Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, or Just a Homebody?

Alright Warrior,

I’ve been thinking about something lately, and I have a feeling I’m not alone in this.

I consider myself a homebody. I love being at home. Cozy, quiet, controlled, my stuff where I left it — chef’s kiss.
But I also live with social anxiety. It’s mostly well-managed with meds (thank you, modern medicine), yet it still lurks in the background like an unpaid intern waiting to cause chaos.

So that got me wondering:
Am I choosing to stay home… or am I avoiding leaving?
And then my brain, being my brain, went straight to: Do I have agoraphobia?

Here’s what I’ve learned — and what might help you sort this out for yourself too.

Being a homebody usually looks like:

You prefer home, but you can leave when you want or need to
You may feel tired, overstimulated, or “meh” about plans — not panicked
You enjoy going out occasionally, especially when it feels safe or low-pressure
Staying home feels comforting, not restrictive

Anxiety around leaving home tends to look more like:

You want or need to go out, but your body says absolutely not
You feel dread, panic symptoms, or intense discomfort just thinking about leaving
You avoid places because of fear (crowds, stores, traffic, social interactions)
You feel relief when plans get canceled — but also a little trapped by that relief

And agoraphobia?
It’s less about “liking home” and more about fear of being in places where escape feels hard or help might not be available if anxiety hits. It often shows up alongside panic disorder, but not always.

Here’s the real talk part:
You don’t have to slap a label on yourself to validate your experience.

Instead, try gently asking yourself:

If I had zero anxiety today, would I want to go?
Am I staying home because it feels good — or because leaving feels unsafe?
Do I avoid certain places, or am I just selective with my energy?

Also important:
You can be a homebody AND have anxiety.
You can have social anxiety without agoraphobia.
You can be doing “better” and still have symptoms pop up sometimes.

Mental health isn’t an on/off switch — it’s a dimmer.

If any of this is resonating hard, it might be worth talking it through with a therapist or prescriber — not because something is “wrong,” but because clarity brings relief. And relief brings choice.

And choice is the whole point.

If you want to reply and tell me where you land on this — homebody, anxious, somewhere in between — I’m all ears. You’re not weird. You’re not broken. You’re human.

Love Always,
Amy
Your Mental Health Warrior & Neurodivergent Advocate 💚