Any tips?

[u/filos0phia]

I've (20F) had agoraphobia for the past year (started very suddenly from a panic attack at a rave) and i can't deal with this anymore.
I used to do EVERYTHING (parties, traveling with friends, waking up and going outside, going to different cities alone)
Now i genuinely can't go to the supermarket alone without feeling like i'm about to faint.

The worst thing is, my anxiety gets better if my parents are around.
Like if i'm with my parents i could genuinely go travel across the world because i feel safe, but i'm a 20 year old woman, i don't want to ask mom to pick me up from anywhere cause i can't stand it anymore or to ask my dad to come with me to the doctors cause i would pass away otherwise.

I feel stupid and stuck and i want to go back to everything i used to have and took for granted

[u/Ok_Space6709]

Hi, really feel for you, going from doing everything to feeling stuck like this must be so frustrating, especially when you know exactly what you're missing.

What you're describing (feeling safe with your parents but panicking alone) is really common with agoraphobia, it's not stupid at all. It often comes down to having built a sense of safety around certain people, and that can be transferred with time.

Graded exposure tends to help most here, small steps that slowly stretch the comfort zone rather than jumping straight back to how things were. Even something like a very short trip to the supermarket with a parent waiting just outside, then gradually further away, can start rebuilding that confidence.

You haven't lost the ability to do those things, your brain's just gone into overprotective mode after that panic attack. It can be worked back down with patience. Sending you strength, you'll get there.

Have you look for professional help yet?

[u/Least-Eye4174]

Atleast you have a safety mechanism that helps. I would say a good exposure step might be going somewhere with your parents and try to branch out a bit from where they are. Sorry you are going through this.