I am afraid to go outside my house

I am afraid to go outside my house

Dear Coleen,

Since 2009, I’ve been afraid to go outside the house and have done so only a few times.

I now know I want to go out but I’m afraid to ask my friends if I can go out with them.

I feel sad when they come over to see me and their mates ring up and ask them out.

But I just can’t seem to bring myself to ask them to take me along, too. I’m also afraid if I do go out with them, their friends won’t want me there.

I’ve been thinking of telling my doctor how I feel because I’d like to talk to someone who could help me.

I just want to start going out again but I just don’t know how to tell my friends.

Coleen says..

I don’t understand why you’re ­frightened to ask them.

They’re ­probably not inviting you out because they assume you don’t want to go.

Just tell them you feel ready to go out and ask if they’ll come along as you don’t want to do it on yo ur own.

Despite the fact you’ve been trapped at home for the past three years, your friends haven’t dropped you, so it’s not as if they don’t like you any more.

And that’s what friends are for â€" to support us when we need them.

I think it’s worth you seeing your doctor, who might be able to refer you for cognitive behavioural therapy, where you learn to cope with any anxiety that stops you from going out.

And when you do go out, take it easy â€" go to the local shop or to a quiet pub, so you get used to the outside again.