I cannot leave my stupid house!

[sarahgotsissues]

I thought I was better. I started leaving at least four to five times a week.

Now I am down to about once a week, if that.

My house is like my refuge and my gravestone at the same time.

I love it and I hate it.

I think about how it used to be before all this anxiety started... I could go and do anything I wanted without thinking twice. Without having to check the weather a million times before I left, without having to make sure I had everything I needed in case of an attack, without having to go through rituals before I left the house, without having to think about it.

I am so over this

[ocdengineer]

Sarah,

Do you have a doctor?  If not, you don't have to live this way!!!  There are doctors out there that can help and books that you can read that will help.  Please find yourself a good doctor who is familiar with anxiety disorders and see what he/she has to say.  It could change your life!

I wish you luck.  I have been in your shoes and it is a horrible place to be.

Take care,
OE

[sarahgotsissues]

My major problem is I have no health insurance and I cannot work because of my disorders. <Br>
Going to the doctor is way too expensive.

I know there are pro-bono doctor's out there, I need to find one!



Thanks for the reply!!!!

[ocdengineer]

Lack of health insurance is one of the US's worst problems today, so keep that in mind when voting for your next president of the US.  There are plenty of doctors out there that offer free clinics, so do a little research.  College campuses sometimes have free clinics as well.

Later,
OE

[gloomy]

It must be awful not being able to access health services its especially surprising in such a developed country.  We have the NHS in Britain which certainly has its faults but basic healthcare is always provided and can be slightly more difficult when a specialist is required as due to funding they have to prioritise cases and allow the most needy to see them.

[tryingtolosethefear]

Agree with last post NHS is like a good health service it must be really hard there there must be way round it but not an expert as live in Britain so its hard to comment on that .  Also what about working from home?   That might be a good step forward?

[ocdengineer]

Owning your own business is incredibly dangerous here in the US.  For instance my wife owns her own company, but she can't afford health insurance for her or my two kids.  The rates for coverage for our family would be well over $1000/month.  The only way we can get affordable health care is for me to work at a place that offers it at a discount.  Through my company I can cover our family for $350/month which to me is still ridiculous.  If she were to get into a car accident and get seriously hurt, then the lawyers would take over and huge lawsuits would inevitably be won.  Without health insurance my wife could lose her company due to one small mistake and a frivolous lawsuit.  The government is not moving on this even though the rest of the developed world has done something about it.  The problem is corporate America uses politicians like puppets and nothing ever gets done due to lobbyists.  It is a sad state of affairs, especially under our current administration.  It is almost as if we have regressed 50 years.

Later,
OE

[NightOwl]

Everything is just ridiculous.  Companies are all that matter, not people.  Whether it be gas prices, health insurance prices, or anything else.  And I am not even working or living on my own and I still know how it is and it is depressing me even mroe and making me even more anxious about "getting a life".  Everything seems so hard.

[gloomy]

I thought America was the land of opportunity>

People criticisen the NHS but we are never without healthcare and its free to have a baby!!

[NightOwl]

I actually have gfood health care.  Only because I am technically considered disabled though and not working.  All of mine is free except a lot of anxiety and depression meds arent covered.  I would have to pay a ton per month even if an antidepressant did work probably.  I assume there are generics of the tricyclcis though.

[Emily]

Hi Sarah.. and friends..

I hear ya on the whole not leaving the house thingy. I am getting out a little here and there.. but I am turning my home into a retreat in the meantime. My husband is building me gardens to tend to. I am not working either and haven't worked in 3 years now due to my anxiety disorders. I have done the cognitive therapy thing and taken the meds.. but honestly, nothing has worked for me. I am on year 2 of waiting for my disability hearing. Agoraphobia sucks! Not being able to drive anymore is what really eats at me though.. I love my car and want to drive it.. All I can say is live it up on the "good" days. If you start feeling really great, keep pushing yourself because you never know when you'll have that again.

Best of luck darling.

Emily

[ocdengineer]

America is the land of opportunity, if you have money and ability.  If you are handicapped, sick, disabled, etc. those opportunities disappear pretty quickly.  I have excellent health insurance as well, but the people who need it the most unfortunately are the people who most often lack it.  For financial reasons their stories are never heard.  This is one place where America is behind the power curve and the EU is way ahead.  The other big issue is global warming.

Maybe we will elect someone into office in 2008 that will actually help America get back on its feet.

We'll see,
OE

[sarahgotsissues]

Thanks for all of your replies!!!

I know it's crazy how we get no support for our disabilities.
I just pray that my social security will be accepted!

[TooCuteRose]

i looked this up for you...
hope it helps...
usually states have funding for mental health...i saw you were in NC...

http://www.naminc.org/mhserv3.htm

[Emily]

I hear ya on the SSI.. I've been waiting over a year for my hearing. Good luck with yours. Keep posting on your progress. Take care.

Emily

[bijous111]

hello, yes help for mental health is a shame, we don't have enough and some have no insurance. i tried to get on disability and with all my lists of mental health probs they only would take the last year of info from my pchy!  how about since i was 19 and now i'm 47 and have been thru hell.
around 6 years ago i was totally stuck in my house due to panic and agoraphobia.  finally, fired my doc and got another.  after trying everything med wise, he put me on 3 mg. xanax a day.  i started going out again, although i must say, i have an addiction to them i know that, which i hate. but it worked.  i still panic but i'd still be homebound without this drug.
i wish you the very best, it's horrible to be homebound, makes ya think more and more also and then things just keep spiraling down.