im by midway your not alone keep fighting and holding on your not to far from me..i hope you get better..i will pray for u,its just this pray is closer to home..you never know when your walking in store how many of us there are out there..i to dont like being left alone..never happens really and when it did gina saved my butt hugs..i m afraid i will die young too..good luck and keep posting.. outlaw

Thank you so much for all of you who wrote back. It's comforting to me to know that there really are people out there that can relate to what I'm going through. I know it's not going to be easy, but I've decided to sign up for the panic program. I was up late last night reading over a lot of the material in the first session and it's easy to understand, so I'm ready to do this. I need to do this. I don't want to live like this if there's help like this that can help me. I do see a pychiatrist (pretty much just to refill my medication) and a counselor too once a week who is familiar with panic attacks because she has experienced them and still does at times. I just wanted to say to: Ruby, thank you so much for your letter. When I first started having panic attacks I wouldn't even let my husband go to work because I was so afraid to be alone. I thought that if I felt like I was going to die than who would be there to help me. So, I really understand how you feel. Now a days though, I'm lucky for the time being because I do have two children at home with me while the other two are in school so I don't feel alone because I'd be scared to be alone all the time if I didn't have them here with me. I'm nervous though, that my daughter will start kindergarten this fall and my youngest will be going to school too before I know it. It's amazing to me to think about you living in Australia! It must be so beautiful there. I did attend a support group located in a hospital near me and I did meet a really nice lady there and we became best friends. That was over 6 years ago, but now, she moved away, about 45 minutes away from me and I can't go to see her because she lives too far away. Our friendship ended but I still miss her so much. Thank you again for writing and please write again. To Vickers4, thank you for writing. I just signed up for the 12 week program and I really hope it will help me. I have never seen a CBTherapist but I'd like to find one in my area. I get frustrated at times when I keep talking about the same thing over and over again to my phychiatrist and counselor. I want to start doing something about my agoraphobia but I don't know where to start. All the ideas in the world are great, but if you're scared to death, like me, to drive far from home, then

AGORAPHOBICS IN MOTION (AIM) United in Faith Lutheran Church 6525 W. Irving Park Chicago, IL 60656-0733 Contact: Kathy Ortiz Phone: (312) 409-0004 Meets once a week from 7:00 - 9:00pm. MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS Directory of Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups 188 W. Randolph, Suite 2225 Chicago, IL Contact: Marilyn Lusen, Community Services Manager Phone: (312) 368-9070, Ext. 22 HELP OUR PANIC END (H.O.P.E.) Tinley Park, IL Contact: Shelly Evans Phone: (708) 614-9016 Meets weekly for anyone with Anxiety/Panic Disorder. Email: hopebox22@aol.com RECOVERY, INC. 802 N. Dearborn St. Telephone: (312) 337-5661 Fax: (312) 337-5756 Email: inquiries@recovery-inc.org Website: http://www.recovery-inc.org Recovery, Inc. is a self-help mental health organization that offers techniques for managing nervous symptoms and fears. Groups meet weekly at over 600 locations. Join The Chicago Panic Disorders Meetup Group Organizer: Mark Location: Chicago, IL Members: 38 People with Panic Disorders Rating: (No rating yet) Meet other local people who experience panic attacks, social anxiety, general anxiety, agoraphobia, and/or any other type of panic disorders. This is what I could find about groups in your area

sorry I live in NY. wish i could find one here too.

you live in southburbs like by what area,im very close they have a thing called nammi i think its spelled its in chicago heights il..ummm write back i will give you more information...hope i can help...im a big anxiety freak too,im to scared to go to the support groups...maybe you could talk me into going..i think they have meetings in orland park area too..write back.. outlaw

Hello! I also am not aware of what support groups are available in your area - I live in the western states. But, I also have the same problems as you. Anxiety, panic, agoraphobia - so much fun! I force myself to go out and do things that I have to do like going to work, family functions, going to the store, things like that. And most of the time I am light headed and anxious the whole time I'm out doing these things. Things that aren't necessary, even things that I used to enjoy, take a lot of effort and sometimes I don't even bother doing. I took my boys to the movies a month or two ago and I was ok for the most part, but about half way through the movie, I started to panic really bad. I forced myself to stay for my boys sake but it was so hard! I totally understand what you mean about feeling like you are ruling over your familes social lives! Have you started the free 12 week program offered on this site? It teaches Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which is the most effective way of conquering this monster. I have done a lot of research about therapies for panic / anxiety because I am so tired of living like this and every thing I have read says that CBT is the most effective treatment. It is effective for panic, anxiety and agoraphobia. It takes a lot of effort and determination on your part but I promise if you work hard at it, it is so worth it! I am on week three and I have noticed a difference. For the first time in 12 years, I finally feel like there is hope! This is a learned behavior and it can most definitely be unlearned! Even though it may not feel like it, we all have it within ourselves to beat this - I promise! If you can't find a support group where you live, please remember that the people on this support group all know exactly what you are going through every single day and we will always be here to help hold you up when you are feeling weak. We all have good days and we all have bad days. But, most importantly, we all understand completely and no one here will ever judge or criticize you for seeking help or just needing someone to talk to. We're all here for the same reasons. :)

Hi gk681986, My name is Ruby I'm 32 years old, and have had anxiety now for 10 years. My anxiety has gotten to the stage were I cannot go anywhere on my own or stay on my own, my boyfriend is with me all the time. I cannot help you with any information on surport groups were you live because I live in Australia. But I can tell you that I too cannot go far from home, and I think the same as you, if I go out I think about how far I am from home, that's why I don't go far because I like to be close to home so if I have an attack I know I can get home quick. And there is sometimes where if I'm out and then I start to have an attack, then I quickly try to get home and if I get stuck at the lights or in traffic, my anxiety goes sky high. Then when I get home the next few days I just don't won't to go out, because I scared I'm going to have another attack and I won't be able to get home quick enough. I am now seeing a Physcologist and that has helped me abit. Maybe ask your doctor where you live if he or she knows if there are any surport groups for anxiety, close to were you live. Or maybe ring your local hospital and ask them as well. Ruby..... ;)

I just wanted to write to ask if anyone lives in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago in Illinois...I would really like to find a support group in my area for people like me, that suffer with panic disorder with agoraphobia, and to form friendships with other people that feel the same way I do and can relate to what I'm going through. I'm a SAHM with 4 children and I've been suffering with this now for over 6 years. I'm having a hard time with driving far from home and I try to conquer my fears with "baby-steps" but it's just so scary for me that I just get too afraid to travel too far. I'm always thinking about how far I am, how many miles away from home I am, and how soon can I get home if I start to panic. It's terrifying for me when I start thinking that I want to go home but I can't get home right away or fast enough, so I feel trapped and I panic. I am taking some medication that does help but I would like to feel more confident in myself to conquer my fears. I feel like I'm ruining my family's life because I can't go anywhere or do the things we used to do. We don't go out much with the kids and I'm afraid that they'll end up being the same way that I am. Can anyone relate to me? It would really be a comfort to me just knowing that I have people to talk to. Thanks.