Moving Past Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a debilitating condition that makes it difficult for people to enjoy the easy movement and social interaction that most of us take for granted. If you suffer with this condition, you are not alone. Along with seeking professional help, here are some ideas that may help.

Get a check-up. While agoraphobia may develop over time or be the result of an emotional trauma, it can also develop as a companion to an anxiety disorder. There are physical components that exacerbate anxiety. Treat those successfully and your ability to deal with agoraphobia may increase.

Assess your limits. Some agoraphobics are able to function with relative ease in a few "safe" places, such as the homes of friends. Others are unable to move outside the protection of their home. Knowing what you are able to manage now makes it possible to set the stage for expanding your range of safe places.

Push those limits. If you cannot go outside, open your front door and stand on your threshold. After a few days of successfully doing that, get a chair and sit on your front stoop. Once this territory is reclaimed, walk down the steps and sit in your front yard. Reclaim your ability to go outside a little at a time, and treasure each inch of territory you regain.

Recognize every victory, no matter how small it may seem. When months have passed since you were able to bike around your neighborhood, rejoice when you are finally able to get on that bike and pedal around the block. Claiming that victory will help make it easier to try again tomorrow and maybe go a little further.

Don't let temporary failures derail your confidence. It is not unusual for someone suffering with agoraphobia to be able to travel a given distance one day, but be petrified at repeating the trip the following day. If you can't manage to go the same distance today, tell yourself you will still go as far as you can and tomorrow will reclaim the lost ground.

Never hide your condition from loved ones. Agoraphobics often make use of many different tricks and strategies to conceal the severity of their condition from other people. This is counterproductive. Being open about your condition opens the door for loved ones to be supportive and to also be on the lookout for therapies and techniques that may be just what you need to recover. At the very least, you'll quickly learn just how much you mean to certain people in your social circle.

Don't compare your progress to someone with a similar condition. Each person dealing with agoraphobia recovers at their own pace. While its great to draw inspiration from the success of someone who is fighting the same condition, no one is running a race. In the end, both of you will arrive at the goal, and both of you will be winners.

Tips & WarningsShame is often present in the agoraphobic, since the condition is often viewed as a character flaw. Talk with others so you can begin to see your situation as a bona fide medical condition that deserves treatment, not something to hide from everyone around you. Beware of products or methods that promise an overnight cure for agoraphobia. There aren't any. Save your money and use it to seek support from a qualified therapist, to join a support group, or to pay for any anti-anxiety medication your physician deems will help with your condition.