Now we know a small bit more .
Agoraphobia is defined as a type of anxiety disorder that involves fear and avoidance of places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped, helpless, or embarrassed.
It honestly isn’t spoken about as widely as some other anxiety disorders, but it’s back on some people’s radars again because the main character in the movieLatencyis shown as having acute agoraphobia.
Recently we asked theBuzzFeed Communityto share any experiences they had with agoraphobia, anything they wished people knew about it, or things that have helped them to cope. Here are a few of the responses:
“It’s not necessarily how TV and movies portray it. It’s not like I’m terrified to leave my house 24/7. It’s the intense fear of being trapped for me. It’s knowing that if I leave the house at certain times, I will be stuck in traffic with no way off the highway because traffic is backed up for miles until the next exit.
It could be going into a schoolroom ( I used to just leave behind in high school ) without the freedom to get up and use the bathroom without needing permission . Using public transport could mean that I do n’t have the power to flee a bad state of affairs . Letting someone else drive to dinner party means I ca n’t escape . Concerts or festival watching from the front of the degree have in mind I ca n’t just run away with so many the great unwashed jam my exit . aerodrome are more scary than the airplane itself — I’m less afraid of a plane crash than being stick in an aerodrome because of a delay flight . It makes no sentiency , most the great unwashed do not sympathize it , and it create me feel crazy . "
— artistictoaster46
“I’ve been agoraphobic for four and a half years. It’s a progressive mental illness that gets worse with time. It’s not being afraid of the sun or the sky or open spaces. It’s a deep fear of unknown situations. It’s not a mental illness that resides alone. It is fed by depression and anxiety. It takes a lot of hard work to make the smallest amount of progress. There’s no simple ‘take this pill and you’ll be ok.’
When I endeavor to leave the household , my whole nervous organization goes into survival of the fittest mode , which for me look like a freeze state . I finger literally paralyze . All I can do is pose in my head and think of all the things I should be doing . You life becomes a humans of ' shoulds ' . I hope I can edit this later to add more . I have so much more to say . "
— mushyprincess922
“I wish people wouldn’t make the assumption that I don’t want to do things. Or that I have it because of socializing but it’s really rooted in a fear of fear. A fear of no easy escape. A fear of experiencing the symptoms. It’s so draining and I just hope it becomes less stigmatized.”
— alexis
“I have had it for as long as I can remember (at least since 4-5 years old). For me it manifests as not being able to travel overnight. I can travel any distance but I gotta be sure that I will be home in the evening. And this is the ‘improved’ state. Some years ago it was still impossible for me to take a day trip to a different city, even if I knew that I would be home by the evening.
What I wish the great unwashed understood is that we make out , that there is no ' actual ' danger out there but that we still ca n’t help it . And what help me deal with it was :
1 ) The diagnosis ' this scary affair ' suddenly had a name and made it ' touchable ' .
2 ) Not seek to suppress it ( I tried to [ for a ] farsighted time because of people not understanding ) . I am not afraid any longer that it will fall in out because ' that must not find ' . I know it will happen , and I greet it ' as a friend ' .
3 ) Yes it can happen again , but that will not be theend of the worldand I will hold out it . "
— mudda8139
“My agoraphobia manifests in situations where I feel I can’t escape. The subway stopping between stations, airplanes - a fear of not being able to escape the plane, traffic—if it’s not moving, and elevators. I didn’t have agoraphobia prior to five years ago.
Five year ago I made the mistake of hold magic mushroom while I was at a bungalow ( on an island ) with some friends . The experience put me into full blown panic for four hours — give me the feeling that I could n’t hightail it and this feeling would last forever and a day . It was everlasting torment . The biggest problem was n’t the experience of the incident itself — it ’s how it affected me every day afterwards . Everyday I would slue into this affright for no reason — the same flavor I had while on the mushrooms . I ’ve add up a long way since . I was on 10 unlike psych meds and now I ’m down to one . I ’d love to hear others experiences of working through these awe . "
— crispygoblin267
So, what does a day in the life of someone with agoraphobia actually look like? Well, we know now that the answer is very different depending on who you ask. A former BuzzFeed writer once outlined herday-in-the-life experience with agoraphobiaduring the time she was housebound with it.
" When I was 21 I was a bright , slightly directionless graduate , with my own band , an utmost societal sprightliness , and really interesting purple hair , " the author explain in the article .
" on the spur of the moment I bug out experiencing upsetting ' empty-headed spell ' whenever I was in an enclosed public outer space ( bars , center , on public transport ) .
These ' spells ' were so severe that I ’d ofttimes pass out . I began to avoid the places that triggered them , and soon I find I could n’t leave the family at all without abide keen attack .
It turned out that these ' vertiginous spell ' were actually panic onrush , and the doctor diagnosed me with depression , panic disorder . and agoraphobia , and signed me off work . I had to quit my band and my crappy bar task and move back in with my parents to start up therapy .
In total it took me four years ( and one relapse ) to learn to conquer terror approach , get out of the menage , and fully get over agoraphobia . Now , over a decade later , I travel freely without effect ( although I still have to see my depression and anxiety ) . "
you may read the full storyhere .
It’s hard to imagine that celebrities who are so often outside and in the public eye would struggle with agoraphobia, but some have spoken out about their struggle with the anxiety disorder as well.Zac Efronis one of them.
Kim Kardashianhas also spoken about how she developed anxiety, and possibly agoraphobia, after she was robbed at gunpoint in her hotel in Paris.
All of which is to say: agoraphobia can lookreallydifferent for different people, and the more we talk about it the more we can dispel some of the myths and make sure anyone who struggles with it can get the support and compassion they need.
If you find like you may need aid , National Alliance on Mental Illnesshelpline is 1 - 888 - 950 - 6264 ( NAMI ) and provides selective information and referral armed service .
GoodTherapy.orgis an association of genial health pro from more than 25 nation who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy .
Note : Some reception have been edited for length and/or clarity .
