# I got out of the house! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363 "2010-05-05T01:58:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/1 "2010-05-05T01:58:49Z")
For like four hours. Yeah, it was originally to a doctor’s appointment, but still. I had to deal with a bit of anxiety at first, but I handled it. I’m so happy! (For those who don’t know, I’ve been housebound since last year due to benzodiazepine withdrawal.) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/2 "2010-05-05T02:00:26Z")
I was going to say “hooray, baby steps!” but 4 hours is pretty damned good after being home so long. Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/3 "2010-05-05T02:06:44Z")
Hooray!!! :D:D:D:):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/4 "2010-05-05T03:27:54Z")
Wow! Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/5 "2010-05-05T03:51:42Z")
That’s awesome Big T, I’m glad to hear it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/6 "2010-05-05T04:01:00Z")
Congratulations! I’m happy that you’re happy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/7 "2010-05-05T04:45:07Z")
That’s excellent news! 🙂 I’m glad that you were able to handle the anxiety. Sending you all my best wishes for future triumphs!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/8 "2010-05-05T04:49:06Z")
Good for you! Did you remember to give yourself lots of praise for doing something out of your comfort zone? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/9 "2010-05-05T05:16:23Z")
Good for you! Glad to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/10 "2010-05-05T05:51:23Z")
Viva le emergence! ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/11 "2010-05-05T13:26:28Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > For like four hours. Yeah, it was originally to a doctor’s appointment, but still. I had to deal with a bit of anxiety at first, but I handled it. I’m so happy! > > (For those who don’t know, I’ve been housebound since last year due to benzodiazepine withdrawal.) Way to go man! Walk through the fear and you will conquer it! I’m so happy for you… ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/12 "2010-05-05T13:32:04Z")
Good job! Hang in there!! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/13 "2010-05-05T13:34:05Z")
That’s awesome! Great job! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/14 "2010-05-05T13:57:00Z")
I used to have panic attacks so good for you. May I make a suggestion for future outings. Books on tape. To reduce anxiety levels they are great. Go to your library and get a book on tape. Then put it on your walkman. When you go out you can reduce your anxiety by listening to the book. The book actually requires a bit more concentration than music so it helps a bit more, at least it did me. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/15 "2010-05-05T13:58:13Z")
_sings Walking on Sunshine in your honor._ be glad you can’t hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/16 "2010-05-05T14:01:04Z")
Great news! Congratulations. That took a lot of courage. The idea about books on tape is great. Keep up your successful reentry! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/17 "2010-05-05T14:34:20Z")
As a former agoraphobic, I salute you. This is no easy task, but it will get easier every time you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/18 "2010-05-06T03:13:18Z")
Love it! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/19 "2010-05-06T13:00:06Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363/20 "2010-05-07T07:17:04Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I used to have panic attacks so good for you. > > May I make a suggestion for future outings. Books on tape. To reduce anxiety levels they are great. Go to your library and get a book on tape. Then put it on your walkman. When you go out you can reduce your anxiety by listening to the book. The book actually requires a bit more concentration than music so it helps a bit more, at least it did me. Already covered. I’ve got them on my MP3 player. I wish I had a laptop, as being online really, really helps. But I’m having doubts again. The anxiety during was fine, but the stuff afterward is a bitch. It’s really, really hard to convince yourself to get out when you know you’re going to be layed up for a week. I probably just went to fast. It felt like I could (and I didn’t really have a choice for the first half, as it took that long to get in at the doctor’s office.) Honestly, I can handle anxiety a lot easier than the debilitating numbness, headaches, vertigo, etc. I though they were migraines, but the migraine medicine doc gave me didn’t do anything. It’s really hard not to be upset right now. It really, really gets to me when I feel my bod punishing me for doing what’s right. I know I need to get out of the house. Also, one last cry of: Fuck those shitty benzos! You think I was like this before I was on them? Hell, no. Why the hell didn’t my doctor teach me how to stop a panic attack (like I’ve mostly learned now) rather than getting me started on a medicine and not telling me to get off of it before it was likely that I was going to be addicted? Why the hell did I think I could handle getting off of them nearly cold turkey? Why the hell is it so hard to convince doctors that it’s just the medicine? If I hear “Some people are GABA-deficient and need benzos” one more time, well, I’m worried I might wind up in jail. If you’re deficient in something, you give that something, not something that makes it work better but over time actually decreases those levels. Sorry to rant, but it’s really, really shitty. (Oh, and this guy is the best doctor I’ve had, in that he actually listens to me. I just wish he wasn’t one of those not so educated on benzos. But at least he’s told me to fax him the information about them, and that he’d study them. He’s not too proud to realize he doesn’t know everything.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-out-of-the-house/538363.md?page=2)