GiraffeSpark

Mental Health Peer Support Group

Almost Agoraphobia?

I have difficulty leaving the house. It is not quite Agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available, especially in public places. This fear often leads to avoidance of situations such as being in crowds, standing in lines, or being outside alone, and can sometimes result in the individual feeling unable to leave their home.

ChatGPT

I am not afraid of being at the destination, or of what could potentially happen there.
I am not afraid of traveling to the destination.

I talk myself out of leaving the house. There could be an event I am looking forward to, but thoughts and physical anxiety kick in to where ultimately I decide not to go. The physical anxiety would be rapid heart rate or fatigue as if I just finished exercising.

If the example were not a set date/time event, but say a need to run an errand. I will convince myself that it will be better to do it at another time in the near future. I may even set the date/time for when to go… and then talk myself out of that one too.

I’m not sure if this behavior is more in line with my ADHD. See this explanation:

In ADHD, individuals often struggle with executive functions, which include the ability to initiate tasks, organize, plan, and sustain attention. This difficulty in task initiation is known as “activation” in the context of executive functions. It’s not just about a lack of motivation; it’s often a neurological difficulty in activating the brain’s resources to start a task.

ChatGPT

There is something off with my anxiety around activation.

If the need to leave the house is one where I am not going alone, then my chances of actually going are greatly increased to almost always.
Again, there is not any sense of fear involved in this. When I am alone and need to leave, it is not the case that I don’t believe in my ability to succeed. There is a force of some sort that holds me back, that keeps me in-prisoned. I don’t know how to better explain it.

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