cant leave the house

LegacyUser

okay so this isnt a huge problem i guess really, compared to others on here.

but i havent left my house since last thursday, well not completely true i have left but only to go to the shop and im back within 15 minutes.
im not sure whats going on.

i have suffered in the past with depression but usually i know the feelings when they are starting again and have got quite good at dealing with it. it has never felt like this though.

i just feel like im safe here, on my own. i dont have any crazy worries about mad things happening outside. its kind of hard to explain, im coming up with all sorts of reasons not to leave, like the dog doesnt like being left alone!!

im very busy at the mo at work, i have a lot on. im very well trusted at work and basically can work my own hours ( no clocking on or off) without people watching me. so i havent been in. no-one probably knows, im usually very dependable.

every evening for last few days i have promised myself that i will leave the next day, go to work, do anything!! then when i get up i come up with all sorts of excuses not to.

what is wrong with me!! im starting to weird myself out.
oh and i a m crying at random stupid things, but feeling very positive in the mornings.

JuliusCaesar

Please do go see your GP, there is obviously something going on.

NicoleL88

I've been like this on several occasions. The longer you stay inside, the harder it gets to leave.

Try listening to music on your phone or mp3 player (with earphones obviously!) and go for a short walk with your dog!
I find listening to music helps to distract me from things going on around me when I'm walking to and from somewhere (but keep an eye out for traffic!)

I agree with JC, please see your GP too.

If you have an smartphone or MP3 player, then download an audiobook or podcast. There's a tonne of amazing ones out there, with audiobooks sometimes coming in at the 6 hour mark, depending on the book. Pop one on, go for a walk, and each day make yourself walk that bit further, perhaps stopping somewhere to sit down that bit longer.

Also go talk to somebody about this.

ruaille buaille

The longer you stay in the harder it gets to go out. You need to get back on the horse asap.
Also sounds like u might be suffering a bit of anxiety at the moment. You should speak to your gp about this.

Est28

I know most people here will and molly coddle the OP and tell them it's all ok and normal and it's some illness but come on... it's not.

OP, I assume you're an adult by your description of your job, etc. Time to grow up, take responsibility and do things you need to.
Nothing wrong at all with stay home when you feel like being home but not if it effects your life. A GP, A Psychotherapist or the local butcher... it doesn't matter who, they can't do anything for you...

Get up, get out and stop making excuses. We all have to live life as best we can. Things aren't always rosey.

angeline

Est28 wrote: »

I know most people here will and molly coddle the OP and tell them it's all ok and normal and it's some illness but come on... it's not.

OP, I assume you're an adult by your description of your job, etc. Time to grow up, take responsibility and do things you need to.
Nothing wrong at all with stay home when you feel like being home but not if it effects your life. A GP, A Psychotherapist or the local butcher... it doesn't matter who, they can't do anything for you...

Get up, get out and stop making excuses. We all have to live life as best we can. Things aren't always rosey.

This is shockingly ignorant advice in my opinion. I am not a doctor and will not claim to know what is wrong with the OP, but I do know the OP needs to speak to an understanding GP and find out what is wrong. It is never as simple as just getting on it. Sounds like the OP needs a lot of support at the moment.

Est28

angeline wrote: »

This is shockingly ignorant advice in my opinion. I am not a doctor and will not claim to know what is wrong with the OP, but I do know the OP needs to speak to an understanding GP and find out what is wrong. It is never as simple as just getting on it. Sounds like the OP needs a lot of support at the moment.

It's not a serious medical condition and a doctor can not do or prescribe anything to make them leave the house. It just takes the will to do it and be productive and get on with things.

I am shockingly frustrated myself. People write real problems on here and this one is one too for the OP. They deserve to get opinions of people.

Any time anone writes ANYTHING on here it's like half of Boards just copies and pastes the same post:
"Oh, must be depression, nothing you can do, see your councellor/GP/etc.."

A doctor will not prescribe any sort of anti-depressants for the above and for such a matter the side effects of such drugs just to fix THIS problem is only causing bigger problems.
Nobody has any will power and a bit of grit anymore, sometimes a kick in the rear is all the motivations someone needs.

angeline

How do you know there is nothing a medical person can do? You do not know the possible medical reason or reasons as to why the OP finds it difficult to leave the house. In my opinion the OP does need to see a GP who I have no doubt will encourage the OP if necessary or make appropriate referrals. Why rule it out?

Est28

I give up. Was just trying to help.

Sure, there could be all sorts of medical reasons, it's possible, but what's most likely? So why is the FIRST and ONLY advice anyone is allowed to give on here? (A problems forum, not a medical forum)


I mean, I have a spot on my forehead today... It could be a cancerous growth and I need to see my GP at once, or maybe I'm breaking out due to chronic stress and depression and need to see a therapist at once!!!!!
Or maybe, just maybe... it's just more likely that it's just a spot and the best thing I can actually do is take care of it myself.

Est28

Est28 wrote: »

I give up. Was just trying to help.

Sure, there could be all sorts of medical reasons, it's possible, but what's most likely? So why is the FIRST and ONLY advice anyone is allowed to give on here? (A problems forum, not a medical forum)


I mean, I have a spot on my forehead today... It could be a cancerous growth and I need to see my GP at once, or maybe I'm breaking out due to chronic stress and depression and need to see a therapist at once!!!!!
Or maybe, just maybe... it's just more likely that it's just a spot and the best thing I can actually do is take care of it myself.

Have you ever suffered any form of mental illness or condition?

judgefudge

I think the reason people recommend going to see a GP or counsellor is because, although its not a physical health issue, it is a mental health issue. There could be underlying anxiety issues here that may be helped through CBT. Only going to a doctor will help the OP find out. I have suffered from anxiety in the past and I have to say that I didn't just need a kick up the arse or motivation. I needed to talk through what was making me so anxious and learn how to change those thought patterns. I wasn't able to deal with it alone.

OP going to see your GP and talking to someone about it is something you should do, as well as trying to make steps yourself to stop this getting any worse. As someone else said, try and walk a little further each day or go to work for short period of time and extend it each day. Whatever steps you can make, try to make them.

yaya*

Est28 wrote: »

It's not a serious medical condition and a doctor can not do or prescribe anything to make them leave the house. It just takes the will to do it and be productive and get on with things.

I am shockingly frustrated myself. People write real problems on here and this one is one too for the OP. They deserve to get opinions of people.

Any time anone writes ANYTHING on here it's like half of Boards just copies and pastes the same post:
"Oh, must be depression, nothing you can do, see your councellor/GP/etc.."

A doctor will not prescribe any sort of anti-depressants for the above and for such a matter the side effects of such drugs just to fix THIS problem is only causing bigger problems.
Nobody has any will power and a bit of grit anymore, sometimes a kick in the rear is all the motivations someone needs.

I think you're assuming that the OP is purely too lazy to get him/herself out of the house -if that was the case, yes a bit of motivation would be all that was needed.
I really don't think that someone who has a good career, doesn't leave the house for days on end out of laziness. Although the OP states that he/she doesn't have any mad fears about what could happen outside, I think a trip to their GP could uncover what is preventing them from heading outside. If its anxiety, CBT and/or some anti anxiety meds could be useful.

Est28

Deleted User wrote: »

Have you ever suffered any form of mental illness or condition?

For the record, a number of years ago I suffered from what people here would describe as severe depression during some tough times. Simply getting out of bed at all during the day or even eat anything. I could tell my story but this is not my thread.

So, while I know that comment was delivered with a hint of sarcasm... did it ever hit you that maybe I actually DO understand what the OP is going through but instead of trying to put my ideas down or as another poster called me "shockingly ignorant", try walking a mile in someone's shoes who understands...

My question those those spouting the generic advice on every thread of "Oh you must be depressed, see a GP" to ANYTHING someone posts is... have YOU ever suffered of these things? Because it doesn't sound like it.

Since it has come up though.... here is my experience and the reason why I gave the OP advice that I did:

I went to a doctors on my families advice at the time. The doctor checked me out, told me I was physically fine and told me to just "go for a walk", and "read a book" and I'd be fine. I went back several times because this was ridiculous advice. He said he could put me on medication if I wished but he didn't feel it was worth the side effects unless I could not cope at all with life and I agreed I did not want medication. His only other option was to run more and more physical tests. I raked up over 2000euros in medical bills by then end and could no longer afford to go back to him. I had lost so much money and he had no actual answers. A GP can NOT fix the issue, it's not physical. So that's why I feel it's no use to the OP unless they begin to have physical side effects from what is happening.

I saw 3 different councellors and explained my problems. Both had no answers. Infact the myth of councellors is that they can fix problems. I asked and both explained to me that they are legally not allowed tell me what to do even if they had an opinion. Their job is to LISTEN ONLY. Anyone with sever depression can tell you that the LAST thing that helps is to actually dwell on it by going over the issue time and time again with NO answers coming forwards, it makes you feel more helpless.

FROM THE INFO WE HAVE... the OP is NOT showing signs of sever mental issues and putting that idea in their head only makes it worse for them. So thats why I take issue with these diagnoses people give on here for every little problem.
The OP is clearly going through a low period and is lacking motivation. It may be a mild depression but nothing clinical from the info we have receieved.

In these cases, as with mine... when the solutions put forward to me were not helping I had to look elsewhere. I did a lot of searching and in the end the answers were with MYSELF. I was NOT lazy nor am I calling the OP lazy. But when you get in a rut, it becomes routine and hard to get out of. The only way is to set a new routine for yourself and DO IT until it becomes your new routine. It is scary at first, it is difficult, you don't want to do it but NOBODY else can make the OP leave the house but themselves. They just need to will-power to turn things around for themself. That is what I learned. I gradually got past the things holding me back by forcing myself out of the comfort zone I was in. Only I could help myself. The OPs problem is a problem to them but it is not insurmountable and I'm willing to bet a councellor trying to find deep rooted child hood issues as to why this is happening is not the answer... it's just a rut they need to get out of... not a deep psychological issue.

So there you have it.

Agree or disagree, I don't care. I am speaking from EXPERIENCE and as someone who HAS pulled through some difficult times in the past and thought that offering my REAL advice instead of spouting the same lines over and over in every thread may actually be of use to the OP. If having an opinion and an experience of the OPs problem is not welcome then so be it... I tried.

LegacyUser

i can see est28 point of view although i am not say he or she is right. sometimes you do need some to listen/support/comfort you and others time you just have to be told to get on with or get over yourself.

only the op can decide what is right