I’m 23 years old, and I’ve basically lived my entire life in isolation. I rarely go out, mostly just on Sundays because my parents are very religious and strictly demand it; if I refused, it would cause huge drama and they would use religion to manipulate me. I don’t have any friends or a social life, and after finishing high school and university online last year, I hardly interact with anyone in person. I work remotely for an adult platform, which allows me to protect myself and feel comfortable, although as far as my parents know, 'I don't have a job' (telling them the truth about what I do for a living would be an abomination to them).

My parents are very controlling and toxic. My father, in particular, has a history of physical violence from my childhood, and I barely speak to him: I only reply briefly and coldly when he asks me something, while my mother was complicit in that entire situation. I never received emotional support from them, only food and an education. I harbor a lot of resentment and know they are the reason behind my isolation. They demand that I don't have a boyfriend or gain independence until I own a house and have financial stability, which is almost impossible given the economic situation in my country. Although I have enough savings to get by for a couple of years if I manage them carefully, in their eyes, it's never enough.

I know they want me to stay so I can take care of them when they get old, but I don't feel that in my heart. Trying to leave this house is a nightmare: when my older sister tried at 25, they hid her documents and made her life miserable until she managed to leave by getting married, and they still criticize her today.

That’s why the only solution I see is escaping to go live with my long-distance boyfriend. We’ve been together for three years; he lives in Florida (USA) and knows everything about my situation, although his mother hasn't met me in person and doubts me (thinking I might be after money or a visa). He also lives with his family, and the idea of taking the leap to become independent and come to Argentina overwhelms him a bit, so it will take courage and time. If I need to leave sooner, an acquaintance from my city who knows about my situation has offered to help me get somewhere else so I can reunite with my boyfriend.

I feel like my life is passing me by while fulfilling my parents' wishes. I’m mentally exhausted, I want to be free, start completely from scratch as if being born again, and take the risk just to have a life of my own.

I’d really appreciate any opinions or perspectives on this.

Hey guys, My name's Drew & I'm 36, I've been struggling with agoraphobia and intrusive thoughts for about 16 years or so. While I've been a lurker on the r/Agoraphobia and r/OCD for a long time, after a recent set back, I decided to create a "throw away" account (tho I plan to actively use it here) to focus more on my re-re-re'recovery lol

I don't know anyone with Agoraphobia and/or OCD (probably because we all stick pretty close to our safety zones hah) I was hoping to reach out to some folks who are roughly my age bracket say late 20's-early 40's?(give or take) and maybe make a Discord or something where we could talk (even if it's just text) and share our wins, some gallows humor, commiserate and support each other in our peaks and valleys ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Any ways, something I thought might be helpful for me, dunno if any one else feels the same but if there's an interest maybe we can set something up!

I hit a new checkpoint and although it’s not too far, I’m still so excited I felt normal and didn’t panic!! I actually have real hope I can live normally again someday soon :))

sometimes I feel silly telling my family or friends bc it’s not a huge milestone but I didn’t even believe I could do this a year ago and here I am!!

Many people say it gets better but when? I’ve had panic attacks since I was a teenager and since then, panic attacks became agoraphobia(in my 30s now).

I’ve been house bound for 5 years now. I have no friends, no wife, no girlfriend and no job. I went from driving a tractor trailer across North America to being unable to get in a car to go to the grocery store! My parents are supportive but on a fixed income and times are financially very tough right now. I do not have adequate healthcare that might help me climb out of this because I live in a country where healthcare is super commodified. I’m on an ssri but cannot get benzos for acute panic which makes it impossible to go anywhere.

I have felt stuck and hopeless now for awhile but I’m becoming more and more aware that I’m getting older and it’s scary that I live in a society that doesn’t give a shit about us so where the hell does that leave me!? I gave up having a house of my own a long time ago as well as finding a partner to grow old and happy with. What happens when my parents die? My options will be either go be homeless somewhere or a bullet.

Perhaps this is a fleeting feeling but I resent being alive. It shouldn’t be this difficult just to survive. I’m exhausted and fed up with this world. I’m fed up with peoples lack of empathy. I clearly don’t fit in and haven’t my entire life. It doesn’t have to be this way but it is and that’s what angers me.

Anyone else have something like this happen to them. I am aware how people see me which causes more anxiety. I've had bad therapists etc do this too.

I'm 5 years in and I thought I was making progress. I still cant leave the house by myself but when I'm out with someone i can go into supermarkets and shops by myself or appointments. Then this last week I keep having panic attacks. I've not had any for a year but suddenly they are back. I dunno what to do I just wanna cry. I feel like i should just give up dose myself up on whatever medication of the day the doctors want me on and stop trying but i tried making an appointment with a GP but the earliest they have is late December. I just feel lost, upset and like I'm back sliding. I have two years to get to the point that i can go out by myself before we have to move cities for my husbands work and I'm scared I won't make it. Has anyone done this? I really need some hope rn.

Hello. I am a 41 year old who lives in Brooklyn, which feels contextually important because it isn't particularly gentle for the anxious and potentially agoraphobic. I spent the first 4 decades of my life being, if anything, obnoxiously outgoing and social. This summer I was walking to meet friends for my birthday dinner and had a very defining panic attack. This was far from my first one, but it was a BAD one, and it seemed to punctuate the first phase of an extremely stressful build up that sort of started taking place around April.

Since then I've felt close to accepting that anything outside of my house and a few select safe-feeling places is off limits. Going to the grocery store, once routine, feels pretty damn impossible. Having friends by, once a thing I thoroughly enjoyed, now feels grating and difficult. I don't own a car here, but had to rent one for a small trip and spent the entire car ride panicking, which I'd NEVER done before. I used to have to drive as part of a job for years, so it's not historically uncomfortable territory for me. I do not know exactly what happened but it's hellish and tragic. I feel like I need to move out of the city and find some rural small place where I can just live out my days as a recluse. Obviously I do not want that, but I am really, really struggling and would like to hear any encouragement or advise I can get. If this doesn't sound like a great spot for me or like I have a misunderstanding about how agoraphobia works I sincerely apologize, but if that's not the case, thank you ahead of time.

Just a quick reminder because now im almost recovery I still want help and give hope to peoples who are in my situation mostly for peoples who take zoloft
Many peoples are kind here but one advice i can tell to everyone for my recovery is dont give up it took me 5 months for see my first relief and 7 months for see bigger change
You need to be patient and have your right dose I would recommend you all to wait every 3 months before change dose because its months 2 and 3 of 125mg I saw the big change
If someone or yourself tell you to stop because it dont work after 2 week or 2 months or even 5 or 6 months its false continue ! Find your right dose and wait
3 months ago i would never think text this after 6 years of anxiety and agoraphobia and ofc you dont really find your life as before but almost its a new you who is probably even better for the future

If you need any help support or just talk my messages are open ❤️

Hey everyone. I’m a 21 year old female that has been struggling with agoraphobia for the past year and a half. This started because of some undiagnosed health issues I have going on. It’s mostly resulted from my time in the doctors and hospitals. I have a mole in suspicious of and really want to get checked out on top of all my other health issues I have put off. Doctors are my biggest triggers in the world unfortunately. I’m looking for anyone who can relate to my story and maybe would want to encourage each other to get to the doctors or would just be willing to share their stories. Just feeling a bit lonely in all of this.

Hello,

Je viens pour demander des témoignages.

Après une grosse attaque de panique en mars, s'en ai suivi de l'agoraphobie.

J'étais en panique constant et même sortir dans ma rue c'était compliqué.

Depuis ça va mieux, petit a petit, c'est long mais il y a du progrès.

Hier par exemple, j'étais au bord de la panique, mais je suis quand même sorti pour aller a mon rendez vous médical, et j'ai fini par aller faire de l'essence, chercher du pain, et même fait un magasin et aller au parc avec les enfants! Une sortie de 4 heures en tout!

Mais à côté de ça, les angoisses sont augmentées et sont de nouveau présentes même chez moi.

Est ce que c'est normal? Elles sont surtout présente le matin et ça traine

Est ce que c'est parce que je sort de ma zone de confort? D'autre personne dans le même cas?

Merci pour vos retours!