I’m agoraphobic and my family know but they really underestimate how bad it is sometimes. They casually arrange plans for us to go somewhere and it immediately sends me into a panic.

I start thinking ‘can I actually go? when should I tell them I can’t? will they hate me for it?’ etc. etc.

I just live with this overwhelming constant dread as I count down the days until I have to either go and do that thing or finally confront them and say I can’t go which is equally as painful to do.

Any passing mention of the plans immediately raises my heart rate. I’m honestly surprised at how quickly they seem to forget that I can’t just get up and go somewhere… have any of you dealt with this? Any tips?