Ok.. this one seemed the most fitting. Please read before tossing flaming for wrong place.There is a girl I like.. I guess technically she is my "girlfriend" however, we never really get to go out.. which is why I am posting this.She claims to have "attacks" if she goes out in public. Anxiety or panic attack type stuff to my understanding. She claims to be on medicine for it..I am kinda worried because she claims she has been to the doctor alot.. (and well even on her bday she had to go to the doctor so our plans were canceled). She claims that they don't know whats wrong with her.. but, she has been on multiple medications..We joke around alot.. but, one time she said "your probably just joking about that to cover up the fact that you really do it". After that remark.. it has sorta led me to wonder about her more.She stays home and sleeps alot..and i feel bad because I should trust my girlfriend more.. on the other hand.. we really mostly have spoken on the phone.. and I am really beginning to wonder if she has legit mental health issues or if it might be a drug addiction or something. She did say one time "i need pills just to function" .. In reference to medical pills of course.. yet, it still leads me to wonder sometimes.Most of the time her stories seem to check out.. however, it really bothers me she claims they don't know what is actually wrong with her.. I am afraid she might have an addiction.. or she might know whats wrong and not be telling me..After our first attempt at a date.. which went well for the most part.. She came over.. we were going to go see a movie.. and after we went.. we didn't get in because she started feeling bad.. and then she got really really depressed and wanted to sever all ties with me for my sake because she didn't want to "complicate my life" I didn't let her end it like that..After a while of talking to her.. she finally caved in and accepted the fact that missing the movie wasn't a big deal. Later on she toldme the medication she was on was causing mood swings. I believe it because of the way she messaged me..I just feel wierd about her whole situation... I mean.. She has problems I accept that. However, the doctor not knowing what they are? Switching medication constantly? I dunno I can believe that leaving home would trigger some issues.. She has had alot going on in her life.. She has taken honors classes and test... She doesn't have the best family.. I mean they put alot of stress on her.. so I can understand all that piling up and causing issues.. However, I am lost.. I could use some help.. maybe someone out there knows something about this? I really like her.. I want to help her get out the house some.. I wanna have fun with her.. but, she seems so home bound.. I can wait.. But, I guess I am also worried she might just be a drug addict or something..and I feel bad about having those feelins about my girlfriend.note if you haven't realised it.. I am paranoid.. Never been diagnosed by a doctor.. but, yeah.. I have paranoia about alot of stuff.
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This topic probably doesn't belong here.. but,.
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Hi Nny, it sounds like it might be agoraphobia. That's an anxiety disorder where people can have anxiety attacks when they leave home (or leave anywhere that they feel is a safe nest). It can be difficult to treat.
But it's hard to tell on so little information. Do you know what medication she is on now?
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Does she maybe have Agoraphobia, afraid to leave the house?I...I dunno, if you want to know, ask her. Tell her how you're feeling, you can't have a relationship like that... it's not fair for you at all. What else makes you think that it might be drugs?And, does she seem like the type to do anything like this for attention?
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I can't say I do.. I want to ask but, I also don't want to pry.But, even when I first met her.. at prom a few weeks ago.. we invited her to an after party.. she decided to go with us.. then freaked out last minute and decided not to go.. edit by freaked out I mean she goes "I can't do this" then went back in the building.. and right now she says she can't leave her house at all.
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Thats nearly deffinatly agoraphobia =/ And EXTREMELY hard to treat.
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I can't say she seems like the type to do things for attention....its my understanding she never really talked alot in school.. As to the drugs..it was just the reference to needing medication to get out the house.. and Staying home alot.. plus doctor visits.. being "sick" as she calls it.. and alot of paranoia..I mean she went to school.. at school she always seemed normal...
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That does sound like agoraphobia.
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People with agoraphobia that isn't too severe may be able to go to school because their mind treats it as a 'second home'.
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So then.. is it hard for doctors to diagnos? I mean.. she claims the doctors have no idea whats wrong with her..So then is she lieing to me and the doctors really don't know whats wrong with her or what? She claims the doctor should be calling in the next few days to set up "screening" or something.. I mean why all the doctor visits any idea?Or do you think she is just not telling me..Also from what I am reading.. it sounds like low self esteem might come naturally to someone with agoroaphibia.. am I very far off? And as to "that isn't to sever" She won't even go to a movie with me at the moment or leave the house at all... so.. its possible to not have it be "too sever" and still suffer full blown panic attacks and symptoms just as a person who had a sever case would.. the major difference being where its set off?
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Agoraphobia isn't particularly difficult to diagnose.It is often accompanied by panic disorder - if they are outside their comfort zones, agorophobics may get panic attacks that are very severe and distressing. So yes, it's possible to have an agoraphobic person who can leave home for certain other 'safe' places, but outside them has severe panic attacks, while other ogoraphobic people may not have severe panic attacks but may be very anxious anywhere but home; and various other combinations.
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Yes... This very well may be it..I am not going to list the details of the conversation... But, I will say she has told me before she "likes being in control"....Also before she has told me she didn't want to mess my life up because she wouldn't be able to go anywhere quite possibly for a long time..But, this still leaves things unanswered... like if its not that difficult to diagnose.. then why all the doctor trips? Is it particularly hard to find medication? she has allegedly been on several different ones.. Also.. would self esteem issues accompany this disorder? I mean.. she has very little self confidence..Can the disorder be cured or just treated?.. And what can I do to help? Also.. should I confront her on it or what..
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I imagine self-esteem problems would be worsened by agoraphobia. It's not uncommon for there to be a number of problems that make each other worse.Wikipedia article on agoraphobiaMedicinenet article on treatment of agoraphobia
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Thanks for your help... Now I have to decide if I'm going to confront her or not.. I don't want to do anything that could negativly impact her.. She says she can't leave her house even to come to mine.. or at least she is afraid to..She has said it could result in hospitalization....edit sorry for all the trouble..This is really rather wierd for me.. I really really like her.. but, she has these issues.. and well naturally.. its confused me I guess at least now I have an idea of whats going on. Its amazing the difference a name makes.. but, still..its definitly well... confusing for me.
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O F*** I just realized that I have this!
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What do you mean?