Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety Support Group
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."
My agoraphobia started about a year ago--never had problems with panic attacks before. Now, I can't walk out my front door without feeling panicky. I force myself to walk every day and also drive my car a short distance. I wish I could say it's getting easier but it's not.
Does anyone have any suggestions for self-help for agoraphobia?
Does anyone have any suggestions for self-help for agoraphobia?
Recovery is defined as "having anxiety, and not responding to it" - so what you need to learn is that all anxiety is a bluff - its a lie - its not real. Despite how you feel your perfectly safe and nothing "bad" will happen.
Exposure therapy is essentially being in your trigger situation (whether walking or driving) and learning to "ignore" (or not respond) to your anxious thoughts. To practice this I personally would walk one block from my house and practice tools - number games, word games - tools keep the mind busy with "neutral" thoughts - nothing emotional or frustrating - and not music (music is white noise). The more you do this, the more you become desensitized to your fear and more focused on your tools - then you can start to ignore your fear.
Its a process - it takes time - but it really works. Id be happy to share whatever I know with you if you would like. But the only way you will ever create recovery is by confronting it and learning to manage your experience in your trigger situation.
Wish you peace in your life.