Agoraphobia- How do you cope?

[Uptowngirl15]

For agoraphobes, many symptoms vary by severity, I am luckily able to leave my apartment and live for the most part a 'normal' life. BUT I do have several moments, I am wondering how those who also suffer from it ( from the most extreme to the acute)- cope in their moments of flight or fight. In my case, I often feel the onset of flight and fight while on or right before going on public transportation, on the subway in the morning, as I watch people stuff themselves in the car. I am terrified every single time yet I get on. In those moments I have to distract myself with music or check my email to get my mind as far away as possible from the thought of being on a train I cannot get off!! Not to mention my next biggest fear- being on a bridge. The moment I make the choice to get on the subway, I know I will be on a bridge for the next 5 minutes. I am really exhausted by this daily challenge- who else can relate and perhaps share some feedback? I open to all (:

[Agora1]

Hi Uptowngirl15, I could relate from the 5 years Agoraphobia stole from me.

(or maybe because I allowed it to) My anxiety had gotten so overwhelming that

my brain really believed I was in danger if I went outside. In learning all I could

about the Mind/Body Connection as well as practicing taking little steps to conquer

my fears, I overcame it.

What was outside that caused me to go into panic mode? And then I realized it was

all about the loss of control/escape. Little by little I used different methods to get

a handle on my fears. One of them was to get angry out loud at this fear mongrel

trying to tell me lies. I would yell at the fear when it came over me, that I was in charge

of my life and not anxiety. I would not allow anxiety to rule over me anymore. And then,

I would put one foot in front of the other and proceed to do what I needed to.

It was very difficult and frightening, but anything worth while is always scary in taking

that first step. From there I used Meditation and Deep Breathing while helped immensely.

Breathing is now my "go to" whenever a self doubt or what if enters my mind.

I'm glad you are here with us Uptowngirl. Not only are you not alone but you will learn

from the experiences of others and may apply it to your own life. xx

[Uptowngirl15 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora1,

Thank you for your response! I have tried aversian therapy on my own after reading about it online and thought maybe if i could just approach it differently and normalize it- then i could lose the panic that i have always associated it with. For a week or two it was really working and i thought wow my mind is so powerful. unfortunately that didnt last long and i was back at square one.

I do know that there are so many ways to go about this though and i havent given up, maybe I will try what you did and just put these negative and racing thoughts i have in their place. I am just so self-conscious when it comes to freaking out or having an attack in front of everyone and im afraid that just makes things worse. i will give the meditation and deep breathing a try as well- perhaps listening to a nice soundtrack or guided meditation will help calm me in my morning commute. fingers crossed!!

Thank you again!

[Agora1 in reply to Uptowngirl15]

Meditation will help immensely. I always start my day (before getting out of bed) in

listening to a SelfHypnosis/Affirmations Meditation tape while I breathe in slowly

and gently exhale long and slow. Breathing has a way in calming the adrenaline

down. It brings peace to the mind which then calms the body. They are intertwined.

What we think is what we get.

I also meditate mid afternoon as well as before bed. This has become a daily practice.

As for the breathing release, that is used throughout the day. I am always one step

ahead of fear sneaking in. While driving, shopping, sitting in the doctors office, watching tv etc. overtime I have built a tolerance to my emotions. Even when cooking,

I am in hypnosis mode during the last 10 seconds of my microwave timer. If I even hear

a tv show where they mention the word relax or they count down, w/o thinking my

mind goes to that better place.

I had gone to a hypnotherapist at one time just for a few sessions, but have found it so

helpful over the years. YouTube also has some great hypnosis meditations. It is such a

profound feeling in knowing you are in control. My best to you xx

[Hidden]

Hey as one who has recovered from agoraphobia... I was told to face my fear..then when I get through it & it's a positive experience to take it with me the next time...I did it & it worked! Remember how many times you have already gotten through it & nothing happened, right? I hope this helps you some.. I do remember the terror all too well....give yourself more credit girl for what you have been doing & now take charge!

I wish you all the best..if you'd like let me know how you make out?

Sparkles & dump trucks of groovy love, peace, light, joy & hugs Uptowngirl15!

[Uptowngirl15 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for sharing you experience! I definitely have my days of confidence when i feel like i can get through the fear then others when im terrified. I think what gets me by most days is by doing what you said, remembering each time i got through it and nothing bad happened, i didnt die, i didnt faint. I will continue practicing these positive thoughts in hopes that one day all of the prior assocations will fade away.

[Hidden in reply to Uptowngirl15]

Exactly ~ Positive thinking is definitely where it's at ~ about anything & everything..... Continue on & may you conquer this battle... I'll be here for you....cheering you on also!

More sparkles & dump trucks Uptowngirl15!

[wiserlady]

I know how it is to have agrophobia, its awful, and I remember then that nobody understood. I had been told by the doctor I could go to see a counsellor 20 miles away, which was totally ignoring that I would feel awful if I walked out the front door and could not walk to the front gate. IF I had felt well enough to go I woudlnt have needed any help. I found that using a free prayer forum at accuratepsychicreadingsonli... helped me a lot. I still use it now even though that was decades ago and I got better. But I got better without any help from the doctors or therapists. By doing things slowly and very gradually. Thankfully I am not the sort who hankers to go out, am a home body anyway. Which makes it a lot easier.