I went out

Hi everyone

Anyone who has read my posts will know that I have been struggling with agoraphobia for a couple of years but, using a combination of medication and graduated exposure, I have been getting slowly better.

Last September I was so bad that I was spending almost all day every day lying in bed feeling like I was going to die at any minute. I though life would never get any better and there were many times when I felt like just giving up. I was scared to go downstairs, scared to go into the garden - even going to the bathroom was terrifying.

Anyway, like I said, I have been getting better and last night I went out with my mum and dad to a pub. It was the first time in 13 months that I'd been in any building apart from my house and the first time that I had ventured further than a couple of streets from home.

Apart from showing off (because I am very proud of myself) I wanted to tell you all about this because it proves that life does get better and real progress can be made if you try. While I was trying to pluck up the courage to go yesterday afternoon, I thought to myself 'whether I go or not, I will still be alive at midnight tonight' - and lo and behold, I was right. I had a fantastic night and hardly thought about anxiety at all

I sincerely hope that my little success story inspires you all to keep trying and keep believing that life does get better.

Best of luck.

Chris x

Chris, i have been reading your posts over the past couple of months and have found your advice and attitude amazing - Thank you. Congrats to you on going out i hope that you will make it a regular outing, you survived and nothing bad happened to you. i am also having an 'outing' to the pub on Saturday, fingers croseed all will be ok, you have inspired me to do it, so here goes, thanks Chris and well done to you.
Jan :)

Hi Jan

Thank you for your kind words.

I really hope you can enjoy your night out as much as I did. After being pretty much on my own for so long, I was quite surprised how much chatting with other people keeps your mind away from anxiety.

It's not easy - a lot of things aren't when you're agoraphobic - but the sense of pride and achievement is enormous.

Saturday is quite a way off yet so don't spend the meantime worrying about it or you'll talk yourself out of it. Try to put it out of your mind until it's time to go, you don't have to make a definitive decision until that time.

Go for it and have a lovely time.

Chris x

Free links to anxiety related documents - http://anxietylinks.blogspot.com

Hi Chris

Wow ,well done I know what a big step this is for you and lets hope its just the first of many!!!! I know to a non anxiety sufferer it may not be a big thing but to sufferers it is a tremendous achievement.
Again well done and stay positive I know when I was at my lowest last year reading your posts gave me comfort in knowing i wasnst battling alone.

Keep it up

Jayne x

Hi JayneMarie

Thank you too for your kind words. It's nice to know that
a) people are thinking about me and sharing in my successes
and b) my progress has inspired other people.

Thanks again for your support.

Chris x

Free links to anxiety related documents - http://anxietylinks.blogspot.com

Hi Chris
booked a holiday too, not sure what has come over me!!!! Not even thinking about Saturday night, i just want to have a good time on my birthday, honestly if i wasn't in another country i would be asking you to come along for moral support!!!!
Thanks again for all your help and advice, even though you probably didn't even know i was reading your posts
Jan

Well done you have made a huge step you should be very very proud of yourself.
You are going to be a inspiration to alot of other people on this site, and proof that things can get better.
WELL DONE, WELL DONE, WELL DONE.

Hi Louise

Thanks for your encouragement.

The support I've received from people on this site has been really touching.

Chris x

Free links to anxiety related documents - http://anxietylinks.blogspot.com