Agoraphobia isn’t the opposite of claustrophobia – but a lot of people think it is˳ In fact I used to think exactly that˳ I used to think exactly that even when I was suffering from agoraphobia˳ I was even offered the opportunity to join an agoraphobics group, but I said no because I wasn’t afraid of open spaces˳ I quite liked open spaces as long as no one else was anywhere near me˳ In fact if there was no other human being in sight, then that was OK as far as I was concerned˳ But that was all a very long time ago˳
The translation of agoraphobia is ‘fear of the market place’, not, as many people think, fear of open spaces˳ The essence of the market place is people and human interaction˳ This is what is fearful˳ Places that agoraphobes typically avoid, or have problems with, are supermarkets, theatres, cinemas, crowds, parties˳ Places where a rapid exit might be difficult˳
The fear is usually of showing oneself up in some way in the eyes of others˳ Typically agoraphobes worry about things like: vomiting (usually as a result of severe anxiety); fainting; having a panic attack; or suffering from a genuine health emergency like a heart attack˳ The concern is usually one of embarrassment – perhaps fainting and finding oneself on a supermarket floor gazing up into a circle of concerned faces who will insist on making a fuss and calling an ambulance˳
Many agoraphobes manage to get by with a trusted helper who accompanies them when they need to go shopping or out socialising˳ This person is there to rescue them and take them home should anything bad, like a panic attack occur˳ But when that helper is not available life is very restricted˳
If medical help is obtained the most likely result is medication with tranquillisers and anti-depressants˳ Neither of which actually solve the problem, they just enable a minimum level of functionality˳ The problem remains, like a monster in the wardrobe, waiting to show its scary face as soon as you turn off the lights, or look the other way˳ So you are trapped˳ The medication keeps the monster locked in the wardrobe, but doesn’t get rid of it˳ Stop the medication and the monster is free once more˳
Life as an agoraphobe is no fun at all˳
So if you are agoraphobic and reading this I want to reassure you about a few things:
- This is not a disease, but you can ‘heal’ it˳
- There is nothing physically wrong with you˳
- Your brain is as normal as anyone else’s˳
- The cause is the way you think˳
- The cure is changing the way you think˳
Changing the way you think is not easy, but it is a lot easier than living the isolated, fearful, life of an agoraphobe˳
When you think about the totality of the change you need to make, it seems an insurmountable task˳
When you think about the single next step you need to take – it becomes not only possible, but relatively easy˳
The first steps are the most difficult˳ Every step after those first few become easier˳ They become easier because you have the memory of success and knowledge that what you are doing is already making a positive difference to your life˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Agoraphobia-Is-Not-the-Opposite-of-Claustrophobia&id=7152177
