Does anybody here suffer or has previously suffer from Agrophobia?

Question

I currently do and I have for coming upto 2 years now.
Would love to hear from anybody that can relate please.

thanks xx

Answer 1

Hi Nikki I am currently suffering from Agrophobia. I have been for the last three years. I can't even go in the back yard. It's horrible innit?

Answer 2

Hi Nikki, I suffered from agoraphobia really bad for a few years, after a major illness, you have my sympathy. This is something that you can recover from, with a lot of courage, some self belief and some good understanding.

The first thing is to find out about how to breathe properly. When you feel anxious, which is perfectly natural, you will start to hyperventilate. You can control this with proper technique. It can take a couple of weeks practice to acquire so please be patient.

The next step to is to face your fears.

Set a target each day however small (if you are going backwards don't worry about it).

Start by doing your breathing exercise. When you are relaxed then take the first few steps. It is very important that you move at a slow/normal steady pace, please don't rush.

When you start to become anxious then stop, you must focus on your breathing exercises again until you are relaxed. Then you can carry on with some more steps.

When you have reached your target, or if you have had enough, then return home in the same manner. It is important that you don't rush.

There will be plenty of times when you will panic and flee back home. Please don't feel guilty or disheartened by that. It is perfectly normal to do that. As long as you keep trying you will gain more and more confidence that you can do it.

Keeping a diary or a chart of your progress will help you motivate yourself.

You can find out about proper breathing from an Occupation Therapist, Nurse, or a yoga instructor. Ask your doctor for a referral. If you find breathing techniques aren't enough on their own then your doctor can prescribe beta-blockers. These drugs control your heart rate, and so reduce hyperventilation. They will make you feel tired at first until you get used to them.

I so hope you give it a go and get yourself better. It will be a tough journey and take you a long time, but I know you can do it. Best of luck.

Answer 3

I used to suffer from it. I remember one time when my mom made me go look for a job at the mall and I walked around on my own and freaked out and had to go hide in a corner outside away from everyone and cried hystericaly. I swore to never do that again. I over came it by joining the military with a close friend of mine. In basic training and tech school we did everything together and it gave me some confidence and I eventually worked off that and started going to fast food restaurants on my own then to grocery stores, and finally the mall and everywhere else. I wasn't completely comfortable but then I became a dog handler and found something I am very good at and it really gave me the confidence I needed. From there I took an online speech class and did all my speeches in a chat room setting and got a lot of support form my classmates. My final assignement was a video taped speech so I decided to do a dog demo. It combined my fear with what I am good at. Now I can go almost anywhere and talk to almost anyone. I'm not saying to join the military or anything but at least find someone to stick with you in the begining to ease you into social situations, find something you shine at, and try to use that build your confidence and work past it. It might help too if you see a therapist. I never did but I probably would have gotten faster results if I did.

Answer 4

I have suffered from this for over 20 years and have found that the best way to cope is to take everything very slowly if and when you go out. Concentrate on being relaxed and looking around slowly. Always telling yourself that you are not alone, and in someways better off than many of those around you. Tell others how you feel and share your problem. In time it gets easier to cope. Remember when you go into a supermarket many of those around you have problems and find it difficult to cope with life. Look at those around you,Stop and relax when shopping and never rush what you are doing. Walk home slowly and look around you. Try and enjoy what you see and take your time. Try it tomorrow.

Answer 5

I find it very difficult being around other people and get social anxiety. I am seeing a councillor about it and have found it hard to deal with as it has ruined my first year of university but I think it can get better, its hard but if you make the first step and get help you will be on the road to overcoming this. People dont realise how crippling these conditions can be and people assume my really shy nature and inability to talk in a social situation is because I am boring and rude, i'm not though, I just find being around people terribly hard to deal with. I wish you luck, now that you have faced up to the problem you can make the first steps in moving forward. xxx

Answer 6

Try this link i did this therapy and my life is completely different, i went from having social phobia being scared of my own shadow, self harm, paranoia, unemployed and drunk(thats just a bit of my problems lol)...4 months after completing therapy i am training to be a hypnotherapist work with people who have mental health problems and have started working towards a degree, i have loads of confidence and am having a great time. Took years to find the right therapy and this is it...

http://www.hypnoanalysis.com/index.html

They treat all phobias - infact they treat any symptom that has a psychological aspect to it!

good luck hope things get better xxx

Answer 7

I am starting to get it. I am still able to leave my house but its getting to the point where I don't want to. I am on anti anxiety drugs and am going to counselling. Are those options for you? How do you cope? Can you work? Or do you just stay home all the time?

Answer 8

I had those issues too then i saw this amazing lady who helped in a couple of sessions using NLP to stop the bad thought/feelings. it is amzing, I cant stop telling everyone about her, it has changed my life check out www.real-changes.com

she is on that site

Answer 9

Hiya,ye i have it on and off for 5 years now,i know only too well how horrible and frustrating it is,mail me if u want to chat

Answer 10

See agorAphobia, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 8.