You must not know much about agoraphobia. It's not limited to "crowded places".
From Wikipedia (about average as a source for this sort of info):
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear or having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation that is perceived to be difficult (or embarrassing) from which to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions. Alternatively, social anxiety problems may also be an underlying cause. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia avoid public and/or unfamiliar places, especially large, open spaces such as shopping malls or airports from which they cannot easily escape if they have a panic attack. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to his or her home, unable to leave their safe haven.
At least one person I know has it to such a degree that she can no longer leave her room. It started so gradually that she didn't realize anything was happening at first.
To be honest, I show many signs of it and still have to steel myself to go shopping once or twice a month. Part of the problem is my limited mobility, but I was showing difficulties for many years before. Some places are more frightening than others. I cannot go into the back lawn; I don't know why, just that I feel frightened and overwhelmed. I've been on the porch and walked to the end of the sidewalk but only at night. Years ago, I was attending reenactment events, and my garb (costume) sort of felt like a shield against any turmoil though I did have to find a quiet corner to withdraw fairly often. My shyness doesn't help, as it kept me away from parties, events at school and much more. But, I knew deep down that open spaces distressed me. Except for events and conventions, I could not tolerate crowds. I think I might be able to go to one again except for one thing: I'm terrified of driving long distance through open country. I've managed it one time several years ago; otherwise, I get about a half-hour's drive away from home then turn back, defeated once again.
So, I understand this young man, whether or not he had the trauma of murdering someone. You don't need crowds to find outdoors unnerving.
By the way, some people even develop a disorder in which they must remain very close to walls, unable to even stand in the middle of a room. Being outside is a paralyzing experience.
~~MystMoonstruck~~
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artemusjones
13 years ago
Thank you, cynsemele. You are right, I don't know much about agoraphobia and I was using the term in the simplest of translations from the Greek. It looks as though the modern definition of the term extends to a fear of almost anything beyond the home, or as you say even beyond a room or away from a wall. My post was mostly in jest because, well, this film sucks. But I do not like to trivialize mental illness so --
1. Australian women are all stripping sluts.
2. Australian men are all blockhead psychopaths.
3. Englishmen are all arty poofters.
4. You will understand 'class' if you imagine everyone you meet as aged 12.
5. One has only to bleach one's hair to become upper class.
6. When Aussie blokes have a few beers they wake up with a bottle top stuck to their forehead.
7. Police in Australia do not have any instinct for police work.
8. There are no therapists in Australia so any old taped-up hostage will do.
9. It's okay to be racist about Asians so long as you do it through a character in a movie.
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MystMoonstruck
13 years ago
That's very sweet of you. I hope I didn't seem too "up in arms" about it. I do like your list, especially No. 4. Of course, I've watched too many Australian movies to believe some of those are average; but, for this one, they're funny.
I wish that I could add to your list. We should be able to come up with something about shotguns and pet cockatoos. I'll work on it.
~~MystMoonstruck~~
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zzz05
10 years ago
How about
11 Grocery stores in Australia do home delivery.
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