How to Help Your Spouse Overcome Agoraphobia

Does your spouse have agoraphobia, which is the fear of going outside of the home? Are you unsure on how to go about in helping your spouse overcome agoraphobia? To help understand what type of impact agoraphobia can have on someone's overall life and how you can help your spouse overcome agoraphobia, I have interviewed therapist Elizabeth C. Smith, MAMFT, LPC.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
"I am residing in Hattiesburg, MS with my husband of 20 years and my two children, ages 10 and 4. My husband and I have been the pastors of our church, True Understanding Ministries, since March 2009. I have my MA in Christian Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Oral Roberts University. I am a senior doctoral candidate at the University of Southern Mississippi where I am completing my dissertation to receive a PhD in Adult Education. My professional mental health background includes the following: I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with the state of MS. I have been in private practice (Balanced Living Counseling Services) since 2008 where I provide Clinical Christian Counseling for civilian and military individuals and their families. I have worked for various mental health facilities that provide outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, acute partial hospitalization, adolescent day treatment, adolescent group homes, and correctional facilities / prisons. I currently also work as an adjunct professor at Pearl River Community College teaching General Psychology."

What type of impact can agoraphobia have on someone's overall life?
"The term agoraphobia was derived in 1871 from the original Greek word that means marketplace. Agoraphobia in its simplest form is the fear of open spaces, which hinders sufferers from going outside of their homes or in public spaces. Agoraphobia can also accompany panic attack causing the person to avoid public places for fear of experiencing a panic attack in public. Since most people need to leave their homes to attend school, go to work, see a physician, or care for their children's school or life needs, a person with agoraphobia can be severely impaired in daily life."

How can someone help their spouse overcome agoraphobia?
"A spouse of a person with agoraphobia should educate themselves on the disorder first. In so doing, a spouse will discover that agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that usually takes more than simple support and understanding can provide. Agoraphobia can result from panic disorder or from numerous types of traumas. Someone with agoraphobia may try to self medicate with alcohol, drugs, and even excessive amounts of food, as a result, a spouse will best serve the agoraphobic partner by encouraging the person to seek professional help."

What type of professional help is available for someone dealing with agoraphobia?
"Research shows that psychotropic medication in conjunction with psychotherapy is the best treatment for someone with agoraphobia. That usually means the person will need to see a psychiatrist, such as a MD or DO, to receive anti-anxiety and possibly anti-depressant medication. Though the psychiatrist may not do house calls, typically both the psychiatrist and psychotherapist/psychologist can begin with a phone appointment. The psychologist or therapist can then provide home-based counseling/visits, and later the client can attend office visits. The psychotherapy can be provided by a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist, licensed professional counselor (LPC), or a licensed certified social worker (LCSW). The mental health professional will start the process of cognitive behavioral therapy by challenging faulty thinking patterns, false and irrational beliefs. Then comes the need to challenge and change the person's behavior that is reality or solution-focused including exposure therapy. The person will learn positive, anxiety reducing techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation."

Thank you Elizabeth for doing the interview on how someone can help their spouse overcome agoraphobia. For more information on Elizabeth C. Smith or her work you can check out her website on www.balancedlivingcounseling.com.