agoraphobia

[xo_haili]

lately i've been starting to been trapped. but i'm too scared to leave my house. total double whammie.

i need some tips and tricks on how to work my way out of the house. help me please

[valachia-t]

Take baby steps. Start by sitting on the porch, walking to your stop sign, go to the store, you don't have to go in, but next time go in for 2 to 5 mintues. Push your self, and try to get out of the house at least 3 times a week, I don't care if it is only 2 minutes, it's therapy and it will be rewarding. Trust me. I have agarophobia, vertigo, panic attacks, etc.... I hope this helps.

[Lucas29]

Hey, im somewhat the same. I am slightly introverted, not a huge fan of being out, but I do like to walk in quiet places. Do you have any wooded areas near by? go for a walk in nature, away from the busy streets of people and moving cars. go for a stroll by rivers and fairly secluded areas, the woods is a personal favourite of mine, being out in nature is a medicine for us, makes us feel down to earth and calm. You have those type of locations near you?

[Jeff1943]

Xo_haili, the great American philosopher Norman Vincent Peale once sais "Do what you fear and the death of fear is assured." I think he might have had you in mind. But how do you get out of the door in the first place when you have agrophobia? The only answer is to take a walk outside and accept that you're going to have a bad feeling. Accept that bad feeling for the moment, go for a walk anyway.

Maybe you think your legs will turn to jelly and you'll collapse. You won't, even jelly legs can take you up the road and back.

But you must "accept" the bad feelings as calmly and as fearlessly as you can. Bad feelings needn't stop you doing the things you want to do. I promise you xo_haili, NO HARM WILL COME TO YOU if you step outside. There is NOTHING THERE WAITING TO SCARE YOU. That's just a trick your sensitised nervous system is playing on you, you can walk down the street like anyone else but you must accept the bad feelings for the moment. But don't just grit your teeth and hurry to get it over with, that's not Accepting, that's "putting up with" and that's no good. So do it with a relaxed mind and the minimum of fear you can.

Once you've proved to yourself you can walk down the street, even go shopping, despite the bad feelings BUT ACCEPTING THEM then it will be easier thenext time. And even easier the time after that.

[Agora1]

Hi xo_haili, I certainly have earned my name "Agora1" after being agoraphobic for 5 years. I've talked with you before in the steps I finally took because like you, I was starting to feel trapped and suffocating within those 4 walls. I spent many months looking out the window at the 4 seasons in Chicago. I started with sitting on my enclosed back porch both in the light of day as well as some quiet evenings. From there I took a little walk in the backyard, opened the garage and long to drive my beautiful car. The next day I got into the car, started it, listened to a relaxation tape and went back in. After a couple days, even though my therapist was willing to come to my house and sit in the passenger seat while I went around the block, I chose to do this myself. In one of the other responses I wrote to you, that was the beginning. First around the block then a little further and finally one day to the Dollar Shop (my favorite).

My relaxation tape was always playing as I drove, deep breathing my way to my destination. The confidence and feeling of accomplishment was a high I hadn't felt for quite a while.

Small steps and never turning back was the answer. I was very capable, it had been my mind telling me I wasn't. If for you, walking is a better choice, then do that.

My cell was my security blanket but I never had to use it. Even in the house, my cell was in my pocket everyday for the "just in case" moments that never transpired. Enough was enough of this nonsense. I got angry at the anxiety demon in my mind. I'll show it whose boss. Guess what? I won Good Luck haili x