Agoraphobia???

[[He...]]

I'm starting to not want to leave my house.....I'm off balance at best and have vertigo at worst. Any help?  I'm a panicky mess. Tips

[Guest [re...]]

I've had this since I got down to 7mg. My dizziness is getting worse so I mostly law down these days. It's horrible. I was the most outgoing person before and now I'm a recluse. It will pass. For Right now, l just rest. You're not alone!

[[Ni...]]

I had this while still on the benzo.

 

Over a five month taper and twelve months off, it has eased considerably, but it is not gone yet and I remain "unreliable".

 

Benzo-induced agoraphobia is quite a big issue for a lot of people in WD and there is plenty of mention of it in the archives. Some people avoid the A-word and instead use terms like "housebound". Others say they do not have agoraphobia but have agoraphobia-like symptoms from feeling so unwell and feeling unable to cope out in the world because of them.

 

As far as I can see, most people who have been through this route write that it lifts all by itself over time (and that is the direction mine is going). Ashton says the same - ten of her withdrawers were affected by it but none at follow-up from 12-36 months.

 

All that said, I too would like to hear from those for whom this was a significant issue but who have come out the other side of it - and I'd like to hear their experience of it lifting, ie, was it a slow come-around or was it over in a week or two.

 

Mine is up and down "non-linearly" like everything else; neither sense nor meaning and there is no blueprint.

[Guest [re...]]

I had this while still on the benzo.

 

Over a five month taper and twelve months off, it has eased considerably, but it is not gone yet and I remain "unreliable".

 

Benzo-induced agoraphobia is quite a big issue for a lot of people in WD and there is plenty of mention of it in the archives. Some people avoid the A-word and instead use terms like "housebound". Others say they do not have agoraphobia but have agoraphobia-like symptoms from feeling so unwell and feeling unable to cope out in the world because of them.

 

Hello Nightwatch! How long did you taper?

 

Hugs 

 

As far as I can see, most people who have been through this route write that it lifts all by itself over time (and that is the direction mine is going). Ashton says the same - ten of her withdrawers were affected by it but none at follow-up from 12-36 months.

 

All that said, I too would like to hear from those for whom this was a significant issue but who have come out the other side of it - and I'd like to hear their experience of it lifting, ie, was it a slow come-around or was it over in a week or two.

 

Mine is up and down "non-linearly" like everything else; neither sense nor meaning and there is no blueprint.

[Guest [re...]]

Ugh, I can't type today. Nightwatch, how long did you taper? Welcome to BB!

[[Ni...]]

Thanks Redpeach

 

I tapered over five months and I'm now twelve months off 

[Guest [re...]]

Thanks Redpeach

 

I tapered over five months and I'm now twelve months off 

 

 

Wow! Congratulations!!! That's so fast considering you were on benzos for so long!! You are a beast 

[[Ni...]]

I really had no choice about getting off them "quickly", Redpeach. They were poisoning me.

 

Actually, I don't think five months was all that quick (though I've learned that there are different opinions about that around here!  )

 

Thanks again.

[[ro...]]

I am one who was prescribed for about 30 years who has been slooowww tapering since early in the year. Will jump in a week or two. Yes, agoraphobia is one of my struggles, tiny improvements lately, I'll take them!

[Guest [re...]]

I really had no choice about getting off them "quickly", Redpeach. They were poisoning me.

 

Actually, I don't think five months was all that quick (though I've learned that there are different opinions about that around here!  )

 

Thanks again.

 

I was on valium for 8 years and I'm struggling with my 6 month planned taper. I guess I'm a wimp! 😔

Did you take benzos every day for 30 years?

[[ro...]]

redpeach no, it was prescribed to take 2.5 to 5 mg daily but I never did, just 2.5 as needed. In recent years due to loss of my brother who I was guardian for and a husband who sleeps with sometimes noisy Cpap machine, I started taking every other night for sleep thinking if I didn't take it every day, I'd be okay, doctor knew, never said not to, just shrugged and walked out of the room....later to learn online that valium is in your system for many many hours, so I might as well have been taking daily. I have had symptoms right through, they seem to be getting milder, and they go away in a few days when I do get them...though each time I wonder if this time it will be longer. I am having a really good day today after a busy hence rough weekend, but am thankful to be doing better overall for now. Take it real slow, I did a liquid taper of 2 mg pill in 200 ml liquid and only reduced 1 ml a day until that got rough, then only 1/2 ml...that's what I'm doing right down to the bottom, seems to make the withdrawal symptoms more bearable. I would stop and hold if they got more than I felt I could handle, never ever increased. Wishing you the best. We can do this!

[[He...]]

I took them everyday fir 32 years

[Guest [re...]]

I took them everyday fir 32 years

 

Wow, Healing seeker!! That's a long time! I can't imagine how hard this must be for you!! Bless your heart ❤!! Congratulations on taking the steps to get your mind and life back! I'll be watching your progress. We can do this!  We're all in this together 

[[Ni...]]

Yes I did Redpeach - but for the majority of that is was about the equivalent of 2.5 - 5mg valium. My system crashed in 2015 when I upped the dose to 15-20mg. Toxic response and paradoxical effect - really bad tolerance withdrawal when I was still on the benzo.

 

 

Agoraphobia anyone?!

[Guest [re...]]

Yes I did Redpeach - but for the majority of that is was about the equivalent of 2.5 - 5mg valium. My system crashed in 2015 when I upped the dose to 15-20mg. Toxic response and paradoxical effect - really bad tolerance withdrawal when I was still on the benzo.

 

 

Agoraphobia anyone?!

 

Right here 🙋🏻 I haven't left my house in a month!!

[[ne...]]

Me too. Haven't seen my friends in over a year. But have been sucking it up and taking my 15 year old out to learn to drive. That's not stressful at all!

[Guest [re...]]

Me too. Haven't seen my friends in over a year. But have been sucking it up and taking my 15 year old out to learn to drive. That's not stressful at all!

 

Oh wow, that's incredible that you can do that! I'd be on the floorboard curled up in a ball. 😱

[[Ni...]]

There can be no doubt that this is benzo-induced. Never had it pre-benzo. But I would very much like to hear from others - especially anybody who has had it and for whom it is now no longer an issue.

 

I can trace back over the past few years and I had agoraphobia-style "inhibitory" stuff going on back then while still on the benzo - to total agoraphobic inhibition from the time of tolerance withdrawal.

 

It has improved "all by itself" but it seems to have plateaued at a certain stage and  I am not free of it and am not reliable. (Couldn't make an appointment with anyone for some day next week, for instance; very restricted and that restriction has its own knock-on effects).

 

 

[[ne...]]

During my first withdrawal, years ago, I had agoraphobia and it went away completely by a year after my last benzo. I was more susceptible to anxiety though but was able to resume a normal life. I never had anxiety before taking benzos.

[[Re...]]

I've struggled quite a bit over the years with agoraphobia. I'm wondering if it is in fact benzo induced. I didn't struggle nearly as much before I started taking benzo's a little over 10 years ago. Now it's an every day battle

[[Ni...]]

During my first withdrawal, years ago, I had agoraphobia and it went away completely by a year after my last benzo. I was more susceptible to anxiety though but was able to resume a normal life. I never had anxiety before taking benzos.

 

Thanks Nebukev.

 

Others who have been through it report that as well. I can tell it is improving in my case, but there seems to be a long way to go.

 

How are you with it now?

[[Ni...]]

I've struggled quite a bit over the years with agoraphobia. I'm wondering if it is in fact benzo induced. I didn't struggle nearly as much before I started taking benzo's a little over 10 years ago. Now it's an every day battle

 

Was that before you were ever on a benzo?

 

There is no question, really, that benzos can and do induce agoraphobia or a version of it. Ashton is very clear about it and so are others. I'll try to find the relevant quotes and put them up here sometime.

 

In my view it stems from the same sort of inhibition that the benzos induce in general - they inhibit angst and anxiety but they also inhibit other capacities, made obvious when their effects wear off or when the pills "don't work". Agoraphobic tendencies are also from the same neck of the woods as shyness, being uncomfortable in the limelight, being nervous of other people and situations etc. Others say it is a protective thing, to avoid being exposed to further stimulation.

 

Mine has resolved/evaporated like this, so far, all on its own

 

Couldn't deal with the presence of other people in the same room (gone)

Couldn't leave the bedroom (gone)

Couldn't stay in the livingroom  (gone)

Could not approach the front door from the inside (gone)

Could not venture out, staying nearby (gone)

Could not drive (gone)

Could not venture into shops and supermarkets (still iffy, sometimes doable)

 

Still stuck:  being totally free and at ease in ordinary, everyday, out & about situations

 

I didn't do anything special to get this far. Ashton reports that the only working solution for her agoraphobics was time away from the drug, and that this worked in all cases.

[[Re...]]

It was after I was on benzo's. I've struggled from childhood with anxiety but never severe agoraphobia.

[[...]]

I had agoraphobia, it is very common as someone pointed out, when you are long term on benzos or z drugs, and also in withdrawal. 

 

I am going on for 12 months off everything, and mine is immensely reduced - I can go out for the day now and have no anxiety at all, something I could never do while I was tapering.  I am hoping for even more improvement as more time passes.  I still have slight jitters when going out at night. 

[[Ni...]]

Thanks Kes

 

I'm on about the same time-frame as you, but still not clear. The anxiety is gone but there are still strong agoraphobic urges.

 

I find that the quality of the previous night's sleep makes a profound difference. After a good night (still rare enough) I am much more the old, decisive "me". After a poor night, it's back in the doldrums.

 

I suppose it's a matter of time, like all the rest of the symptoms.

 

May I ask how you felt it lifting or how it changed - was it gradual and linear or near-linear, or was it a "surprise" to find it no longer affecting you - like you woke up one morning and it was "gone"?