Відео

My severe toilet anxiety started last summer, i had a hard year, a very bad break-up, and i got so bad anxiety after that I stayed in the house most of the time, the following year i had some okayish periods but was mostly stressed, now as summer came again it once again flared up, more aggressively and more consistent and I'm so mad, I'm struggling to do simple things, things that i want to do, nothing that im obligated, cause that's another trigger. But even though it seem more agressive, now my mindset has changed, and I'm pushing myself to just do things, cause its always hardest till i get to the place, but when I'm there, at a party, a car ride etc and I'm surrounded by friends it's always a great time, its just getting there what causes the most stress. Now that i think of it I had similar experience when i was a child, when i had to leave on a teip my body started showing signs of an UTI, like i had to pee, and when i would get up the toilet it felr like i was instantly gonna pee myself and had to sit down, bur soon as i focuses on something else and calmed myself it would go away, now it has been replaced by the fear of p**ping myself in public😅 yay! I think the biggest thing I have to work on is too feel human again, and accept that we all work the same way, and it can happen to anyone. Growing up with an ultra critical parent made me want to always be perfect, never be in embarrassing situation, always be better so no one could judge me, and I see now that it might be the whole starting point of my anxiety, cause not being able to let Yourself do mistakes can be overwhelming.Now i try to be good for me, not for my father nor strangers, it's for ME. 😅 I hope that i will get better, and you, reader, i hope that you too manage too get well. I shared this because it helps me heal when i open up and I know it helps you too knowing we aren't alone. 🤗🩷

Were you on medication when you were doing the driving exposure videos? I’m about to start meds and am so scared but I’m not getting better with other methods alone. Also, your videos give me hope! 🩷

I had suffered panic attacks and agoraphobia when my mom passed away back in 2019. It was tough because I would have fainted spells when I have a panic attacks! I went to therapy it help some, I tried everything to go back to the way I used to be, like shopping and traveling all by myself, to being someone who can’t leave the house. So couple months later in January 2020 I felt the urgency to read the BIBLE, LORD JESUS CHRIST literally save me! I started a daily routine which consist of a new morning routine. My day began first by Journaling, Reading the Bible, praying and meditation which worked! I was still afraid to go out, so Jesus lead me to listening to Bible prayers hear on YT. So I listen to these Bible prayers every time I felt a panic attack trying to brew , like an overwhelming feeling that comes over me, like the flight/fight attack. So I started to take baby steps going out by myself while listening to GODS word in my ear through my AirPods, which kept me focused on our Heavenly Father GOD! Long story short, once I put Our Father GOD in Heaven first, I can now do anything! Whenever I feel overwhelmed with anxiousness , fear or anxiety, I say to myself, GOD hasn’t given me this awful thing, but a spirit of clear and sound mind. Trust me, anyone who’s suffer from the debilitating pain, disease, mental stress or what ever you called it, put GOD, JESUS and the Holy Spirit first, it works, as I’m a perfect example of a overcomer. GOD BLESS you all!

1:19 really felt this ❤

Thanks so much for sharing your story it made me sad but better listening ❤

I'm driving on the motorway daily to try and get more comfortable with it. I'm still on edge and some days are easier than others. Sometimes the anticipation anxiety is quite bad and then it actually goes really well and I feel this amazing kind of high/buzz while doing it and after it. Some days it's a little harder than I was expecting and I don't feel as proud or amazing after it but thats fine, I still did it. I've also decided to record and vlog them. I actually find it sort of reassuring talking as if someone is there with me, it's a good distraction too but I'm making sure to not always record it incase it becomes some sort of safety behaviour

Omggg this is what im going through once i got diagnosed with blood clots and using my nebulizer machine has made ne scared to go anywhere

Im so scared of been in the car

I have this... Pray for me...

I've suffered with GAD, and can barely leave my house. But I think we all get distant from everything because of the anxious feeling we're getting. I have lost so much to this anxiety. And your right it is a scary place to be when you feel disconnected from yourself. I'm there!!! PS. I think you should let everyone know at work because there still going to love you,,we've all heard your stuff and love yah!! PSS,, Do you still feel anxious even on your meds?? By the way your voice is just beautiful and calming!!!

I have agoraphobia due to a few years ago getting hypoglycemia while I was driving and almost passing out while driving on the highway. It’s been 3 years for me. I haven’t seen my family in years. They live 1000 miles away. I’m house bound. For me, it’s partially mental. Mental in the sense where I’m asking the What Ifs…….. like what if I black out, go into shock, and die. Or what if I have to be hospitalized. The root of my fear is losing control. Being physically active makes me feel weak. I can barely even stand some days. Other days, I do 4000-5000 steps doing things like cleaning. Ocasionally I have done things like go out to a restaurant, go to the dentist, take my pets to the hospital for an emergency… but I can only be out for like an hour before I start to lose it. I’m 26 years old… what’s crazy is only like 5-6 years ago I was climbing mountains and going on 30-40 mile multi-day hikes in the wilderness. Thinking about being in those situations now gives me the cold sweaty feeling. I wonder a lot if I’m going to be like this forever. I want to build good habits and maybe try walks, but I just feel so damn tired all the time.

Have you ever considered recording audiobooks? You have one of those soothing voices.

Needed this x

Not agoraphobic, but bodily dysphoria replicates a lot of the feelings from it. The anxiety is overpowering, and it’s hard for others like my mom to really understand. I still need to go to school and stuff, and everyday feels like flipping a coin to whether im gonna have a breakdown and need to force myself out the house, be totally fine, or not go at all.

I've been going through the same past few months. Sorry about Pig. 🥹

Amazing. No one understands until you got through it. It’s how uncomfortable you feel outside of your home and it just happens.

I’m so glad I’m not alone ❤

I’ve had anxiety/ panic attacks since 2016 but I didn’t have medical issues now I have blood clots / asthma and so much Phlegm production . And I haven’t felt healthy so I isolated myself from everyone . And I can’t even go throw out the trash or walk through a store because I’m scared if I can’t breathe I won’t have my inhaler or my nebulizer machine . This is insane and I have even called 911

Hi Lauren, did you still use antidepressants while recovering from agoraphobia and doing exposure therapy? I’m currently doing exposure therapy while off my antidepressant and it’s quite hard, I’m curious if you’re still on yours or if you managed to recover without using them anymore. Thanks 😊

Thank you so much for making this, when you took any of the medication did you found it actually made your anxiety worse at all? I'm currently on day 3 of an antidepressant and I feel like I'm going so far backwards it's hard to keep taking it

Two amazing souls❤

The Queen had returned!!

Really good discussion, Lauren. I certainly feel like there are times that I've pushed too far and encountered more than a panic attack, but a traumatic panic event. Your discussion here makes me question how much of that trauma was caused by me rigidly trying to push through, versus how much was the actual situation itself being "too much". Either way, these traumatic panic events have definitely set me back, or introduced a new set of PTSD-like symptoms that I've had to dismantle over time. I guess where I'm going with this (sorry, I'm formulating my thoughts on the fly a little here, again, thanks to your thought provocative video), is that I do believe that you can push "too far". But if your goal in exposure therapy is to avoid discomfort, then you're simply re-enforcing your boundaries and building those boundaries stronger. The goal of exposure therapy should always be to experience discomfort and practice using the tools that alleviate it. Hopefully that makes sense!

❤

6+ years for me, i have a disabled pug and i cant help but blame myself for stopping his walks, i can hardly look after myself because of my mental health, i also have really bad health anxiety but my bowels for a year have been very concerning and yet i'm too scared to get help for it so i hope one day the universe helps me but for now, i just accept whatever happens, happens for a reason😪 i got emotional at how relatable your story was, i missed out on so much, even saying goodbye to two dear family members, agoraphobia is such a cruel disease, so glad you found your way 'NOT HOME' 😂🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

I am doing flooding exposure. It works much faster. It's 2 weeks and I am able to go to grocery store already but not with my kid yet

Thank you so much 🫶🏼

I would really love a video of the exact mindset and steps please a lengthy one like this one, I’m a my wits end

I would give a kidney without anesthetic to be able to travel in a CAR by myself and take my dog to the local shopping centre which is 7 mins drive away. It’s been more than 11 years and I still can’t do it

Agoraphobia is the complication of anxiety disorder or panic attacks. The presenting symptoms may be physical, behavioral or cognitive. Ayurvedic medicines can help a great deal in this situation. Planet Ayurveda’s stress support capsules, ashwagandha and tulsi capsules along with detox tea will strengthen the nervous system in order to combat with this condition.

My situation is very different. I am homebond more so because I fear the outside world. Every time I walk outside I feel like people are after me. Not to mention I have had issues with drug addiction in the past. My neighbors do not like me very well. There’s a lot of aggressive people around my area and I fear that I am going to get into a fight. I got into a situation with a neighbor last year and I am on probation.

Gotta remind myself; There is no such perfect time to go out 1. They’re not thinking about me and have their own lives 2. I don’t always need validated emotion from another person 3. It’s okay if I am by myself doing a thing out there 4. You are not being seen doing anything wrong 5. You’ve been alone in an apartment this long. What’s the difference?

I can relate so much xx

I hype myself all night. I wake up and I'm back to avoiding life. It feels like insanity. If I dont change my routine, Im doomed.

Hi! I've been dealing with this for 10 years and I'm at a breaking point starting exposure therapy. Is there any way I can contact you and ask you a few questions about life after agoraphobia?

I feel like you’ve just read my story word for word! I started getting agoraphobia symptoms after lockdown and I became housebound last year. It started getting better for me with walks, going further as soon as I felt more comfortable. It’s been 9ish months and I can now drive around my town (mostly), I’ve been to the gym, went shopping the other day, things I could only have dreamed of a few months ago. Some stuff is still a no go and it’s such a longgg process but thank you for giving me some hope that it is possible to get back to normal. Also a hugeeee well done to you, it’s so much harder than people will know.

Shouldn't a person not push themselves too far at first?

What an episode! Thanks!

Thank you for posting this ! It really helped me.

I’ve struggeled with this since I was 10. I’m 23 and can count on 1 hand the amount of times I’ve slept away from the house. I’ve missed out on travel, college, and work opportunities. I don’t have friends anymore. After so many years of living a shell I honestly don’t know what my next steps will look like.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!! Very uplifting ❤

Thank you so much for this message and your videos in general ❤ I experience really harsh physical symptoms with agoraphobia and it's been so hard getting out into the world again. At first I thought there must be something going on with my heart or my gut and I got so many medical tests done, but they all concluded the same: it was a pretty extreme psychosomatic anxiety. Now I know I just need to learn that it's okay to feel nauseous or dizzy or agitated while doing all those things that scare me but I really want to do (like traveling or hiking). It's not about fighting anxiety but embracing it without so much suffering. Your videos are helping me a lot, I wish you the best!!

I’ve been like this since the start of pandemic in 2020, I’ve left my home a handful of times from then to now…the thing that stops me is I feel like I’m going to burst out in tears and I hate crying in front of people. I make it a couple houses up and then that feeling comes over me and I turn back around. I want to enjoy life again. I have hope, I hate feeling like a prisoner.

I always resonate with your videos Lauren! I hope things ease up for you soon

I watched your video and then instantly went for a local walk; it's been a while since I left the house. Thank you!

Wow. The alien feeling of seeing other people have fun. Yes. I oscillate between extremes. I face terror and go to events and have a blast. But then I wake up the next morning and feel frozen again. Every day is a battle beyond words. I’m fucking tired.

It’s been over two years since my agoraphobia journey started. I couldn’t leave my home for months and it took a lot of exposure and practice to feel more comfortable leaving the house. I have now traveled to San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Corpus, basically all over Texas by Vehicle. My next big step is flying. What scares me about flying is the thought of not being able to get off if I need to. I just don’t want to feel the intensity of a panic attack mid-flight and create a scene. I’m also afraid of landing at my destination and immediately regretting being so far away from home. As mentioned in the video, these are just creative ways that our mind thinks of in order to hold us back, to keep us “safe” when in reality we are safe. I’m scheduling a discovery flight this coming week for exposure and practice with flying. I can now leave my home comfortably, I can go out, I can do road trips. Now I just need to fly so I can travel.

I know exactly how you feel with the feelings of hopelessness. My anxiety keeps going in cycles of suddenly getting really bad and then even going anywhere out the house feels awful 😮‍💨 almost 30 and the panic/agoraphobia hasn’t improved overall greatly

The queen has returned!!

I can relate so much!!! I’ve suffered with health anxiety / agoraphobia for 4 years now. But looking back to how I used to be, I’ve come on so far!! My goal that my therapist asked, was to be able to fly to Greece from the UK to see my parents. In April 2024, I flew, by myself (and my daughter) to Greece and I made it! Every little win keeps you going and makes you realise that it is really just in your head. That little anxiety voice that used to be shouting at me, is now a little whisper 😁👍 wishing everyone struggling the best and keep going!!!