Ever been in an environment that made you so uncomfortable you had to leave? I've experienced that twice. At the LaBrea Tar Pits and at the Southwestern Museum. I have no idea why? Any guesses?.

Hello Rosie:

I felt that way too when I visited the LaBrea Tar Pits.  But, NOT because it's weird.  It's because it's VERY close to Canter's deli..

excon

I cannot stand being in restaurants where loud music is playing, such that bars conversation, nor where the air conditioning is blasting so cold that the kitchen staff could store the frozen meats in the dining area. There's no way I can enjoy a meal or the company of other guests in an environment like that. Many a time I've turned right around and bolted.

~

I have to agree with you on both. I left a tavern when the band was warming up. The bass was so lloud it vibrated my pants. No joke.

Loud gatherings of people, such as a party with lots of screeching small children Ball games are ok though.

To many to count. If you personally know an agoraphobic, ask them and they'll tell you what I mean :(

Oh excon don't tell me you've eaten at Canter's? When? That used to be our after-movie place to hang out. Their food was devine! Oh my gosh I had no idea you knew about that place. Are you a transplanted Californian? You just gave me the chills. I don't think we could possibly have been there on the same night but what if we were? Oh my gosh. This is amazing info. How come we never  talked about it before? Here's what happened to me. It  was at night and I was with a date and we were just walking and he asked if I'd like to walk by some of the exhibits. I said sure. Soon I began to find it hard to breathe.  I felt a huge oppressive presence. I'm sure it was my imagination but  I told my date I needed to leave right away. It was a really weird feeling. So you are a  Canter's cognoscenti then? How cool is that?  When, where and for how long for cryin' out loud?  :) Thank you for your reply! :)

I have quietly slipped away from large gatherings too. I just disappear without saying a word. I don't like to call attention to myself. I just go. Thank you for your rely Ele and Happy Sunday! :)

I am a borderline agoraphobic m'dear. You too? Thank you for your reply GJ. Boy. The more we talk the more we seem to have in common!  :)

Yep.  I've been wrestling with it for 3-4 years. 

To answer your first question: Oh yeah. It's usually in situations I feel forced to participate in, where I'm expected to perform in a way that is dishonest to myself and is unrewarding in any tangible manner, and any place that encourages artificial behavior or bizarre rituals I don't care to expose myself to, and overcrowded places in general. 

I don't know about the rest. 

Thank you for your reply lovely. I try to avoid situations like that. It used to be difficult for me to say "no I don't want to do that" so I'd say yes and then be miserable. I learned that "no" can be your best friend. Thank you for your thoughtful answer! :)

 I always feel safest at home. I have been that way since I can remember. I say I'm borderline because I do go out with Jim. Usually to the market or medical appointments. He plays golf and tennis and I am happily safe at  home. I remember one time I visited a friend decades ago and she talked me into spending the night and then going with her and her fiancee to watch a horse race because they owned one that was racing the next day in Mexico. I did that. I'm not usually spontaneous  but at the time she was my best friend. Things went fine but then the next day on our way home we had to drop the horse off at the stables where they kept it. The axle broke on the trailer and that delayed us for hours. I started to panic. I needed to get home before dark. I have night vision problems and I don't like to drive at night. I almost became hysterical. I remember it very vividly. Well they rushed as much as they could and got me to her place. I got in the car and tore out of there trying to beat the sunset. I did. I was a mess. When Jim and I have traveled away from home I have of course enjoyed myself but was so very very happy when I got back home. I don't venture out alone. Of course I used to have to when I had a job. I was single for a large part of my working career after my son was born. He was 3 when his dad and I divorced. But I worked close to home once I was 50.  Close enough that I could walk home (3 miles) if I had to.  When I was younger it wasn't so bad. I was a single mom whose ex rarely paid the child support he was supposed to so earning money was the most important thing for me and any anxiety was put on a shelf because I had more important things to do. So that's my story m'dear. Home is where the heart is. Also the peace and comfort and safety! Happy Monday GJ!  :)

Sure thing. Thanks for your thoughtful question. 

 How nice of you. I rarely get thanked for a question lovely. It;s kinda nice! :)