Wow Paulina that was one of the most interesting stories Ive heard here so far... Thats so great you got out of that mess and into a new comfortable frame of life.. thats wonderful. !!! Good luck with everything in the future... Ben

Hi, Dennis! Sometimes I read some of the postings and feel compelled to write. Yours is one of those. I have suffered from panic/agoraphobia/depression since I was a little girl and I'm 45 years old now. Back then, no one understood it and there was no support out there. I felt like a freak. (I spent 2 years in my mother's house from the age of 17 to 19 and barely went outside. When I did venture out...I paid the price with ultimate panic attacks and her yelling at me because she didn't understand what was happening.) But, like you, I am a strong person and somehow managed to dig myself out of it...even with no help. I never quite got over fear of some things, but was able to have a life, job and family. I sort of built my own comfortable world to live in and I was relatively happy. Sometimes the world was real big and sometimes (during hard emotional times), it would shrink. But, I kept going. Starting 3 years ago, I began to have a health problem and no doctors believed I was really sick. I felt worse and worse and finally, 4 months ago, I couldn't get out of bed and ended up having several surgeries. The agoraphobia/panic/depression became horrible from what I had lived through. I wouldn't even leave my bed, let alone the house. I stopped going to my job (even knowing my family could lose our home)and stayed in bed for 9 weeks. I thought I would never be able to go outside again. I completely isolated myself from my husband and children and just layed there. The days just melted together. It was awful. I even tried antidepressants, but due to side effects, could not take SSRI's. It was just another slap in the face to me. Well, guess what? That was not even 3 months ago and I am at a new job (closer to home...more comfy for me) and am not in bed all day, anymore. Is life perfect?...absolutely not. I still suffer agoraphobia/panic and depression. I still sometimes come home and isolate. But, the difference is, I stopped giving up hope. I am looking at this as the beginning now, instead of the end. (This can be your beggining, too.) I started by just forcing myself to stand next to my bed (I wouln't leave the bedroom) for 10 minutes several times a day. Then, I started to walk out of the room just to get my shower (and

Thanks bro. I responded to one of your topics as well. Good to hear you found a girl that goes through the same thing. That's ultimately my goal in the long run. Dennis

I know what you mean, I am like that now...although my GF gets me out. She knows how it is..besides Panic attacks..she is also bi-polar. We try and help each other out as best we can. Don't feel alone Dennis in the fact that you dont want to do anything or go anywhere...alot of us feel like that..the best thing to do is to try and see a Dr. Let them know how you fell

Since my panic started, I've been sucked into an agoraphobic state. The entire day, I don't do much of anything, besides watch TV. Although even that is sometimes a chore. I'm constantly confused, depressed and I have no choice but to sit at home because nothing helps to distract me. This has taken over my life and I'm a pretty strong person. Has anybody gone through this and/or still going through this? I'd like to hear from someone else if they are so we could help one another out. Thanks for anyone that responds. Dennis