What are good diversion tactics for somebody trying too get over agoraphobia?
I agree with everything Hopefully helpful has written.
by diversion tactics, do you mean distraction techniques?
these can be something as simple as saying the alphabet backwards to yourself.
counting in a foreign language to yourself
trying to think of actors beginning with the letter B !!!
I find it helpful to start describing what I am looking at. It means that I am focusing on this instead of the panic inside me. (
+ info)
I have severe panic disorder with agoraphobia and Im expected to be at a church meeting help?
I haven't gone outdoors due to severe debilitating seizures all summer. My daughter has a meeting for preschool and I'm trying so hard to go but I will have panic attacks and be afraid of seizing.
Help me someone get there? I am 28, thanks.
----------
(
+ info)
Is it possible to develope agoraphobia as you get older? What causes it?
I dont know exactly what is wrong, but when I am out in public anymore I feel really odd. Like my muscles get all tight and I get a headaches really bad, and I just plain feel weird....like everyone is staring at me. Even though I rationally know that they aren't, and hey even if they were I shouldnt care! But this bugs me sooo much that I avoid social situations, unless there is alchohol involved. lol.
Seriously though, this is really becoming a problem for me and I never used to feel like this! I'm not sure what's wrong, does it sound like agoraphobia? I also have these horrible feelings at night when I am trying to sleep, like I forgot to do something, or something bad is gonna happen.....BUT FOR NO RATIONAL REASON!! and I can't just seem to relax and make them go away! What do you think? How can I make this stop????
----------
I am not sure about the age factor but it sounds like you are suffering from an anxiety or panic disorder, I found some information on webmd that you can check out. (
+ info)
How can I get over agoraphobia?
I have now had agoraphobia for nearly two years and although it has slightly improved so that I can walk within 5 mins of the house, I am no where near to getting any further. I am having councilling. I have tried reiki,hypnotherapy and various other councillors but it seems like I am getting no where fast. It really depresses me to be in this situation at the age of 28 and it has taken its toll on my family and friends as it can also restrict those near to me. Can any one help at all or been though this problem and come out the other side? I really hope I am not the only one out there thats losing the will to live while I have this problem
Thank you for reading this
Donna
I would also like to add that I also have a fear of swallowing so food and drink are also a issue. This does not seem to be so bad in the evenings but more during the day and if certain people are not in the house. The worst time to have this is when I try to get out as normally i would have some water and carry on but now that fear is involved this is where I turn round and come back again. So Im not having much luck in life right now but I am hoping so one out there can add that ray or light and helping me to regain my life
Thank you one and all
Donna x
----------
Ok listen.....
everyone has threir sh*t to deal with. I have agoraphobia also, worse than yours right now. but what i dont understand is why you really feel the need to change it, just find ways to go around it.
get a at home computer job. the worst that you'll have to face is going out for an interveiw. i did it so can you. most of them supply plenty of money for bills, living, & delivered geroceries!!!!
as for family and friends, they will come to you if they really love you. but if you want to go to them then have them pick you up 3 times and drive you to their place at different times of the day to see your ansiety, then you can choose the most comfortable time for you, then drive yourself!
you have this for a reason, """"dont change for the world, make the world change for you."""" (
+ info)
How do you treat/cure agoraphobia?
I have agoraphobia and it has really been rough for me. I can't ever leave my house without having panic attacks. Sometimes, I even get them while I am at my house. It makes my life so miserable. I can't even get a job or go out anywhere with my girlfriend because of my agoraphobia. I am on Prozac and Lithium for it but it doesn't seem to help. Please give me some advise!!!
----------
First, let me say you are not alone. I am a fellow sufferer and on the outside I look perfectly normal. I go to work every day and have a full social life. But my agoraphobia has eroded my life because I have so many restrictions. I am afraid of highways, busses, subways, elevators and going far from home. At work, I am afraid they will want me to travel and I don't know what to tell them. That I'm afraid? It sounds ridiculous to refuse to go a measly one exit on the highway.
I am coming to accept that my disorder is serious and while simple to treat, the recovery is far from easy. Let me share some of my experiences with you. Maybe some of what I will help and maybe not. I am no expert on agoraphobia and I am still suffering from it.
Things that have helped me:
1) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you look at your limiting thoughts and practice "exposure" to things you are afraid. It helps having a calm and caring professional by my side.
2) Online support at www.PanicSurvivor.com. These people have a fighters attitude when it comes to dealing with anxiety. It is by far my favorite community that deals with anxiety.
3) Turning to friends and loved ones. My friends and family have been supportive, although I let them enable me sometimes. My friends have gone on exposures with me and told me to do it.
4) Have a good cry. When I cry and get the feelings out, my anxiety lessens. I used to cry before exposures, which helped me release all the negative feelings.
5) Working with a psychiatrist. I admit medications have not worked for me yet, but I keep trying. Research has found that a combination of medication and CBT works best. However, CBT alone is pretty effective too.
6) Reading books by people who understand. Bourne's "Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" is a classic. Also, "Wish I Were There" is a memoir about agoraphobia. What I liked about the memoir by Allen Shawn is that is realistic. The man still has agoraphobia, but he is coping with it better.
7) Spirituality. I am not religious, but I have come to believe in a Higher Power to make sense of my senseless condition. I don't think you have to be spiritual. But it helps me to rely on something greater than myself.
8) Self-care. I am working to eat right and exercise and get plenty of rest. Agoraphobia is stressful and takes its toll on my nerves. When I take care of myself, I send the message that I am important and worthy of love. Love tends to displace panic.
There is a lot more that I do, but I don't want to bore you with all the details. Google agoraphobia, panic attacks, and anxiety. There is a lot of good information out there. Good luck. (
+ info)
does anybody know of good websites for people who suffer with agoraphobia and anxiety ?
Im pretty much housebound a lot due to my condition which all started 1 year ago after a panic attack.
I am in current counselling sessions twice a week ,my counseller said i should look into websites support groups online while im at home .
do you know of any ?
----------
(
+ info)
How do countries other than the U.S. treat panic disorder with or without agoraphobia?
Hello
I am trying to find information regarding how countries other than the United States treat panic disorders with or without agoraphobia--for example, Japan or Africa, Spain...basically wherever as long as it differs from the U.S. in some way. I've tried googling but have had no luck.
If you know, do you mind stating your source? I will have to cite it, as this is for a paper. I need to get a global perspective on this disorder.
Thank you!
----------
Generally, the standard of care includes benzodiazepine drugs (Valium, Librium, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, etc.) along with a form of talk therapy.
In America, it is more common to use SSRI/SNRI drugs first, then sedating anti-histamines, before trying benzodiazepines. SS/N/RI drugs are anxiogenic (anxiety-creating) substances, and therefore a very poor choice for anyone with even mild anxiety or panic. In depressed patients (who also don't gain much benefit from the drugs, sadly), "anxiety" is listed as one of the most common effects of the SS/N/RI drugs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, etc.), and depressed patients are often given a two to four week course of benzodiazepines in order to control the anxiety that the anti-depressant invoke.
Treating anxiety with SSRIs is literally homeopathy - "like cures like". Homeopathy believes that a fever-inducing substance will cure a man with a fever (in reality, it will make his fever worse), and an anxiety-inducing substance will cure a person of anxiety (in reality, it makes anxiety worse).
I believe SSRIs are used for treating anxiety because they are non-controlled substances, and therefore the doctors prescribing them draw no attention from the DEA (which, unfortunately, is trying to tell doctors how to practice medicine, and cracking down on those who don't toe the party line - cops shouldn't be telling doctors what to do, nor vice-versa - this is the reason that many people do not receive adequate pain management in America, nor adequate treatment for psychiatric conditions, besides schizophrenia or bipolar disorder). They are addictive, just like benzodiazepines (which is an argument put forth by many uninformed doctors: "Antidepressants aren't addictive!" - take Effexor for two months and then quit - and tell me they're not addictive then) and the treatment of psychiatric patients has been harmed greatly because of it.
It's a travesty - treating anxiety with anxiety-inducing drugs. Treating depression with pills that are no more effective than placebo, and many times more harmful (cf. medical study reviewed in current Newsweek, a meta-study of EVERY WELL-CONTROLLED STUDY ever conducted on anti-depressants).
In addition to neuroleptic drugs like Abilify, Risperdal, and Seroquel, which cause depression directly through dopamine and serotonin-antagonism (if serotonin deficiency is the cause of depression, how can both serotonin-agonists and -antagonists help it? answer: neither do.), and have a whole host of deforming, disabling, possibly permanent and deadly side-effects (Parkinsonism, Diabetes, Neuroleptic Malignancy, Prolactinemia, etc.).
These drugs were approved because they were designed to sedate the acutely-agitated psychotic (hallucinating, hearing voices) and violent patient - more dangerous side-effects are considered tolerable when dealing with controlling someone who is being told to kill the psych ward staff by the television.
I know this as a psychologist who personally suffers from panic disorder, currently taking 1mg of (brand-name: don't settle for generic in psych drugs unless you can't afford them: the difference is sometimes over 25% active ingredient, under law, up to 20% weaker is permissible in generics) Klonopin (clonazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine) three times a day, along with 150mg of Lyrica, three times a day, and 10mg of baclofen three times a day for panic disorder and anxiety. The only meds that have ever worked, and I have taken everything from MAOIs, TCAs, neuroleptics, both typical and atypical, SSRIs, SNRIs, sedating antihistamines, anti-epileptics, and the works - over 30 different drugs - before finding ones that worked, and will work for mostly anyone. The other shut functions through placebo effect, and all of the anti-depressants, excluding a few of the TCAs (Nortriptiline and Amitriptiline) worsen anxiety.
Along with 22mg of buprenorphine a day for my heroin addiction, all's peachy. I'm still nuts, and don't feel normal (the only times I have in my life were the four hours after each shot of heroin) and not yet fit to practice again, but as good as I've ever felt on legal, prescribed medication.
Don't let the doctors give you bullshit for anxiety. Demand a benzodiazepine (stay away from Xanax, IMO), and if not, at least Lyrica or Neurontin. The others range from ineffective to hellish.
You'd be surprised how many headshrinks are diagnosed themselves. It's usually why they get in to the field - at least it was for me. (
+ info)
Is there any effective medication for agoraphobia/ panic attacks?
I need to get a job and get on with my life, but how can I do that when simply driving to the store sends me on a hellish fit of fear and panic? I cant even get to the doctors easily....
If you were once a sufferer and found treatment, your opinion would be most valid.
----------
YES!!!
I take klonopin and prozac......they have been life savers. go see a psychiatrist, they know the meds, if they arent working, what to switch you to next, if need be. (
+ info)
What Should I do to get over agoraphobia?
Today I had to go to Kmart to get some things. I asked if my sister would go with me and she said "no." She said "you should go by yourself." I was afraid to do it and it is only a few blocks away. Next month I'm going to be taking classes and the place is like 3 miles away. I'm pretty nervous about this and I know as it gets closer I'm going to be afraid but I need to go there. Can someone help me please?
----------
Just walk outside everyday and keep practising walking a short distance, and keep adding to the distance! You have nothing to fear except fear itself! Good luck with your course!
Click on this link as it has people that you can talk to about your agoraphobia and help you:
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/ (
+ info)
Can anyone give me some insight about agoraphobia?
I can't work, walk into a grocery store or face people. This is a recent thing for me. What medications help this disorder? My doctors appointment is later today.
----------
AGORAPHOBIA often occurs as a result of having had a panic attack in a public place, and not wanting to repeat that experience outside of a place where someone feels safe, which is usually at home, in a place where they feel exposed, and unable to get help quickly. Options: http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com Agoraphobia &
http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com Remedy for Agoraphobia: CD or MP3 & http://www.instant-hypnosis.com Beat Agoraphobia.
At the first sign of one, employ an ANTI PANIC ATTACK breathing technique. Advice from a clinical psychologist is to breathe in to the count of 3: (one thousand one; one thousand two; one thousand three) each takes around a second to say to yourself, in your mind, and out to the count of 3. Also see http://deeplyrelax.com & www.deepsloweasy.com/html/intro.htm Note: the controlled breathing only helps with the symptoms, as do medications/herbal remedies. Address the underlying cause, which requires some form of therapy; see http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/ re anxiety, & pages H, & I. Imagine that the cause of your panic; your anxieties, fears, your self doubts, self recriminations, all the agonizing "I'm-so-Stupids"; every painful "I-can't-do-it" are huge raging, hurtful bulls snorting and charging at you. You see them coming at you and you hold out your red matador's cape at arms length and simply let them charge right by. Every time they come at you, hold out your arm with the red cape and let them rage and snort and go right on past. Some people recommend nettle tea, with a little honey. Others use Lavender tea, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, but use no milk or cream with herbal teas, or Valerian (caution: use for 3 weeks; maximum!).
Know how these affect you before driving, or doing anything dangerous, and it is far better to use the treatments, rather than relying on herbal remedies. Free online PANIC COURSE - www.panic-attacks.co.uk also available by email. See the section on panic attacks at www.mind.org.uk also Ebooklet form. They recommend letting a panic attack run its course, without doing anything to treat it, so you KNOW you will survive it. The usual maximum is 30 minutes, until symptoms begin to subside. Also see www.anxietypanic.com/signs.html and www.onestepatatime.com (chatroom, and one free email is allowed to their resident expert on joining - free) and www.medicinenet.com/panic_disorder/artic… and www.squidoo.com/controlpanicattack/modul… and and www.healthyplace.com/communities and www.anxietynetwork.com Most people are suggestible, to some degree, so you could either seek professional hypnotherapy, or, quicker, cheaper, and more conveniently: http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com Perfect Partners: Stop Panic Attacks + Breathing Exercise, or http://www.instant-hypnosis.com Stop Panic Attacks. Use a relaxation method daily, like http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html or http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/mindbody/a/Meditation.htm or http://www.wikihow.com/Meditate Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or yoga. Because many people can't access/afford professional therapy, I include the EFT, and EMDR variant for them to try, free of charge. The following is a variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from anxiety; it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. Prior to using either of these methods, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). (
+ info)
We do not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content in this site. Click here for the full disclaimer.