Agoraphobia?

Question

Ok I suffer from Agoraphobia. Does anyone have any ideas on how this can be dealt with a little bit easier? I was a waitress my whole life until this hit me about four years ago. I don't understand it, I don't like it. And it is getting harder to deal with everyday. Please this is a serious problem, only serious answers.

Answer 1

No one likes it, it makes you want to stay away even more. My agoraphobia started around the same time as yours and took my life over completely. I felt no one understood or that they would think I was insane. Agoraphobia, in my case, developed because of severe anxiety and constant worry. The cause was a situation that caused me to fear and was out of my control. It wasn't something I was doing, it was being a witness to someone Else's behavior. I felt threaten, physically, financially, spiritually, emotionally, and yes mentally. The over all feeling was extreme fear for my entire being. I seen a few doctors and was prescribed an anti anxiety medication Effexor XL. It helped a bit once it kicked in after a few months. In addition, I had to secure myself and develope a plan that would alleviate some of the stress to my problem. Do a small mindless thing to distract yourself, eat right, get enough sleep, nap in the day for short periods if you feel like you have to, ( agoraphobia is exhausting), exercise. Listen to music, watch your favorite movies, or television shows. Make yourself comfortable in your room or house by making it a safety zone, surround yourself with things you love. Comfy clothes, pj's, housecoat and slippers, blanket or quilt. Magazines, books, candles a glass of wine. This will help stabilize you when you are overwhelmed. Do things that will make you feel good about yourself. Give yourself a make over, dye your hair style it, paint your nails, wear something you feel good in. Try to stay connected with someone you trust who understands, even if it is by phone or the computer. If you have a friend, family member, or a relationship with someone who loves you alot and who will listen. Get them to go with you when you are ready and feel more secure, out for coffee, to get mail, go shopping, and remember to give yourself credit and REWARD YOURSELF. Talk therapy with a counselor works, but keep it up through out your day with a person you feel cares for you. If not self talk to calm yourself down and keep things realistic and in control. Don't stay too close to people who out right criticize you or make jokes about your condition. This is a serious medical problem and thousands of people suffer from it. You are not alone. Try to get in touch with someone going thru agoraphobia or has dealt with it. Search and you will find. Stay positive, you can overcome this. You may find that you had symptoms all your life and then one day it became full blown. Do not give up, you can do it!

Answer 2

I have panic disorder with agoraphobia, but have manged to get it somewhat under control over the past few years. Try to make sure that trips out are planned out well. By that, I mean know where you're going, how to get there, that sort of thing, and go straight there and back. Getting lost, being late, things like that can make it worse. Try to resist the temptation to pack everything into one "good day" - like "As long as I'm out I might as well..." because that can push things too far. Also, avoid certain kinds of stores if you can - especially those huge warehouse type of stores, and the ones that can be very crowded. Try to shop in the evening when stores are quieter. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I usually suffered panic attacks when I was out in public but luckily I knew that this might lead me to agoraphobia as I started staying in a lot more than usual. I finally just got up and got out little by little. A friend can certainly make it more helpful and sort of build a foundation so that you can feel more comfortable going out alone. Just keep going outdoors, even if it is nearby the house. Expose yourself more and work your way up. Think of it as a challenge and when you freak out, don't breathe fast but control your breathing so you don't faint.

Answer 4

I have also a easier form of Agoraphobia(now). I've never been to a therapist to solve this but I've tried to deal with it by going in crowded open spaces constantly, gradually spending more time there.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I suffered with that phobia some years in the past. I have been given into scientific care & found out why I had the terror. That made all of it lots much less complicated to comprehend. My relatives wellbeing care expert positioned me on a low dose of an antidepressant, that have been given rid of my anxities, which made on a daily basis residing greater bearable. My agoraphobia stemmed from having to handle lots rigidity(relatives crap, new state, no pals, and so on) in my existence & I felt secure interior my abode, the place i did no longer would desire to attend to anymore outdoors rigidity, so I grew to grow to be a prisoner in my own abode. In scientific care, I found out to flow outdoors on a daily basis into the backyard, & in time, i became as quickly as lower back in a position to flow buying, and so on. Get into scientific care & see approximately being positioned on a med which will help you thru on a daily basis. I now no longer have that phobia, yet i'm nonetheless claustrophobic, which surfaced whilst the agoraphobia did. My claustrophobia became a consequence of a few thing that got here approximately in my early formative years. I in simple terms dodge circumstances that would heighten the claustrophobia. all of the ideal to you, & wait and see, as you would be cured, in simple terms supply it time. :)

Answer 6

You are probably feeling the effects of alienation. That is when you feel separated from others. It is a form of anxiety. Look it up on the internet as to how others deal with it.