Getting help through the NHS (what I wish I'd known from the start).

Walking into a GP appointment and trying to explain panic disorder with agoraphobia off the top of your head is hard. I've done it badly more than once. So here's a script. Read it beforehand. Print it out if you need to. There's no shame in handing a piece of paper to your doctor.

"I think I have panic disorder with agoraphobia. I get panic attacks - racing heart, dizziness, feeling like I'm going to faint or lose control - and I've started avoiding places because of it. I'm struggling to leave the house / go to shops / use public transport / attend appointments. It's affecting my ability to work / study / see people / live normally. I'd like to be referred for talking therapy, ideally CBT with a focus on panic and exposure. I'd also like to rule out any physical cause for the symptoms."

Adapt it to your situation. The important bits are: name the condition, describe the impact, and ask for what you want.

If leaving the house for the appointment feels impossible, ask for a phone or video consultation. Most GP surgeries offer this now. If they don't, say clearly: "I have agoraphobia and I'm finding it very difficult to attend in person. Can we do this remotely?" That's a reasonable adjustment, not a favour.

What it offers

Evidence-based talking therapies, usually CBT, for anxiety disorders including panic disorder with agoraphobia. You'll typically get an initial assessment, then a course of sessions - often 6 to 12, sometimes more. For agoraphobia, the therapy should involve graded exposure work, not just talking about feelings.

How to access it

Your GP can refer you, but in most areas you can also self-refer. Search "NHS Talking Therapies" plus your area online, or ask your GP surgery for the local self-referral link. Self-referral often means a shorter wait because you skip the GP step.

What to ask for

Be specific. Ask for CBT focused on panic disorder and agoraphobia, with graded exposure and work on reducing safety behaviours. If you just say "I'm anxious", you might get generic anxiety management rather than the targeted work that actually shifts agoraphobia. Use the language.

What if you can't attend in person?

Ask about remote sessions - phone or video. Many services started offering these during COVID and still do. If the service insists on in-person attendance and that's currently impossible for you, explain that agoraphobia is the reason you're seeking help in the first place. A good service will work with you on this.

I'm not going to tell you what to take or not take. That decision belongs to you and your clinician. What I will say is this: some people find that medication (usually an SSRI) takes the edge off the panic enough to actually engage with exposure and therapy. Others prefer to do it without. Both approaches are valid.

My main point is that you deserve a proper conversation about options. If your GP writes a prescription without explaining what the medication does, how long it takes to work, what the side effects might be, and what the plan is for coming off it, ask those questions. You're allowed to.

If you're worried about dependency or side effects, say so directly. A good clinician won't dismiss that concern. If they do, see the section below.

I won't pretend the NHS is fast. Waiting lists for talking therapy can be months. That's frustrating, and it's not your fault. While you wait, you can still make progress. The self-help plan and exposure steps on this site are based on the same principles that CBT uses. They're not a replacement for professional support, but they're not nothing either.

If you want peer support while you wait, the Discord community is there too.