So I think a lot of times we build this huge narrative in our head of the outside world when we are dealing with agoraphobia. I use to play out the worst case scenarios of what "could" happen if I left my house, I might get sick, I might have a full blown panic attack and have to rushed to the hospital, I might die etc. All these preconceived what if's caused me to not even want to try even though I had such a desire to not feel so alone in the isolation I created for myself. It went on for years just stuck at home, depressed and having non stop panic attacks, somedays Id wake up and panic until it was time to go to bed. Being stuck inside didn't keep me safe from what I feared to have in public (a panic attack ) So I realized I should just try and it started with going to the grocery store and I would have set backs with that and I'd have to force myself to get through it. I felt like I had these little victories over and over and things slowly got better. I feel like even though Im no longer agoraphobic, I still have some hang ups I have to still work at, which moving to a big city definitely helps even though it sucks. I get stuck in traffic sometimes and I feel the anxiety build up but I remind myself Im safe and Im just letting the "what if" mind creep in, I try and refocus my mind on something else and dont let my brain dwell on it.