Agoraphobia is a fear of not being able to leave a situation either because of not being able to find an exit or because it would be embarrassing to leave. Sometimes it is more a fear of having a panic attack or experiencing severe anxiety in front of other people than anything else.

If you have agoraphobia you can’t leave your home.
This may be true for some but agoraphobia varies in severity. Some people will avoid certain places or situations but are quite happy to go elsewhere. Other people will not leave their house at all.

If you have agoraphobia you are scared of the outside.
This may be true for some but the reality is that it’s not the outside that’s the problem but the fear of not being able to leave a situation.

If you have agoraphobia you are weak or lazy.
Absolutely not true!! If you have agoraphobia you have a mental health condition that can severely impact your daily life. You are not weak or lazy.

If you have agoraphobia you are an attention seeker.
Absolutely not true!!! If you have agoraphobia the physical symptoms you experience can be frightening. Panic attacks, dizziness, nausea, and a racing heart are some of the symptoms you may have.

If you have agoraphobia you will never recover.
It may take time, and you may have relapses, but there is no reason that you won’t be able to improve your situation. You can have therapy, or you can have coaching in techniques that can help you move through the symptoms you experience.

Anxiety is a normal response to everyday situations. Most people will experience anxiety at some point during their lives. People who have an anxiety disorder will experience an intense response to an everyday situation. They will have persistent feelings of fear, worry and stress over a long period of time. It will create difficulties in their everyday life.

If you have anxiety you are making it up.
Anxiety is a real condition. There are several types of anxiety disorder including general anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety, phobias, and many more. It can be extremely debilitating and distressing to experience.

If you have anxiety you can snap out of it.
Absolutely not true!! Anxiety symptoms are real. It takes courage and determination to overcome anxiety.

If you have anxiety something bad is about to happen.
No, this is not true.