How do you know if someone has agoraphobia?
How do you know if someone has agoraphobia? My friend lately hasn’t been wanting to hang out with me outside, he always wants to stay home and do things inside. I invite him places but he never wants to go. He has left school too without even getting his diploma and just stays on the computer all day. It’s been almost a year like this. I am worried about him. Does this mean he has agoraphobia? If so why and how can I help him?
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from wikipedia.org
Definition
Agoraphobia is a condition where the sufferer becomes anxious in environments that are unfamiliar or where he or she perceives that they have little control. Triggers for this anxiety may include wide open spaces, crowds, or traveling (even short distances). This anxiety is often compounded by a fear of social embarrassment, as the agoraphobic fears the onset of a panic attack and appearing distraught in public.[1]
i’m not a doctor, and nobody can diagnose over internet but..
my friend has agoraphobia, same exact examples apply to him.
so highly likely.
It certainly sounds like it. There isn’t much you can do to help without stepping across the ‘line’. It all depends on how sensitive your friend is. How much you can probe without really hurting his feelings.
Start with simple things — So and so wonder where you’ve been, why haven’t they seen you out in so long?
Push some of these types of questions and more .. "hey lets go here or there.. " and see if every one always has a quick excuse. If hiding agoraphobia there generally will be.
If agoraphobic going outside will be the absolute LAST thing your friend will want to do.
Isolation feeds agoraphobia. Exposure (while painful) helps it over time.
Understanding that he isn’t alone , helps some.. but still won’t get him outside.
You need to A) Figure out if this is agoraphobia,.. there isn’t a mystery about the illness. Its symptoms are fairly clear. You just have to determine if this is what is keeping him isolated without losing him.
B) Don’t push too hard, he needs you.. if this is the problem.. now more than ever. You could be his key out of this hell. —
C) Only involve his parents or other people when the time is right.. you will know when that is.. but figure things out on the "Down low" so to speak the best you can. You have time.
If it turns out you can break the barrier and get him to admit that he is just afraid to go outside , or ‘be around crowds’ , etc etc.. or he is overly anxious in these situations and doesn’t know why, etc. — Then you can be his confident friend to help him.
You and him can take the baby steps,.. it will be alot easier with you than by himself — and he isn’t likely to do anything about it, by himself =)
You need to realize as well that in this illness even going to the mailbox can be an excruciating experience. There are varying levels of the illness.
Some people are just anxious around people, lack confidence, purpose in life, depressed, etc — and will go out some.. for a purpose – To the store for groceries/food.. maybe to work, etc. But not to the movies, not over to friends homes, etc.
Then some won’t leave their doorstep — Going to the park where 2 people are there is *too* much. And it really is TOO much .. seems hard to relate to, but it is becoming more common.
So , beginning treatment would be seeing a psychiatrist and perhaps some talk therapy with a psychologist. But exposure therapy should be the order of the day. The doctor would determine if medication is needed to help get out of the ‘rut’ so to speak.
Then again, this could be totally unrelated. He could have a video game addiction — who knows,.. but you are the most likely to find out.
Glad you care so much about this person,.. he is lucky to have a friend like you.
Much luck,
Dr. Guess pretty much said it all. The computer may be his way of
keeping some kind of connection with the outside world. If you’re his friend please don’t give up on him.
it could be agoraphobia or a number of other things like depression.
Social withdrawal is a symptom of several things.
How is his mood and functioning otherwise?
How is his weight and his sleep?
Look for other signs that something else may be going on than just a desire not to leave the house.
Have you talked to him about this? I think that is the first step you should do to help. Dont say "youve been weird" etc. Use I statements followed by evidence of why you are worried. Hence I care about you alot you know that and Ive been worried about you lately because it seems like you never want to leave the house anymore. I’m also worried that you quit school so suddenly its not that Im dissapointed or anything like that it just seems like that is something thats not like you to have done. Is there anything wrong? Can you tell me why it seems youve been so isolated recently? And if you don’t want to talk about it right now thats ok too. I just care about you and I want you to know that Im here to listen when and if you do want to explain whats going on or if you just need to talk.