Agoraphobia: Fear of open or crowded places, of leaving one’s own home, or of being in places in which one feels trapped or unable to escape, often triggering panic attacks.
Agoraphobia is a word that may sound upsetting but the truth of the matter is that this is a condition that is not difficult to overcome, when approached correctly.
Those who struggle with Agoraphobia believe there is safety in their own home, avoid public places and have difficulty making commitments due to anticipatory anxiety. Avoidance has been their coping method but there is a better way through this and onto recovery.
The symptoms of Agoraphobia are:
- Panic attacks
- Discomfort making long range plans
- Limited scope of travel, remaining in a area deemed”safe” radius around home.
- Racing heart
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Shaking
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Fearful Thinking
- Chills
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Numbness
- Tingling sensations
- Anticipatory anxiety
- Depersonalization
- Derealization
- Stomach upset, IBS
- Lightheadedness
- Blurred Vision
- Inability to travel comfortably
- Avoidance of public places, crowds, and driving distances
- Feeling trapped and anxious in lines
- Feeling anxiety when far from home
- Sensitization is when an individual becomes reactive or “sensitized” to outside stimuli.
– Lights appear brighter more glaring.
– Sounds seem louder and harsher.
– Thoughts feel more upsetting and scarier.
– All senses seem to be on high alert or exaggerated.When upset or worried for prolonged periods of time, sensitization results in stronger reactivity. Learning to interrupt this symptom of intense reactivity, leading to agoraphobia is not difficult when approached correctly.
Agoraphobia: Natural Recovery Treatment
Thoughts
Agoraphobia is based upon your thoughts. After a stressful time (prolonged worry, health worries, relationship worries, school anxiety, health worries, family worries, work stress) one believes it is the place triggering the symptoms. This is not the case. It is never the place. The symptoms always begin with a thought. It is your perception of the place, never the place itself. It is what you tell yourself about how you feel in the place.
Agoraphobia is when one believes they are safe at home but it is never the place. It is how one thinks in the place. If you learn to think correctly, you will feel safe anywhere, regardless of the situation.
Learning to think differently, results in a calmer mind and body.
The individual learns they are in control over the way they feel. Change your thinking and you change your reactions.
Four Steps to Recovery:
1- Understanding- Realizing it is never the place but what you tell yourself in the place. Fearful, negative thinking triggers the release of adrenaline resulting in anxiety symptoms, causing you to seek escape.
2- Embracing- Full 100% acceptance of the physical feelings that occur. Go through the symptoms without trying to stop them, proving to yourself that your fear( that kept you trapped) will dissolve. You are back in control and feel safe in any situation, no longer feeling the need to run or avoid.
3- Self Proof- Slowly but surely begin re-visiting places you previously felt uncomfortable. Use your tools and techniques to calm yourself, without running or avoiding. Go through the symptom the right way and you will be able to comfortably go places without the urge to run or avoid.
4- Repetition- Continue using the techniques and avoidance will quickly resolve itself. Going places out of your comfort zone will quickly change from fear producing to comfortable. This is because you will be using the tools that provide you with instant relief from the symptoms that kept you in avoidance mode.
What is a Comfort Zone?
Remember, “comfort zone” is just a place you’ve told yourself is safe. You can change this directive any time you choose. You can change your belief by proving to yourself that any place is safe. All you need to do is to think correctly in the place without giving yourself fearful signals. You will remain there comfortably with the proper perspective. If you told yourself you were safe anywhere you went you would be turning off the fear that released stress chemicals such as adrenaline, which created uncomfortable symptoms.
Above all, know you are not ill. This is not an illness and never has been. This is a learned behavior that you can easily unlearn. It’s about proving to yourself that you can go through these sensations and come out on the other side. Your previous running from the feelings kept you agoraphobic and unable to enjoy life.
Follow the above steps and reclaim your life. A learned behavior, such as this, is not difficult to unlearn and well worth the effort. The results are: control over your life again, lack of fear and returning to your daily routine in a comfortable and enjoyable manner.
Please feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation and we will be glad to answer all your questions.
Anxiety Busters
Phone: 215-635-4700
Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (EST)
Open 7 Days a Week, for your convenience
http://www.anxietybusters.com