Beating Agoraphobia – Avoidance is Not the Answer
People who just went through their first panic attack usually develop a constant nagging fear that another panic attack is likely to occur again any time and any place. No doubt a panic attack can be scary and can leave ugly memories especially if the first attack happened in a public place and the sufferer was unable to control it.
It is not surprising then that people who could not get rid of these ugly memories of their first attack usually try to avoid public places, gatherings or other situations because of this fear. What worries them more is that the next attack will happen while they are in a public place and they will face embarrassment in front of everybody. Sometimes, they are also afraid that the attack will happen in a place where help is not readily available.
A fear of open spaces or more often called “agoraphobia” then develops because of this frequent anticipation of another panic attack. Oftentimes, people who have agoraphobia prefer to just avoid situations, people or events that they think can trigger a panic attack. Avoidance of these triggers, however, is just a temporary coping mechanism that may seem convenient at first, but something that often comes with a heavy price.
If you suffer from the condition of agoraphobia, do not be merely resigned to the idea that you are powerless to overcome it. There are other ways to manage this often irrational fear and to control the anxiety that comes with it, other than simply avoiding factors that you think will trigger a panic attack. You should not live the rest of your life unable to go outside what you consider as your comfort zone. Doing so means robbing yourself of opportunities to meet other people, form enriching relationships and discover new things outside of your “safe” territory.
Instead of letting this irrational fear of your next panic attack rule your life, gather the strength to face your fear and do something about it.
Below are 3 easy steps that can lead you to recover from agoraphobia and allow you to cure panic attacks.
1. Try saying positive affirmations to yourself several times a day that will help you decrease your stress levels. You can easily ward off anxiety that may trigger a panic attack by eliminating or at least diminishing stressful factors in your life. It has been proven that positive affirmations repeated many times daily help develop a more positive and happy outlook in life.
2. Do not be afraid to seek the support of your family and friends. Rather than staying within your comfort zone, and missing out on the chance to socialize, welcome your family and friends back in your life and ask them to help you overcome your agoraphobia. Remember, avoidance only makes matters worse – it is not the ultimate cure for agoraphobia.
3. Finally, do not be ashamed to seek professional help. You are not the only one with agoraphobia, and a lot of sufferers have already been able to successfully overcome it. A good professional health care specialist will be able to help you understand the condition better and can suggest options to handle this condition better.
