If your one of the many who can get outside and enjoy life without freaking out everytime you turn around, count yourself lucky. There are some of us who can't go outside much less get near a door that leads to the out of doors.
Most people picture someone who continually stays indoors with the curtains drawn and staying away from doors and windows all together. If you've never known anyone who has agoraphobia it can be rather surprising to understand who all qualifies as an agoraphobic.
Some agorophobics can't leave there home under any circumstances and are on the disabled list. They need family or trusted people/person to do things for them like grocery and clothes shopping. Driving them to appointments is never easy and the agoraphobic is usually quite sedated for the trip...depending on the individual too.
Other agoraphobics can only leave the house with a specific person.
Other's have to take a sedative and have a trusted individual drive them to and from their errands or doctors visits.
Still other agoraphobics get hit with the symptoms ever so often but lead fairly normal lives in every other way. They just feel weird some times and want nothing to do with going outside.
Myself, I can go out shopping occassionally, with my husband only. No other family member will do as I don't feel safe enough with them. On these outings with my husband I am sedated enough to keep my panic under control but still be able to walk and function enough to get things done. I cannot drive as the meds does effect motor skills to a degree. These outings do not last long. An hour or two at the most is about all I can handle.
My extended family are the ones who cannot understand the things I've been going through. All they know is that their once vibrant daughter, niece, cousin and mother is unable to live life the way she use to. It's all they focus on...what I can no longer do. Not what I can now do.
I can now walk in my yard with the dog...and my husband. I can go to the store once in a while with him. I can sit on the back deck and listen to nature and enjoy the sunlight, which I've missed terribly since becoming agoraphobic. I can talk on the phone and look out of windows. I can take a shower in the day time.
I think I've made progress. Maybe no the progress others think I should be making but, they're not me and we al move at a different pace when facing difficulties.
Kudos!
Ira.
 Irahatam · Sat Jun 28, 2008 @ 11:58pm · 2 Comments |
