Does this sound like a social anxiety???

[jamessmall]

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if someone could help me out with a problem that I've been having for a few months which I think may be a social phobia or agoraphobia.

The problem has basically left me fearful of leaving the house.

I've been a sufferer of OCD for years and years now - which has calmed down greatly.

But my real issue is with other people. When walking in the streets I'm fixated on the idea that someone passing me is about to mug/rob me or attack me with a knife. It's awful, I'm suffering panic attacks when walking in the street and I can't take it anymore. When I see someone intimidating walking towards me I turn around and walk the other way. I carry no money and leave my phone at home in case it's stolen. This is a severe problem, not mild

If this isn't a social anxiety or agoraphobia, then does anyone know what it could be?

Please someone help me!!!???

 

[Feathers]

Hi & Welcome!

Have you or anyone close to you ever been attacked? It might be PTSD then...

Dunno, learn martial arts? Or go to a self-defense workshop? It can be very liberating to learn at least some good moves... and basics of self-defense and precautions etc.

You could also be OCD-ing on this idea ('Pure OCD') - what kind of OCD did you have before and what have you done to make it 'calm down'?

 

[jamessmall]

You could also be OCD-ing on this idea ('Pure OCD') - what kind of OCD did you have before and what have you done to make it 'calm down'?

Hey thanks for the reply.

My OCD centered around cleanliness and then it moved on to irrational thoughts. I have never been mugged before, so it's very strange!

 

[jamessmall]

It depends why you're afraid to leave the house. If it's because you're afraid of getting mugged, than that is just simply a fear of getting mugged (an extreme one though), or possibly from your OCD. If you're afraid of having a panic attack while getting mugged, that sounds much more like agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is very closely related to panic attacks, and that doing certain things (i.e. leaving the house) will bring upon one.

I think I'm afraid of being mugged, not having a panic attack whilst being mugged. I've never heard of a phobia of being mugged

 

[vj288]

I think I'm afraid of being mugged, not having a panic attack whilst being mugged. I've never heard of a phobia of being mugged

Well sure, you can have a phobia of anything. And they are very easy to treat in therapy, with a very high success rate, using something called Systematic Desensitization. But this could just as easily be a part of your OCD, or something else completely. The only way to really know is to see a professional.

 

[Remus]

I'm not a psychiatrist though, so don't take anything I say as a diagnosis, because it's not. If you're really curious I'd recommend seeing a professional,

Yup, what he says, never come to an online forum looking for a diagnosis, you might as well google your symptoms lol