Calling on those who have recovered or made progress. I am stuck and seeking advice.

I've had agoraphobia for 4 years now. It wasn't all just bad. Around two years ago, I started working my way up to going out to eat. I went to dinner a few times, and then from there started going around town. I was able to go to different restaurants, get coffee, go in shops, friends houses, and even in person therapy. It wasn't perfect, I needed a safety person to drop me off at those locations as I couldn't drive myself but, it was better than staying in.

My father was a big safety person for me, and he died in early 2024. It was a really horrible and traumatic time for me. A few months later my anxiety going out was just getting worse and not only was I having trouble coping with it, but so many people in my family were putting pressure on me needing to get better since I was now that "man of the house". It got too much, going out to eat was now harder, and going to in person therapy was too much. I stopped going out and, now I've been stuck for about a year.

I just feel so hopeless sometimes and exhausted from everything that has happened in my life. After all that work I put into this, the world kicked me down again and I'm back to not being able to leave my house again? I don't wanna give up though but, it seems so much more terrifying now. I will try to do driving exposures a few times a week by myself just around my neighborhood and for the last year, I've seen no progress. If anything, I feel like the exposures are making me more nervous and I've regressed. I can't even drive a minute down my street without feeling panic. And yet, my therapist who is now online told me last week if I don't push myself beyond my neighborhood again, he doesn't see how I will ever get better.

Here is where I am seeking advice the most. It sucks to have heard that but, maybe he's right? Two years ago when I started going out again, my first exposures were not trying to drive myself around the neighborhood, it was going out to eat with my parents. A tiny bit further sure but, being with a safety person made it easier and there was a reward to it. I got a nice meal, and had a fun time socializing with whoever I was with. Is it possible these driving exposures I am doing are not effective because there is no reward?

And lastly, as I've mentioned I have been doing these driving exposures alone because I want to be able to function and go places on my own. I do not want to rely on a safety person again. But, as I've mentioned no progress is being made so, should I get a safety person and like try going out to eat again? Is it okay to have a safety person? Cause I'm told we should avoid safety behaviors when doing exposures but, I also feel like going further around town with a safety person like I used to was better than whatever I'm doing now.