Agoraphobia is NOT a religious issue

I want to start with the fact that I was the person who suggested to medhelp that they should start an agoraphobia forum.  At the time I thought this was a good idea because of all the responses that I had from a post I did in May.  It took medhelp a little longer than I would have liked to get the forum going, but none the less it is here and for the most part, I am happy it is.  

My concern is that with all the religious talk, the forum is becoming not about agoraphobia but about religion and all the descriptive information about agoraphobia that has been cut and pasted adnauseam through the posts can all be found right here in Medhelp in the Health Topics section under Agoraphobia.  The information given was redundant and unnecessary when we have the information right here at hand and can refer anyone who needs it to those parts of medhelp.  

It is most important for those people who are agoraphobic especially those who are lurking and uncomfortable voicing their opinions and concerns, to realize that one does not have to believe in God or anything or anyone to get help for this phobia.  Unfortunately this is an equal opportunity phobia and does not discriminate and so is the treatment and belief system non discriminative.  I don't care what religion you are or if you have a religion, the treatment is still the same and it is up to the individual as to whether it works or not, NOT if you believe in God.  

So all you agoraphobic atheists or people from any religion.....you can receive great treatment and live full lives without bringing God into it.  Believe in YOURSELF that you can live a full life!   That is one of the keys to having success.  

All that cut and paste should not have been allowed and if this forum had been monitored, I'm sure that it would have been removed.  Cut and paste on a small scale is OK as long as it is identified as such and it is disclosed as to where the information came from.  What was done, in my opinion was way over the top.  Anyone can get that information and suggesting a website would have sufficed or as I said you can get that information right here at medhelp.

The purpose of a forum is to discuss issues and help each-other through personal experiences and medication.  To turn a new forum for agoraphobia into a religious forum and one of cut and paste rather than an exchange of ideas and support certainly isn't what I had hoped for when I proposed this forum.

As far as MrGreen is concerned, he is a shining example of someone who has been housebound for many years and is not anymore.  This is the type of person that we should listen to and take in his fountain of information because he has been there and back.  He's gone through hell and come out the other end with wisdom and humour.  We all could us a little more humour when battling this disorder.  

My post back in May asked the questions, what makes some people housebound and other not when both have agoraphobia?  How come some can expand their boundaries and even go on vacations where others can't even leave their bedrooms?  How can we help those who can't leave their homes get the medical help they need to conquer this very debilitating phobia?  That is what this forum should be addressing, not religious issues and cut and paste descriptives and solutions.  This is a forum about people and those who have been through it or are still in it are hugely helpful with giving personal hints and suggestions that you may not find in a book because it is by actually experiencing it that one knows what works for them and could work for someone else.  Besides the fact, it is more personal that factual information from a book.  There is nothing like connecting with an actual person who knows what you are going through...that is what a forum is all about.

Let's turn this forum around and make it what it should be...addressing the issues of those with agoraphobia and leave the cut and paste and religion out of it.  It doesn't belong here.

[Barbarella]

Excellent post!

There is another healthboard  who kicks off people if they "cut and paste" health related articles from the Internet.  They also kick off people who say that they are working or have worked in the medical field.

[catisme]

I find myself "skimming" through the forum and most likely missing posts. I agree that suggesting a website is all that is needed. I want to hear others personal experiences. I can read all about agoraphobia on many sites including this one. I come here for suggestions, support and encouragement and I'd like to offer it as well.  I didn't even make it to the part about god or religion, like I said I skimmed though :(.  


I'm all about keeping it real.

[ducky8]

Good post, Barfer. I hope we will now stick with the reason we all came here in the first place and get back to it.  
  

[MrGreen]

Great post you have made Barfer. Time to get this forum in order. Time to start sharing those experiences. Helping each other out. Because that is all we are here to do. We are not here to argue over gods of any sort. We are not here to read pages from books copied in full. Real life is where it is at. That's where we do our hardest work. That's where we have to face up to those situations that have driven us indoors. We all know the definitions of the words. But together we can beat it. Begin to live a full life once more. But we must be united in the struggle. Be as one. No matter what countries we are in, our problems remain the same. No matter what race or religion we are, we still have the same hurdles to overcome. This forum is ours to do just that. So let's make it work together.

[MrGreen]

Great post you have made Barfer. Time to get this forum in order. Time to start sharing those experiences. Helping each other out. Because that is all we are here to do. We are not here to argue over gods of any sort. We are not here to read pages from books copied in full. Real life is where it is at. That's where we do our hardest work. That's where we have to face up to those situations that have driven us indoors. We all know the definitions of the words. But together we can beat it. Begin to live a full life once more. But we must be united in the struggle. Be as one. No matter what countries we are in, our problems remain the same. No matter what race or religion we are, we still have the same hurdles to overcome. This forum is ours to do just that. So let's make it work together.

[MrGreen]

Sorry this posted twice. The forum was playing up. The page timed out on me. But I'm Irish. We do everything twice, to be sure to be sure. LOL.

[werewolf74]

Religious issues, as you say, have nothing to do with this forum. After all, this terrible disorder affects people of both genders (who said men didn't get agoraphobic???!!!...Sorry, i am a female, and i was once told had i been born a boy, my parents would have brought me up not to be so scared of so many things. Stereotypical thinking!); agoraphobia hits us not as some sort of punishment for sins or whatever.
As MrGreen rightly says, we have to unite and to GO OUT OF THAT DOOR. SPeaking both literally AND metaphorically.

PS. Sorry i'm not making myself very clear, i'm a bit tired, had a terrible night.