations or events which can produce panicky feelings. Others experience fearful feelings continuously, more a feeling of overall. discomfort, rather than panic.
A person may fear having anxiety attacks, “losing control”, or embarrassing him/herself in such situations. Many people remain in a painful state of anxious anticipation because of these fears. Some become restricted or “housebound” while others function “normally” but with great difficulty, often attempting to hide their discomfort.
Agoraphobia, then, is both a severe anxiety condition and a phobia, as well as a pattern of avoidant behavior…
Source: http://pages.infinit.net/drnayman/agorapho.htm
This is the most accurate description of agoraphobia that I have found on the Internet 😊
Just spent a couple of hours out in the sun ☀ with my best friend and the kids!!
I’m feeling down though and just want to go to bed and stay there….
Now I’m off to do what I do best, SLEEP 💤💤💤💤💤💤
It’s my escape from the world 😌
I have four children…
We have dogs, cats, turtles, frogs and a budgie.. I love animals especially my dogs, it’s called unconditional ❤
They are here for me day and night, they listen to my woes and love me all the same!!!
I’m 41 years old and I have agoraphobia and major depressive disorder… I’m really a sad case 😥
I have decided to share my story as it will be therapeutic for myself and hopefully will open the eyes of some people and help with the stigma associated with mental illness… 😌
