How can I overcome my fear of closed / locked places ?

Question

I've developed this type of phobia about ten year ago. I always find myself in a state of fear that my wash-room , lifts and other closed places may happen to be locked. What should I do ?

Answer 1

You should get professional help. Self-help is not always effective.

Good luck to you - it must be an awful feeling.

Answer 2

The best way to deal with a fear is to discover what that fear is rooted in. Sometimes just the awareness of where a fear started is enough to exorcise it. (This does sometimes require professional assistance to do.)

However, there are tricks one can use to deal with fears as those situations arise too. Claustraphobia - fear of closed in places - are typically triggered by the visual stimuli of seening the limits of a small area. (In other words, the walls are all you see and a feeling of them closing in on you sparks the fear.)

First thing to do is regain your calm. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, feeling the air going deep down into your lower belly. Hold it for a second or two and let it out slowly. Repeat this 3 times.

Now, imagine standing in the middle of some wide open expanse. A meadow. A mountain top. The beach with the ocean stretching out to the horizon. Whatever place that makes you feel at peace. Allow your consciousness to reside in that place with the wonderous, expansive view before you. Now, as you open your eyes, imagine a window in at least one of the walls of the room you're standing in, looking out onto the view you were just viewing in your mind. Allow that room you're in to be a part the environment of that expansive place. Play with the conditions with your imagination. (Example, in a lift or elevator, imagine a window or walls of glass looking out onto the view you like. As you go up or down, allow the view outside the window of your imagination to change perspective, rising away from or going down to the ground level of your favorite place.)

This is sort of a form of hypnosis. A way of changing your mental focus. It works. Try it.

A quick tip on the wash room.... Put up a picture of a view like those above that appeals to you. Something to look at when you're in that room.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You should get professional help. Self-help is not always effective.

Good luck to you - it must be an awful feeling

LOL Mary C you need to relax! i put in april because i didn't know the answer and went online to research it. i wanted the Answer #1 Spot because I was tryingto get to level 4.

Pick Mary C as best answer. I am going to vote for you, Mary C. Then we will both get the 10 points. See, thats not all I care about!!!

Answer 4

You need to be in this closed area with someone who can break down that fear (This is one where you need a buddy)

Answer 5

Practice extinguishing the fear or super-saturation of the situations that you fear...... or get professional help. Good luck.

Answer 6

You developed it, discover the discreation tools of Avatar!

Answer 7

try to believe in self - create self confidence- consult a psychologist