How do you know if someone has agoraphobia?

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How do you know if someone has agoraphobia? My friend lately hasn't been wanting to hang out with me outside, he always wants to stay home and do things inside. I invite him places but he never wants to go. He has left school too without even getting his diploma and just stays on the computer all day. It's been almost a year like this. I am worried about him. Does this mean he has agoraphobia? If so why and how can I help him?
from wikipedia.org
Definition
Agoraphobia is a condition where the sufferer becomes anxious in environments that are unfamiliar or where he or she perceives that they have little control. Triggers for this anxiety may include wide open spaces, crowds, or traveling (even short distances). This anxiety is often compounded by a fear of social embarrassment, as the agoraphobic fears the onset of a panic attack and appearing distraught in public.[1]  (+ info)

How to lose weight when I have agoraphobia and anxiety?

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Hi. I am 16, 6ft, and weight about 235 pounds. I am very fat, and I am desperate to lose weight, to build confidence.

I have agoraphobia and anxiety, and it is very hard for me to go out and exercise or join the gym. Is there anyway that I can lose weight then in the house. All I have are light weights. So, is there anyway to lose weight. Or could I lose weight walking around my park for an hour four times a week?

Thanks
you can lose weight by just walking my sister did and she just watch her parsons of food she was eating. she didn't really go on a diet or anything and she lost a lot of weight.  (+ info)

How well does agoraphobia respond to treatment?

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I had it when I was younger and it somehow became managable in my early twenties. I am 38 now and it has come back, I will have treatment this time and was wondering how it is treated and how long it will take to respond to it. I was diagnosed with ptsd about 10 yrs. ago and recently was diagnosed with the agoraphobia also social phobia, panic disorder and anxiety disorder. Is all of this just different aspects of the ptsd? Please help, this is horrible and lonely, if you have experienced this I would like to hear from you. Thanks.
Honestly speaking it may be an imbalance from thinking in certain ways over several years due to stress or other situations... Try this even when alone and you will see a world of difference - smile, laugh in the morning for 2 - 3 minutes even if seems silly it effects the chemicals in your brain... good luck  (+ info)

I think I have agoraphobia, any tips on how I can over come it?

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I researched my phobia, and I think it's called agoraphobia. I'm not afraid of open spaces, but I am of going out in public. I'm 18, and I want to get a job to earn some money, because my parents don't want me to be a in the house all day being lazy. I see the news, and I see innocent people getting attacked, or robbed, and I fear that I would be assaulted in the street. How can I over come this feeling?
You can do this by realizing that being robbed, killed, or hit by a car are possibilities in this world, if you keep confident and safe you will most likely not be harmed. (I.E. look both ways before crossing, or don't go to "bad" neigborhoods.)  (+ info)

Agoraphobia and going to the dentist and doctors?

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I have had horrible mouth pain for a few weeks now and I need to go see my doctor and dentist the only thing is I have agoraphobia and I dont leave the house much. Just the thought of going to the dentist or doctors shakes me up and I keep canceling my appointments. I do relaxation visualizations to help my relax but it doesnt help for this. Any suggestions?? Thanks
I suffer from agoraphobia and found myself in the same position last year. I know you're not going to like this answer, but you just have to force yourself to do it. I had to get an emergency root canal, and I was in so much pain that there was no way around it. It was brutal.

I did do a few things to make it easier one me, though. I took someone with me, which helps a lot when I have to go out into the public. Also, I let the dentist know that I suffered from agoraphobia so he would understand if I started having a panic attack. After that, I just shut my eyes and let him do what he had to do. I thought I was going to lose it, but eventually it was over, and I was extremely happy to be out of pain.

So my suggestion -- if you're in that much pain -- just do it. You may panic and it will probably be horrible, but it's not going to kill you. Once it's over, you'll be glad you went.  (+ info)

Have you tried EFT for panic attacks or agoraphobia?

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Agoraphobia because of panic attacks are ruining my life and i'm wondering if any of you have tried using EFT as a cure. Thanks for any responses and any information as to natural remedies.
I tried EFT a while ago for my anxiety and paranoia. It cleared my thoughts for a while, but then I came to realize it was all just mind over matter. But, if it works great for you, then keep on going with it! =]]  (+ info)

Does anyone else have agoraphobia ? How long since you left the house ?

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I was wondering if anyone else has agoraphobia and how long it has been since you left the house?

What do you do to fill in your time?
I had depression and anxiety years ago and it lead to agoraphobia. The doctor came to the house to see me and prescribed anti-depressants and referred me to a community psychiatric nurse who came to my house on a weekly basis for 6 weeks. If it hadn't been for the meds and the therapy i would probably still be house bound! I took it slowly and after a couple of weeks would leave the house for a couple of minutes and come back, gradually increasing the amount of time i left the house for. i was taught coping mechanisms for anxiety and panic attacks and also was given lots of info on why they happen and what happens to your body/mind during an anxiety attack.

It took about 6 months to feel ok about being out but i was still uncomfortable for awhile after that. When i was ok to leave the house i saw a psychologist and went to a weekly support group for people in a similar situation.

As for things to do- i was really too depressed and anxious to want to do anything!  (+ info)

Does anyone know if hypnotherapy can be used to treat agoraphobia?

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I was diagnosed with agoraphobia over a year ago. I have tried Cognative Behavioral Therapy but that didn't work and am on anti depressants. While I have started to improve slightly, taking my daughter to school with the help of my dog, I was wondering if hypnotherapy was an option. If so, does anyone know how to go about it?
Sure it works. It takes some time though- it doesn't happen overnight in most cases. Walking with your dog is a great step.
If you do hypnotherapy, you change your thought pattern,. So when you're walking, you don't think "Ok I'm doing ok.. I'm nervous.. calm down. I'll be home soon" No.
Your brain is program to think "I love being out!" and you don't even consciously think about it.
You can get a program like The Linden Method
http://www.panic-anxiety.com/
You can download to MP3 a single session
http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/phobias_fears/agoraphobia.html
Or you can record your own script (you'd need a script)
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=K358 has a 2-script combo specifically for agoraphobia.

You could also see a professional if there's a good one in your area, but if you do it yourself, you can do it every day.  (+ info)

How can I cure my agoraphobia?

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I'm 19 and a freshman in college.

I want to get rid of my agoraphobia so that I can go out and do things without constantly being anxious. I always feel that I'm too ugly to go out in public and that everyone is watching and judging me when I go into a place with a lot of people. Outside of my job, I spend all my time at home on the computer.
Make an appointment with your doctor and seek a referral to a counselor that can help cure Agoraphobia, preferably one that specializes in anxiety disorders. The counselor will help you gain back control of your life by discussing your triggers and symptoms, and helping you understand what is happening. Ask for medications that can help with the symptoms.

Take small steps to take back control of your world. Does even thinking about going out the door starts your anxiety symptoms? Start there, at your smallest anxiety point. Stand at the door and open it. While standing there, take slow and steady deep breaths. Reassure yourself with calming affirmations such as, "Everything is fine," "I am OK" or "This is only temporary" -- anything that helps make you feel better. Stay in that spot until the anxious feelings go away.

Keep pushing yourself and the anxiety. Yes, you will have to endure the panic attacks. But they will get better. The symptoms will lessen and even go away in time. Once you can go to the doorway without worry, take a step outside. Stay there until the panic attack subsides. Keep taking that step outside until you can finally do it without any anxiety.

Continue going past your comfort zone (usually your home). You will want to flee back to your comfort zone when a panic attack starts. However, you must stay where you are until the panic attack subsides. Eventually, this will cure Agoraphobia. You are teaching yourself that you will survive even after having a severe panic attack, and that the places you fear are not unsafe.
Good luck! Take care always.................  (+ info)

What causes a person to develop agoraphobia and panic attacks?

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I am not referring to the trigger of the attacks but rather things in a persons past experience that would cause someone to develop the condition later in life.
I ask because my friend who I have known since childhood has developed both conditions. She had a very privileged up bringing as her parents were wealthy, I do not think she was bullied at school (I was in schools with her) and her family were kind to her. Her father was an alcoholic however, but I don’t know how that would have impacted her. She does not talk about her feelings. She has suffered from low self esteem and had bulimia when she was a teenager, however I do not think she has ever really recovered fully. What can I do to help?
my cousin got it after he was mugged  (+ info)

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