Agoraphobia. Many of us have heard the term but are unaware of how it happens.
Agoraphobia is actually a symptom of prolonged anxiety that is not being treated or a side effect of anxiety that is being treated but not effectively. What does it really mean to be agoraphobic?
Being agoraphobic means that you experiences symptoms of panic when you are put in a situation that is uncomfortable to you. To some people, this can mean leaving the safety of your home, having to travel to an unfamiliar area or in some, being in a crowd of people. Because of the anticipation of fear, people with agoraphobia will avoid doing things that make them uncomfortable. This can have a profound effect on your life. If it is allowed to go on, a person can literally become housebound.
The confusing part about agoraphobia is that until it gets to a severe level, panic attacks don't happen on a regular basis. You may be fine leaving your home and going to an unfamiliar place and then the next time you do it, you experience symptoms like excessive sweating, shortness of breath, stomach upset and a sense of sheer panic that you just cannot seem to "talk yourself out of".
It can make you feel "crazy" and get you so angry with yourself over the control that the panic has over what you do. It makes you feel embarrassed and often feelings of depression will happen. In severe cases, people can actually become suicidal over the frustrations of the symptoms.
The affects of agoraphobia can severely influence your choices in life. Someone who once was outgoing may avoid social situations. It may affect your work and sometimes can even cause you to lose your job because of frequent absences.
Patients can overcome agoraphobia with medications and therapy. The problem is that when someone is suffering from anxiety and does not treat it, agoraphobia can become the result of ignoring the anxiety.
How do you deal with agoraphobia? The first step is in recognizing it. The fear associated with anxiety disorders is what makes it so hard to treat. It takes courage to want to confront the issues that are causing the anxiety. It can be a painful process but if you are tired of having anxiety control your life, this can motivate you and give you the strength to overcome anxiety .
Depression is also common amongst people who suffer from agoraphobia. This is natural because you may feel pressure from others to be a part of life and you have allowed the panic to put you into a place where you are so used to getting by that you do not want to face the fear.
Well-meaning family and friends often do not understand the power that fear has over you. Agoraphobics don't need to be "babied" but they need to be supported. Cognitive behavior therapy can help you to overcome your fears but until you commit to it, you will be stuck in an endless pattern of having fear control your life.
As with any anxiety disorder, agoraphobia can be overcome. It may take a lot of tears and facing your fears but you can put agoraphobia behind yo
Agoraphobia is actually a symptom of prolonged anxiety that is not being treated or a side effect of anxiety that is being treated but not effectively. What does it really mean to be agoraphobic?
Being agoraphobic means that you experiences symptoms of panic when you are put in a situation that is uncomfortable to you. To some people, this can mean leaving the safety of your home, having to travel to an unfamiliar area or in some, being in a crowd of people. Because of the anticipation of fear, people with agoraphobia will avoid doing things that make them uncomfortable. This can have a profound effect on your life. If it is allowed to go on, a person can literally become housebound.
The confusing part about agoraphobia is that until it gets to a severe level, panic attacks don't happen on a regular basis. You may be fine leaving your home and going to an unfamiliar place and then the next time you do it, you experience symptoms like excessive sweating, shortness of breath, stomach upset and a sense of sheer panic that you just cannot seem to "talk yourself out of".
It can make you feel "crazy" and get you so angry with yourself over the control that the panic has over what you do. It makes you feel embarrassed and often feelings of depression will happen. In severe cases, people can actually become suicidal over the frustrations of the symptoms.
The affects of agoraphobia can severely influence your choices in life. Someone who once was outgoing may avoid social situations. It may affect your work and sometimes can even cause you to lose your job because of frequent absences.
Patients can overcome agoraphobia with medications and therapy. The problem is that when someone is suffering from anxiety and does not treat it, agoraphobia can become the result of ignoring the anxiety.
How do you deal with agoraphobia? The first step is in recognizing it. The fear associated with anxiety disorders is what makes it so hard to treat. It takes courage to want to confront the issues that are causing the anxiety. It can be a painful process but if you are tired of having anxiety control your life, this can motivate you and give you the strength to overcome anxiety .
Depression is also common amongst people who suffer from agoraphobia. This is natural because you may feel pressure from others to be a part of life and you have allowed the panic to put you into a place where you are so used to getting by that you do not want to face the fear.
Well-meaning family and friends often do not understand the power that fear has over you. Agoraphobics don't need to be "babied" but they need to be supported. Cognitive behavior therapy can help you to overcome your fears but until you commit to it, you will be stuck in an endless pattern of having fear control your life.
As with any anxiety disorder, agoraphobia can be overcome. It may take a lot of tears and facing your fears but you can put agoraphobia behind yo
My aunt suffered from agoraphobia. This blog will help many people.
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