Do you think agoraphobics/hikikomori are more justified now?

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Of course, besides the global destabilization due to Syria and Iraq and all its consequences, hate crime rose sharply in the UK at least after Brexit, and the US is currently having the same issues due to racial tensions (of course, if trump did happen to win it will probably be dangerous for females, disabled people, races... I predict a 'civil' war) - so, really, why bother at all to go out? I've lost any such utility for years now, but as time moves on it seems increasingly likely that agoraphobics will, possibly, be the only guaranteed group to not entail external-related problems... not that loneliness isn't, but surely even it is better than being punched because some ret*d skinhead who can barely read thinks that some 'x' attribute is the reason for all their problems in their lives...

I know what you mean. Add in all the newly headlined viruses like zika, bird flu etc. etc. And staying indoors and away from people can seem like the best choice.

I still think it's worth going out occasionally at least though for some human face to face interactions. I find meeting a friend at a park or at a quiet (not crowded) swimming pool or quiet restaurant during their slow time for an hour or so once every few weeks is better than total isolation.

I suppose if you avoid malls, movie theatres, and restaurants because there's a chance some nut will set off an explosive vest, then the terrorists have won. I know it's not a contest; the danger in letting them win is they won't stop. Today, your mall, tomorrow, your house. It sucks but that does make hikkomori sitting ducks. I believe the human race is pretty resilient. It'll take some time, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but evil will not prevail, not with this many people against it.

Private residences are usually targeted only if it's a full-blown war... even in Turkey recently people indoors were safest, though parliament wasn't.

But really, I can order shopping online, watch movies online... very little reason to actually go out if I'm organized...

I'm guessing your perceived scenario stems from the fact you have agoraphobia. I have some small insight because a very close relation also suffers from the same malady.

The situation you describe is too far fetched to even consider; perhaps in Ireland or Scotland??? Because of the way our country is arranged, organized, and governed this is impossible in the U.S.of A., mostly due to local government autonomy.

But agoraphobics do not need "justification" for their fears....and I'm sure you agree.

If someone wants to rationalize imprisoning themselves for their whole life ...
I suppose they'll find a way to do it, current world situation or not.

Me, I'm a single, female Aspie, middle-aged.
I've traveled extensively, had some adventures,
and yes, some close calls.

Some people have asked,
"Aren't you afraid? I would never go anywhere alone."

My reply, "I'm going to go out and live my life.
It's a whole lot better than hiding under the bed."

Now I do try to be safe ... without being paranoid.

If you're going to accomplish or experience anything at all worthwhile in life,
you're going to have to take some risk.

As Gandalf once said to a certain Hobbit, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

And as Frodo once replied, "I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way."

Here's to adventure!

I agree and share the same hope.

I also want to believe that people like that are in the minority. I believe the relation could be something like 1/99. People in that one percent are just very power hungry and want to dictate things for the rest of us. Just like bullies, they want to be "on top". They want to rule. They want to own you. They want to terrorize you.

My bullies made for example huge graffities referring to me on my daily and weekly routes. The whole point was to terrorize me, to make me feel like they own me. To make me feel I am safe nowhere. To make me feel ashamed as I am mocked publicly and can't help it. It is all based on this sick idea of power some people and their useful idiots have.

But I want to believe that a better world isn't impossible. Maybe there is even some basis for my hopes, for I read some time ago an interesting research paper about small hunter-gatherer bands in which war was an unknown thing and equality ruled. These communities had some things in common. They didn't have a power structure (leaders) and narcissistic tendencies were avoided and eradicated by certain social practices (e.g. by never taking honour of something).

We don't depend on others as much anymore. That leads a way to communities consisting of entitled, self-serving idiots with grandiose agendas. When I was a kid I dreamed of becoming a vet, doctor or a teacher, because I wanted to help people and animals. Now most kids want to become stars. And for some these grandiose plans don't include things that contribute and build, because unfortunately destroying is easier and quicker. Every idiot can manage that.

Last edited by VisInsita on 31 Jul 2016, 2:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I agree with both you and redrobin62, VisInsita.

The world is in a sorry state today.
That said, things can get better.

RIGHT ON

I have significant paranoia to the point where I was a shut in for 3 years of my life ... It does make sense nowadays being the fact that the world is obviously worse then it ever was. But at the end of the day you have to live your live and not be in such fear all the time.

I'd say they win more if they kill me or have me maimed for life.
That said I have personally always been reclusive by nature, the current situation hasn't changed me. My preference has always been being at home doing my own thing. The situation today just means avoid the most likely times of day, which I would do anyway if given a choice, since I'd much rather be out when I am less likely to run into someone. While it's true that they have so far, that may not have been meant to be the case. On 24th of July 2014, PST (Police Security Service) warned against an imminent terror attack in Norway. 4 terrorists had left Syria and were on their way. Later it emerged that their fear had been that these would-be terrorists had plans to enter a residence and kill an arbitrary Norwegian family. They apparently lost track of them,so it's not too late.

I think it is easy to place blame for one's own discontent in life on world events and society at large but my personal issues are far more pressing, the world keeps turning regardless and bad stuff will always happen so one must accept some things are beyond your control and knowing history tells me the turbulence we are currently experiencing is hardly unique or even particular severe at this point. I'd say pretty much all my anxieties lie within myself, instead of casting blame on others I take it all myself which probably isn't healthy either but one needs to put it somewhere when the situation is not rectified.

You might be experiencing a case of simple perfectionism or procrastination, catastrophizing over an everyday chore.

But, during a real life emergency, I imagine it will be an autistic person, who throws the soup can, like Mick Dundee, in a quiet, mental moment of Zen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rijQ5oBFlO0

When it becomes a logic problem, you can clip just one zip tie, to make a complicated assembly fit into a tight space.

You can think 5 steps ahead, while everyone else gets the anxiety, or blurt out the right, physical answer, quite by accident, like the mental mathlete.

The very best fighters think of the opponent's body as something familiar to Aspies -- a circuit or mechanical device. They find patterns in movement, oftentimes countable.

I thought we were (or anyway I was) justified before.

But I still miss being willing to go out and do stuff that I don't have to and enjoying things like hiking and my garden.

I have heard/read of other Aspies who feel 'anxiety' when leaving the house, but very rarely do I see other Aspies here who actually have genuine, crippling Agoraphobia.

As an actual Agoraphobia sufferer, I know what you're saying.

The anxiety itself it seems is born out of the 'irrational' fear that the world is a dangerous place and that just by leaving the house and minding your own business you will encounter trouble.

I somewhat agree with you that this fear and anxiety actually IS rational and IS justified - but that does not mean we must let it rule our lives.

The world truly is a horrible place. My biggest fear is encountering rudeness and/or aggression from people, and in my old hometown, which had one of the highest crime rates in the entire country and a generally depressing and unfriendly population, my family and I encountered angry glares and rudeness almost every single time we left the house by the very kinds of people you speak of (hoodrats or just general a-hºles, etc.)

I'm also worried about ever getting into trouble with the police. Australian police are ridiculously corrupt no matter where you go, so maybe ordering one of those 'I have Autism' bracelets or whatever and my Mum or some kind of carer's phone number on it is the best bet if I can't deal with them myself because they're targeting vulnerable people on a power-trip.

I am lucky that I am an Aboriginal Australian and there's a local legal service for Indigenous people specifically and they have a card I got from some event that requests I speak to a lawyer from the local firm so them targeting a disabled Indigenous person for no justifiable reason and if I haven't done anything wrong would be a double whammy of deep trouble for them.

We have to overcome it and put on a brave face, but that doesn't mean it will be easy, and it is very dismissive and inconsiderate to just tell an Agoraphobia sufferer to 'just go outside and get out there and deal with it'.

It's the same thing some N.T.'s might say to us aspies - 'just be confident', 'just do it', 'just stop caring what others think', etc.

Easier said than done.

It is a slow process that can take several months to years and must be overcome one step at a time.

Personally my plan is to start taking the family dog for short walks around the block and to the nearby park.

Once I get a bike I'll also practice riding it and practice riding short distances in the quiet, low-traffic residential areas.

Once I am comfortable with this, I'll probably make practice rides to the nearby university and back home (15min ride) and when I'm confident, actually apply for university and make my way there this way.

I can see why people would be afraid to go out with all the scary stuff in the news/happening in the world today but that's not the root of my agoraphobia. For me, it's mostly due to concerns about my health issues acting up when away from home/somewhere I feel safe.

For all my life (or at least since I was a child) I've had something like panic attacks. I'm still not entirely sure whether they are actual panic attacks or just something very similar. The main reason I'm not sure is because they involve what feels like intense physical (abdominal) pain. Other than that, panic attacks seem to describe them perfectly. When they occur they can be VERY intense and I sometimes just have to lie down (on my back) regardless of where I am. The feeling is absolutely awful and my body just kinda goes into survival mode. For some reason, when this happens, I start intensely craving cold. Luckily, these episodes usually only last 10 minutes or so, though sometimes I'll have another soon after.

I absolutely hate it when these happen and it's even worse if they happen in public. I've learned to avoid some of the things that trigger them but they can still happen and, often with little to no warning. I had them often when I was in elementary school. Then, over the years, they became less frequent. However, about five or so years ago, they started to come back. I've also started to have some new health issues. The anxiety created by these things, along with sensory overstimulation issues, has made it very difficult for me to go anywhere.

These days I mostly only go out to see doctors. Even then, I have to have someone drive me. I have a lot of trouble being in a car/vehicle. I get very anxious almost immediately and start stimming a lot, and in very noticeable ways.