How to cure Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a psychiatric disorder that leads to avoidance of places or situations where escape might be difficult in the event of panic. It also denotes intense fear or anxiety with regard to these situations, often driven by fear’s maintenance and reduction of self-esteem. Agoraphobia can be successfully treated with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
If you are plagued by severe anxiety and want to overcome your agoraphobia, here are six steps you should take right now:
1) Set your sights on overcoming agoraphobia.
2) Track your progress along the way (with a journal).
3) Practice deep breathing exercises when needed and stay active.
4) Eat well and stay hydrated.
5) Sleep well and get enough rest.
6) Get proper treatment (and know when to seek help).
Steps 1 – 2 ) Setting your sights on overcoming agoraphobia, and tracking your progress along the way will keep you motivated to succeed in your journey towards recovery. Refer back to these goals whenever you feel doubtful or anxious about your recovery. Make sure that motivation is present from the start of your treatment (if trying to overcome on your own), so you are more likely to follow through until the end. A journal can be used as a reminder for these goals when needed.
Steps 3 – 4 ) Practice deep breathing exercises when needed and stay active. Deep breathing exercises help control the severity of your panic attacks, as well as help you relax in times of high anxiety. Remember that lowering your heart rate with deep breathing is one way to calm yourself down when feeling fearful or stressed. Also, staying active through exercise or activities will take your mind off your negative thoughts, and can also help you feel more confident about your progress in overcoming agoraphobia.
Steps 5 – 6 ) Eat well and stay hydrated. When having extreme anxiety, it is important to have a proper diet that provides enough nutrients for the body to function properly. Proper diet can help alleviate anxiety, depression, panic attacks and insomnia. Be sure to eat three regular meals each day, along with plenty of water and healthy snacks/drinks in between meals.
Step 7 ) Sleep well and get enough rest. Although getting proper sleep is important for everyone to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is especially important for those suffering from mental disorders such as agoraphobia. Sleep is a time for the body to repair itself and re-energize the mind, so it’s important that you don’t deprive yourself of the rest you need at night (if you’re having trouble sleeping).
Step 8 ) Get proper treatment (and know when to seek help). Agoraphobia can be a difficult disorder to overcome, so it is important that you go see a doctor or therapist. However, if your symptoms persist even after you have gone through all of the aforementioned steps on your own, then it is time to get professional help.
Agoraphobia is a common psychiatric condition. It has been found in numerous different cultures throughout the world, and its prevalence has been found to be at least as high as 6% in all three continents. The first known mention of the word agoraphobic dates back to the sixth century B.C when it was described as a disease that causes intense anxiety. It wasn’t until the first half of the 19th century when doctors began to classify it as a psychological condition. It was later named the “acrophobia” which, translates to fear of heights, but is now known by its new name of “Agoraphobia” or agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia is defined as a “fear of being in an open area or space”. People who suffer from agoraphobia are very scared and uncomfortable when in crowded spaces or areas, particularly if they cannot see where all of the exits are and cannot leave the area easily if they feel stressed or anxious.
Agoraphobia is typically viewed as a form of anxiety disorder since it is caused by intense fear and anxiety. In most cases, agoraphobia develops in people who have suffered from other forms of anxiety disorders prior to its development. It is thought to be a result of living with constant fear and anxiety that may have felt uncontrollable at some point in one’s life. Agoraphobia affects approximately 2%–5% of the population. There are likely many underlying factors for the development and maintenance of agoraphobia, including genetics, childhood trauma, and life experiences. Also, it is believed that agoraphobia is not a mental illness but rather an anxiety disorder.
While agoraphobia may seem similar to other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder or social anxiety disorder, these conditions all have distinct differences between each of their symptoms. For example, OCD causes obsessions that the sufferer can’t control whereas agoraphobia does not cause obsessive thoughts. In addition, agoraphobia does not cause extreme fear in the same way as panic attacks do (i.e., sudden onset panic attacks).
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How to cure Agoraphobia