Does anyone have anxiety so bad that they can't leave their house?

I have GAD and take Xanax and have a really hard time leaving home, especially now w the pandemic. I find making structure of the ritual of going out helps. Once I’m out I feel better, but after awhile I wanna go home (that song “I want to go home” starts playing in my head.) Take it one step at a time. Set up an area by the front door that’s your transition zone. We’re all wearing masks, so we all look anonymous. Start w small trips out, and go home when u need to. Little by little it will get easier.

Hello everyone I started on prozac and Buspar for anxiety 25 years ago. Iwent off prozac and started Cymbalta. It drove me into breakdown. I finally got off this terrible med and went back to prozac went up to 80mgs. It did take suicidal thoughts away but I gained 50 lbs. So now so fat and can't breathe. But not suicidal anymore What would you do? My doctor switched me to a blood pressure med gained 12lbs in 10 days

Hi.
I can tell you what helped me. Mindfulness helped a lot, a quick search on amazon and you will find books and audio cds. Exercise helped and so did healthy living. Cognitive-behavioral therapy may be very helpful for you. Speak to your doctor and they will refer you to a counselor. You can be the man you wish to be.
Best wishes

You don't have to live like that! Have you ever reached out for professional help?

I have the same problem. I cannot even go into my front yard for fear that I am being watched and that people think I look strange or awkward. Just now I have a nervous stomach thinking about it. I have lived in torture my whole life. Family visiting is hard and even entertaining my own grown up children and their partners at christmas I find difficult and I hate myself for this. I cannot prepare food in front of anyone I cannot sign my name properly in front of anyone as my hand freezers. When I was in school everyone called me the strange kid and I was bullied relentlessly. Now I am 63 and it is only worse as I cannot work and I am too young to receive the pension so we live on my husbands pension and some online sales that I have. I hate my life.

Yes most definitely!
When my anxiety is really crippling I can literally get stuck in whatever room I'm in, it's hideous, the thought of getting into my car is something I can't fathom when it's that bad, it's just too much, even trying to count is out of the question for me, I find that if I can get my breathing under some kind of control, keep the room cool and remain as calm as possible, then I can take the first step, it may take a long time but I know when I take that step (literally trying to walk) I'm on the right track, it can take hours to get out of the room and the only pressure I put on myself is a shower - I find that v difficult, the noise and the feeling of the water but it feels like a huge accomplishment, the car can stay in the garden that's out of my depth at times, after a while when the panic subsibes I try to just sit in my garden
I know how your feeling, trying to do much will feel overwhelming, start with something smaller and build up to driving, I hope this is of some help

I've been dealing with this for over 20 years it's HORRID. I'm so sorry that your having this, I'd not wish it on my worst enemy...

I haven't left my room in 2weeks. I feel like I can't or something bad will happen. Under my comforter is the only place I feel safe. Things are getting worse. Like I have my friend go to the store for me, I haven't gone tanning which I love and I don't shower for 2-3 days at a time. I'm falling apart but I don't care about anything anymore so life has become dark n broken.

First are you under a Dr care or are you on any medications for your anxiety? If not the first thing is do is get a Dr. I know it's hard to leave the house sometimes. I'm the same way. Even when I feel good I don't like crowds and am more of a stay at home person. Still working with my psychiatrist to get a med that works as good as my last one. Which I was taken off of. Sorry about the rambling, try and find a psychiatrist and make yourself an appointment. Take someone with you to make you feel more relaxed. Good luck!

I am a veteran that deals with PTSD and agoraphobia on a daily basis. The anxiety can be peralizing. I cause me to live a very lonely life but I refuse to let it win. I try to push forward and find joy in the small things

New to the forum and ran across this topic. I thought I had social anxiety for a long time but I was wrong. I am an introvert. Simple as that. Fear does not affect me. I don’t like people. Heck I have a hard time being around my friends and family. I like being alone and doing my own thing. I hate talking on the phone. I love getting out though and driving my truck but that first step out the back door is hard because of people (and traffic). There is no cure. You are hot wired as either being an introvert or extrovert the moment your brain developes. I am saying this because other people here have said the same thing. I am not making light of anyone’s anxiety problems or agoraphobia but those of you with slighter symptoms, research introvert and learn how you can deal with situations. It helped me.

I don’t feel safe outside my home... in fact I feel safest in my room. I hate leaving it
When I have to go to the store. My anxiety is so bad I feel I’m drowning. I’m a survivor of stage 3B breast cancer. I don’t know if this is the reason. But I had many people proud of my strength. I was strong. But now I am weak. I have had depression my whole life but this is a whole other level. Suicide is a daily thought. If I won’t. But wish I could. It’s tough. My dogs are the only thing keeping me going ... what can we do?

I have battling &dx with not only ptsd,anxiety attacks, panic attacks but now I have agoraphobia.I'm fighting to at least step out a little each day,it's hard but we have to take baby steps.I feel your pain. Nobody understands unless you have this.They can say yes they do all day long but living it is devastating. I will pray for you.

Kaylyn
Your story is my story. I know this is a older post but any thoughts you have on how I can get over this would be so appreciated. I'm alone and terrified. Trying for 7 months to battle depression panic and anxiety disorder and now Agoraphobia and social phobia. I feel completely broken