i don't know how

i've been reading posts and see how some people see therapists to help them cope with agoraphobia. i don't know how. i'm also bipolar, so when i'm manic, i find it easier to to get out of the house, but it doesn't last long enough to really help me. when my mood drops, the fear gets worse and i don't leave the house for months, so during that time i can't see any doctors and am unmedicated.
so i just wonder how some of you are able to get to the therapist when you're afraid... i'd love some suggestions, tactics, ideas, etc.

Im not very well read on bi-polar.
When i was at my worst and ran out of moeny and food i was forced to phone my sister to get her and her husband to drive me to a doctor and get on anti depressants to start with.Then i think i was on citalopram for confidence.And with a proper diet moved in with them i was able to moderatly recover at that time.
It does help to have someone drive you there just to get into the doc and get tabs IF that is really what you need.
I had candida and post cult syndrome at the time so i actually could have recovered fairly well with a proper diet.Took me many years later to discover that though.
Could you fill me in if you know on how bi-polar is caused and effects the brain? Is it possible that toxins passing into the bloodstream(maybe leaky gut syndrome) can cause this?
Or is there a psychological reason you know of already that is causing you anxiety when on a downer?

I think you have to try and leave the house despite the fear. It's the anticipation of what it will be like that is worse than the reality. I find that the fear lessens after I commit myself to going out and that I feel a lot better when I come back - as if I have achieved something I can be proud of.

You need to see the trip to the Doctors as an important 'mission' that you need to carry out. There may be aspects of it that aren't pleasant but this is all part of the challenge. I can guarantee that the feeling of relief and success you will feel on successfully completing the mission will feel far better then not to going as you will then feel you have achieved something.

I have also recently started taking 2 Valerian tablets at night to help me sleep and these definitely have a calming effect that is there during the day as well. It seems to calm down the negative thoughts.

EYPICSYL wrote:Im not very well read on bi-polar.
When i was at my worst and ran out of moeny and food i was forced to phone my sister to get her and her husband to drive me to a doctor and get on anti depressants to start with.Then i think i was on citalopram for confidence.And with a proper diet moved in with them i was able to moderatly recover at that time.
It does help to have someone drive you there just to get into the doc and get tabs IF that is really what you need.
I had candida and post cult syndrome at the time so i actually could have recovered fairly well with a proper diet.Took me many years later to discover that though.
Could you fill me in if you know on how bi-polar is caused and effects the brain? Is it possible that toxins passing into the bloodstream(maybe leaky gut syndrome) can cause this?
Or is there a psychological reason you know of already that is causing you anxiety when on a downer?

No, I'm pretty sure it falls into the 'chemical imbalance' category. When I am able to make it to the doctor, I usually am on a downer and an upper to level me out, the upper is usually stronger of the two because my depression is much worse than my mania.
Other than that, I have no idea how to answer your question. lol

Well i should probably go slower sorry
How about health wise.
Do you eat well?
Any physical symptoms that stand out aside from depression? like a hunger for snacking or even small things like itchiness.
If we can get the health part out of the way then we are left with chemical imbalance as the most likely suspect.
I know bi polar is just that but i also know things can overlap eachother and be hidden for years without a doctor bothering to look,which was my situation.Had i not done my own research i would have been in hospital with organ failure or worse.

I apologize for taking so long to come back here. It's been hard to do anything lately.
As far as I know, other than a spinal dislocation I am healthy. I've had bloodwork done a few times and everything comes back normal (which drives me nuts). I eat healthy, I'm not a health nut, but I cook almost everything from scratch and rarely eat out.
I have anxiety a lot due to the agoraphobia so I am itchy, but it's all mental I'm sure, as it's only a problem when I'm anxious.
The bipolar has been around for as long as I can remember. I didn't know it until a few years ago, but looking back I can see how that was a huge part of my life, so I'm pretty sure it's just a chemical issue there.