Five Things You Can Do If You Suspect That You Have Agoraphobia

Be sure you have agoraphobia: To start with, you may not be sure whether you have agoraphobia

. If that is the case, then compare what you feel or are experiencing with known symptoms of the condition. If you are in doubt, visit a psychologist or some other therapist and have a diagnosis confirmed. Agoraphobic situations include for some, being outside alone, being in a crowd, standing in a line, even travelling in a bus or car. Agoraphobic sufferers avoid the situations or places they fear and therefore can become isolated.

Take medication if you want: There is medication you can take. For example, paroxetine and sertraline are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors you can take daily to alleviate symptoms. However, be aware that these medications have side effects such as nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, sexual dysfunction, nausea and diarrhoea.

Get non-pharmacological therapies: Because of the side effects associated with pharmacological interventions, many people now prefer non pharmacological therapies. By far the most popular therapies are cognitive behavioural therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy is designed to help a sufferer develop more realistic and positive ways of perceiving situations and therefore overcome the fear he may associate with being in certain places or situations.

On the other hand, exposure therapy is based on the premise that by being exposed repeatedly to a situation or circumstances he fears, a person eventually overcomes the anxiety, fear and distress he experiences when in such a situation. Graded exposure therapy is used for many people suffering from agoraphobia. In other words, the sufferer is trained to expose himself to places or situations in which he experiences fear repeatedly and regularly initially for short periods of time. The duration of exposure is gradually increased till the people are able to stay in the places that used to make him agoraphobic without experiencing any stress.

Use self-help anxiety disorders treatment programmes available on the internet: You do not necessarily need to visit a psychologist or some other therapist if you are looking for help. If you surf the internet, you are likely to come across self-help programs for overcoming agoraphobia. If you select such self-help programs carefully, you are not only going to come up with a program that is affordable but one that is also effective. In fact studies have shown that many online self-help programs for fighting anxiety disorders are as effective as therapies provided by practicing psychologists.

Tap into your social support: One other thing that will help you cope is social support. If you are part of a family, do not be secretive about your condition. Let the people who matter to you know that you suffer from agoraphobia. By talking about you're your condition, you are lifting a burden from your chest and you are also educating your loved ones so that when you become agoraphobic, they know what is happening and do not misunderstand your behaviour and emotions. Further, joining support groups for people with anxiety disorders, will also help you find friends who are in the same boat as you. Support groups provide a forum in which you can share anxiety experiences and anxiety disorder management strategies with others.

by: Tims Sentinel

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