Some questions about Agoraphobia

Hi

I've been suffering from Agoraphobia for about eight months now. In addition, I also suffer from severe panic attacks and anxiety. Sometimes I don't go out for several weeks at a time. Generally, I'm feeling quite isolated and alone. I don't really know anyone who's going through something similar and people who haven't experienced it find it difficult to truly understand just how debilitating it is. My doctor was initially unsympathetic and it took a long time to get through to her. She's only now starting to take me seriously but I feel angry and resentful because months have gone by - time I'll never get back - and I just wish that something had happened sooner and that I'd received more support. I've been referred for CBT, which I know very little about and am waiting for an appointment but in the meantime, I still have to live in the everyday and just getting through each minute seems like a Herculean task. I know I'm rambling on but for those of you who are experiencing something similar, I just have a few questions, which I hope someone can help me with, as I'm not sure who else to ask.

Firstly, what do you do about exercise when you're suffering from Agoraphobia. This is something I worry about, as I'm aware of how detrimental a lack of exercise can be on one's health. Secondly, has anyone ever had CBT, either for Agoraphobia or Anxiety and did it help at all? Also, I was wondering there's such a thing as someone who you can call on to come and offer support and encourage you to get outside, maybe go for coffee or a walk. I suppose it would be like a Support Worker role but more in a social capacity. I don't know if that kind of service exists. Lastly, I would love to know how one actually recovers from Agoraphobia. I just don't know what the solution is. I can't imagine that CBT would be an instant cure, so I'm just wondering what is helping, or has helped others in a similar situation.

Thanks everyone.

Hi, I don't have agoraphobia, but I'll have a go at answering your questions and hopefully some other folk will as well

Firstly, what do you do about exercise when you're suffering from Agoraphobia
I can remember people saying they use exercise machines or go out running/walking in the nighttime

Secondly, has anyone ever had CBT, either for Agoraphobia or Anxiety and did it help at all?
Yes, I have for anxiety and it has helped. Basically, CBT gets you to look at how you think about situations and consider alternative ways of thinking about them. How we think effects how we feel, and how we feel effects what we do, so changing a thought can change a feeling and our actions. If I use an example from your post in this thread "I also had an experience where I walked into a restaurant with a friend and I was standing in front of her but the waitress came over and completely blanked me and spoke to her. That annoyed me, so I spoke up and told her what we wanted but that has happened to me a few times", then using CBT you would identify other reasons why this happens to you (maybe your friend was making stronger eye contact than you, which lead the waitress to address her first); you would also consider things such as...maybe this is something that happens to others a lot, too, so its no big deal, or maybe it's something that's only happened once or twice but it stands out in your mind as you felt offended - not saying that that is the case, just giving possible examples to show how using CBT can change thoughts.

I was wondering there's such a thing as someone who you can call on to come and offer support and encourage you to get outside, maybe go for coffee or a walk. I suppose it would be like a Support Worker role
I can imagine this would be possible, but that ultimately you would aim to go solo

Lastly, I would love to know how one actually recovers from Agoraphobia

By having an an understanding of how the mind is creating the fear and then slowly and consistently challenging the fear so that the mind relearns that its safe in those situations