A Realization: I Am Agoraphobic

So yesterday, we were about to head out to get Italian ice from Rita's when my wife asked me why I was dragging my feet.  Until she said something, I didn't even realize I was.  We sat down and talked about it after the little one was put down to sleep and we made a realization that should have been obvious:

I'm Agoraphobic (Irrational Fear of Going Outside).  Ever since I had the issue with my lungs where I ended up in the hospital I have been afraid to put my lungs to work exercising.  now that I have the allergist diagnosis that I am allergic to everything outside, I am deathly afraid of going outside.  I am scared shitless that my lungs are going to seize up and that I am going to be back in the hospital.  I narrowly avoided intubation and the ICU last time.

The problem is so severe that I haven't left the house in weeks unless it is something I felt was necessary to leave the house for (doctor's appointments, my sister's graduation in NY, the panel in DC)  Even then, it has caused me an ever increasing amount of anxiety to leave.  I looked up agoraphobia this morning and realized that I suffered from it and told my wife.  She told me that I have been agoraphobic for as long as she has known me.  Wonderful.  Splendid.

I know it all stems back to the PTSD.  I don't like crowds, I don't like unfamiliar places, I don't like loud environments,  I don't like not knowing what is going to happen next.  Most of all, I don't like not being in control of the situation and my environment.  Add in a wee bit of social awkwardness because I don't feel like I have much in common with other people...

Until the hospitalization in March, the agoraphobia was proportionate to the degree in which my PTSD was affecting me.  Now, I can barely leave the house and it's getting worse.  It feels like I can see the bridge is out but I can't stop the train.  My anxiety is ratcheting up just typing this.

When am I going to catch a damn break?  I'm starting to get really pissed about a lot of this stuff.  Right now I have a burning rage - a frustration with my situation so profound that I can't put it into words.  I need to figure out a way to channel this rage and use it to motivate me to get out, to exercise.

Breathe, Max.

Breathe.

All you're required to do is breathe.  Calm down, think it through, and do something about it.  Get up off your ass and do something about it.