Does anyone experience this?

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So I'm pretty new to the forum and learning heaps about myself and how to explain things in an accurate way as to explain what I'm trying to say as it's pretty difficult at the best of times, so upon thinking of something earlier which I couldn't explain. I remembered something called agoraphobia .. and it's pretty much how I feel even stepping outside my apartment. Does anyone else relate to this word. Feelings wise.. feedback?

Thanks,

Dani.

I would say I have agoraphobic tenancies rather than having it full blown. It depends on my mood, and my appearance. If I haven’t showered I become a lot more anxious to leave the house than if I did. I’m also comfortable (and don’t realize) staying indoors. There would be times where I was not able to leave for weeks. Once I got outside after a long period inside, I would get intense sensory overloads.

They’re not as bad as they were before. The biggest thing is that I have to push myself and be focused. I make myself excited to leave my home. I will also sit outside on the steps and drink some coffee while I browse my phone; a distraction. It’s just easy to fall back into old habits if you’re not keeping yourself in check.

The "agora" or agoraphobia was from a word that meant marketplace.

Is your apprehension related to outside with other people or outside even if by yourself?

If you live in a city, it might be difficult to differentiate. For many of us social anxiety is associated with leaving the house. However, I found going camping after Labor Day enjoyable because all of the parks were emptied of people.

^ Enochlophobia is the fear of crowds.  While being in open spaces is something I enjoy, being in open spaces with people all around me makes me want to get out of there fast.  I have no problems in confined spaces; even laying down in an MRI machine doesn't bother me.

I try focusing on my feet and where I'm stepping.  It helps to take my attention away from the crowds around me, and keeps me calm long enough to get away.  Maybe this could work for agoraphobia ... ?

I've sometimes wondered if I'd be diagnosable as agarophobic. I don't feel any conscious fear of being outside my home, but I spend most of my life inside and I seem to have a preference for keeping all the doors shut and the windows curtained, which gives the place rather a cave-like feel. I dislike sounds from outside and I'll go to great lengths to shut them out or shut them up. Strange because I like fresh air and walking, as long as it's in a nice open space, and I quite like travelling as long as it doesn't get too uncomfortable or crowded. I've often thought that if I had the countryside on my doorstep I'd be out and about a lot more, but I've been surrounded by city crap for decades.