hi there castleinthesky,yes iv had this feeling, i could not go out of my house alone for four years if i did i would feel dizzy sick and like i would faint,its called fear and if you let fear win you wont get better,i learnt this from the linden method, one day after listening to tapes from the linden method i gave it a try(i took my phone with me in case)i walk to the local shop and back by myself and i felt really bad but i did it ,it was the worst feeling ever,i just kept telling myself "i will not let fear win" .it works good luck xxx

[quote=

I am going through the same thing, so know that you're not alone. I have read the Linden method and found it to be a modified version of cognative behavioral therapy (CBT.) You might try looking for a therapist who will do CBT with you. I have had ups and downs with it but I think it is the best approach. Hope that helps and you are not going crazy, panic attacks w/ agoraphobia can not do that. For the mean time, I will be dealing with it along with you. GL

Castleinthesky, I totally know how you are feeling. You are not alone. I started becoming fearful and agoraphobic about a year ago. I was afraid to go anywhere far from my house. I preferred not to be alone and I also have IBS and am afraid of not being near a bathroom, so I actually bought a campervan with a toilet in it and i pretty much can not go anywhere unless i am in that. I drive to work everyday even though I only work 10 minutes from home. I am terrified to be without it and I am always worried about when my next attack is going to happen. I have gotten better little by little by just trying to do a little more and more away from home slowly trying to increase the distance from home and the lenght, but it is still a struggle. I usually have to have my husband with me. I have read lots of books about getting over anxiety and you are supposed to just slowly try to face your fears to get over them and be able to do those things without fear any longer. I am trying, but I think it is a long fight.

One of my main agoraphobic situatoins is going to the Dr. or therapist. Today I had an appointment and my main goal was just to walk through the door, that was as far as I thought I could get. But I somehow managed to get to the dest and actually wait in the waiting room w/o having a full blown panic attack. I lasted 30 mins of an hour session but all in all it was a major victory over panic. For me, I feel you just need to keep facing difficult situations and find some postive things to think if you are panicky like "I will not let fear control me" or "I am stronger than this and will come out stronger for facing it." So I'll just give myself a pat on the back