Agoraphobia Homepage

Question: How do i recover from agoraphobia/anxiety?

(Posted by: Kayleigh on 2010-07-25 16:24:23)

Ive been suffering tremendously with this for the past year. i just started seeing a therapist and will be put on an antidepressant soon. any tips on how to cope? im going INSANE. its all i think about.

Posted by: ThinLizzy77 on 2010-07-25, 17:24:36

I know what you are going through , i suffered through this for almost 2 years of my life. I didn't go out , i slept a lot , i got the most horrible anxiety attacks at night and i developed insomnia, among other things. My doctor put me on an antidepressant but the side effects where worse for me that I stopped taking them. Finally my grandmother couldn't see me unhappy anymore she took me to a psychologist who told me that I was going to get much better if I took her therapy of 10 months . She helped me a lot she used a japanese therapy on me called reiki and at first I didn't want to believe that that was going to help me but it did and now I'm a different person. Maybe you can research in your area if someone does this technique i recommend it a lot . Also i recommend you see a psychologist too pouring your heart out helps a lot because my dr told me that the reason you go through anxiety / agoraphobia / depression is because of things that happen in your childhood or past. The ways I cope through this was exercise I would exercise or go walking at nights at my local park , also if you have a pet like a dog or a cat this helps you a lot too. My psychologist told me I should walk the dog every night and every early morning for about 20 minutes and this was going to make a difference. I know that with agoraphobia its difficult to get out of the house but think to yourself Is this what you want for the rest of your life? You have to try to help yourself and start getting your life back to normal. Also try to read books like the anxiety disease by david sheehan or one that really helped also was hope and help for your nerves by claire weekes. By reading about other peoples anxiety makes you not feel lonely and sort of makes you feel better by knowing you are not the only one out there. When i use to be stuck in the house i use to go on yahoo answers and help all those people that will post questions about their anxiety and try to give them tips on how to cope and that will make me feel a bit more secured . anyways this is long enough but just try to do these things and if you need someone to talk when you are going insane just send me a message .

Posted by: Gen on 2010-07-25, 16:34:19

When you are triggered the best thing to try and do is ground yourself by doing activities such as the ones on this list: 1. breathe slowly and deeply. In for 5 seconds. Hold for 5 seconds. Out for 5 seconds. and keep repeating it over and over. 2. Use your 5 senses. Smell 5 things where you are now. Taste 5 things. Hear 5 things. See 5 things. Touch 5 things. BUT if one of the senses is what triggered you don't use that sense, skip over it and use another one twice. 3. Call someone you trust, like a friend or your T 4. Write in a journal 5. Draw 6. Change your scenery. If you are outside go inside and visa versa. 7. Write poetry or a story 8. Read a book 9. Play video games 10. Write a letter to someone who hurt you. Then crumple it up and throw it away. Put all the thoughts down on paper as if you would show the person but tear it up and never show them. That is a way for you to get it out. 11. Go for a walk or jog. Be mindful, look at your surroundings and feel the sun, rain, snow, hot, cold. 12. Hold ice in your hand. The cold will snap you back to the present and wont leave any marks 13. Snap a rubber band against your wrist. Once again it will bring you back to the present. 14. Repeat phrases such as "I am safe now " "It's over " "It's just a memory " 15. If you have a pet like a dog or cat pet them, brush them, hug them. Pets hold unconditional love for their owners and are amazing at making people feel better. Add your own to this list...

Posted by: Susie T on 2010-07-25, 16:38:15

This is the disorder that prevents an individual from a normal lifestyle. it keeps the person indoors most of the time. start gradually, by you leaving the house for just a few minutes.[the home is the safety net.]then stay gone a little longer each time. eventually,you will be able to stay for a few hours. the anxiety medication will be great for this. when taken as directed.this can get better.god bless you.

Posted by: Jon Fanetti on 2010-07-25, 17:06:25

Alright I am no doctor but I can tell you two things. 1. Going on anti-depressants is only a temporary relief from unhappiness. I forgot the name of the author but his book is called artificial happiness but he talks about how to many people are resorting to this remedy. 2. If your having anxiety because you don't know how to cope then what you need to do is learn how to relax and understand that there are many tools out there to help. Some tools.. a. Learn b. Takes action to see results c. Don't think about worrying d. Determine whether it is an actual disorder or just a spirtual dsyfunction before you use medication