Why Some People Don't Want to Recover From Agoraphobia

You would think that someone with agoraphobia would want to get better. This may not necessarily be true.

Believe it or not, some people with agoraphobia (or other anxiety disorders) would rather not recover. Although they might not admit this consciously, some part of them just doesn't want to let go of agoraphobia so they cling to the disorder like a dear friend.

Some people with agoraphobia enjoy the attention and care they receive from others. They might not have experienced the same level of attention and care before they got agoraphobia or may fear losing it should they recover. This attention and care could come in the form of financial or emotional support among other things.

Other people with agoraphobia might fear getting well because it would mean making changes. They may not feel confident that they would be able to cope with or handle the responsibilities of a normal life and the idea of recovery leaves them feeling unsure and overwhelmed.

Still others with agoraphobia may inherently feel like they don't deserve a better life. They may feel guilty about something and feel like they deserve to suffer. Agoraphobia for these people could be like a prison they have put themselves in to serve out a sentence they feel like they have coming.

Some people with agoraphobia might not feel responsible for their disorder and get a psychological benefit in blaming it on other people. In other words, having a psychological problem like agoraphobia provides a way of getting back at someone (like their parents) whom they wish to make feel guilty.

Some people with agoraphobia might fear freedom. They may not trust their impulses or they may doubt their level of self-control . They might be afraid that they would go out of control in some way (emotionally, physically, financially) if they were to get well and be faced with new freedoms.

Some people with agoraphobia may simply be unmotivated. They know that recovering from agoraphobia would be a lot of work and they don't have any reason to put out the effort. They may not have a sense of purpose for their lives, and so they have no reason to work towards getting well.

Some people with agoraphobia may have other people who are reaping a psychological benefit from their illness. Their close friend or family member might derive a sense of self-worth having someone with agoraphobia being totally dependent on them. That person could be sabatoging their recovery, enabling them instead of challenging them to face their fears and get better.

Whatever the case - some people with agoraphobia might have more reasons to stay sick than get well. To recover, they really need to find a reason to get well.

As a support person for agoraphobia, you can help someone find a reson to get well. I'll share some ideas about that later.