Send this to people who think they can 'fix you.'

[phoenix22]

I have had severe agoraphobia all of my life...can remember being around 10 when I was first struck down with fear..so know how easy it is to put off going out,to tell people I'm busy rather than admit anything is actually wrong..and know too how it eats away at you,becomes your normal even as you know its not.
I hid the phobia all through childhood ( mother was an absolute nightmare re any kind of perceived "weakness") and also know the sheer exhaustion this can bring to a person..the tiredness of putting on the correct mask to hide how I felt.
For at least 2 decades I lived life as a hermit ..even when my children were born I rarely went out although made sure they had days out with my then husband .I hid the phobia so well it became difficult to even admit it to my self.
I did have CBT therapy for it but as it was due to severe trauma that I at that time had no knowledge about I failed to recover and the failure just added to my sense of personal failure...so inward I went..
Speaking solely for me I know my inability to vocalise my problems have probably contributed to the loss of friends etc but even as I write this I do wonder how they couldn't see through this whilst I could always understand their worries etc.
Maybe people are just self absorbed or selfish?
The dream catcher is lovely