Hello. Before I start saying on how you can beat it, I'll introduce myself.
First of all, my name is Tomislav and I live in a country called Serbia in Europe. I've got agoraphobia around 5-6 years ago. How did I get it? Well as you might know "It was a drop in already full glass". I had weird life, I dont want to say hard because there were great moments and there were horrible ones.
What happend? Well first this that happened to me is that my brother cut his arm, he was in hospital for 4 days, and he was in coma for 2 days. He almost bleeded out. After 3 months my father died. He was 50 and he died from 2 instant hearthattacks.After 4 months (6 months from my fathers death) my granpa died. After 2 weeks since my granpa died, my uncle shot himself in the head and died. So preety much "Horrible" year. But besides that, there were minor issues that I had to resolve. Even my life seemed like it came to an end, it became even worse at some points, but let's get back to Agoraphobia. I went to school one day and my friend fainted in front of me. That was worst thing I've seen, since I thought he is dead since he had hearth issues, good thing it was only fainting. After all those things, I tried having normal life, but no. Agoraphobia already did it's own things. I was stuck. Stuck somewhere in flowing time. I visited around 20-30 doctors that told me much much things that I didnt have. Firstly they suspected I have diabetes, but they failed since it wasnt, then cancer etc.... I've been visiting doctors for 2 years and NO ONE diagnosted me with Agoraphobia. I gave up then, I continued having horrible life until one day I talked with my friend that works in Ireland as a doctor. I explained him my simptoms and after a while he came to an conclusion. I was confused. Then he told me his story, he had agoraphobia when he was a kid. I had few consultations with doctors over internet (other country doctors) and they agreed. After I Told that to my doctors they said "Oh we knew that" yeah right. But living with it is hard, and I've been living with it for 6 years now (almost 6 years). I wont be able to fully make that agoraphobia dissapear, it's still there at some points of my life, and yes I still do have panic attacks (once upon a month) and they last for around 5 minutes. Let's take a look at some things.
Get a support buddy
What is a support buddy? Well support buddy is someone that trusts you, and that you feel safe with. In my case it was my best friend, my brother and of course my mother. How can they help you? Well go with them somewhere and then re-do that again alone. You will see difference. I couldnt get into a public bus for 3 years and then I hopped in one day with my buddy and guess what? I was happy. I didnt have panic attacks at all, since I felt safe and I knew someone is there with me that I cannot dissapoint. I was feeling realy proud at that point. So support buddy ASAP. If you dont have anyone get a dog, dogs can realy help, because they will always be there. As the time pass try to redo the steps alone, if you cant, call ya buddy and ask him to redo that with you. Focus on difference. Those things such as "Ignore it" are complete stupidance, since I survived all that and I know how hard it is to ignore it.
Start working something
If you are able to get a job then get one, if not, then go around the house and clean it if needed. After you get realy tired go shower and then sleep. Get the bad energy out from your organism! You dont need it!
NEVER take any sort of medicine
Are there medicine that can help you? Yes and No. I used to drink medications but they helped me in one way, but they brought horrible after-effect. Agoraphobia is specific sickness, it's not like normal depression or such that's why many doctors will just write you what medicine to drink without worrying about you. Agoraphobia cannot be beaten up by medicine, only by brain.
Stop being selfish
Imagine all stuff your parents gotta do in order so you can have stuff that you do. I had no choice, I had to work. No matter if I got agoraphobia or not, I had to wake up everyday and work the entire day. I had 10 panic attacks a day. I remember once that my panic attacked lasted for 45 minutes. It was HORRIBLE, that's why you gotta move. You gotta start doing something. No matter how much times you get striked, do it again!
What can happen?
I know that panic attacks are just horrible. But you gotta survive them. What will happen? NOTHING. Panic attacks are just stupid. Nothing will happend to you. I've been living in fear of fainting, that was my agoraphobia focus. Every single time I wanted to get from my house I was like "Oh I will faint", you know how I changed my thinking? I took picture of my dog, funny picture and each time I was having bad time, I looked up at that picture and laughed. No matter how much I was in bad mood, no matter how large was my panic attack it made me laugh. You gotta change your thinking. I know it's hard and sometimes might seem impossible but you gotta do it!
Train your brain
Agoraphobia. Well your brain got used to work in repeat mode now. Ex: I saw my friend faiting in a bus and now each time I get into a bus I will think of it. No. Stop it! Stop thinking that you will disgrace yourself or such. Nothing is going to happen! You gotta go or do the stuff that caused your agorophobia. You MUST do it! In order to overcome a fear you gotta face it first!
Baby steps
I dont care how big agoraphobia is in your brain, you gotta move! You gotta do things, get out from the house, walk to the lawn, then get inside and do it 10 times in a single day. Then again tomorrow.
Plan your goings
Plan in your brain what will you do if a panic attack happens. Ex: "I will hide in a corner, and wait for it to shut down". Also make sure you plan the night if you are going out. Agoraphobia can stirke at any point that's why you gotta plan when you gonna get back, when you are going to get out. Follow the plan. If you say you will be at home at 8PM then do so. Dont stay more, or less, if you think it was enough then it was because an attack can happen anytime.
What to do during attacks
Walk. That helped me much times. I start running or walking realy fast while having an attack. It helps a lot. Tho in your case it might help, but if it doesnt make sure you find out what can reduce the attack period.
Your home is your castle
I know, you are locked up on your home all day long. Nothing to do? It happened to me lots of times. Call a buddy or someone else then. Dont be alone. The depression will arrive and after it a panic attack will have bigger chances of producing. Dont forget that agoraphobia is hard to overcome but it's possible.
Have a diary or such
Write everything that happens. Such as "I had an attack today" and write EVERYTHING that happened while having it. Once in a while read it. You will see the difference and you will feel stronger. "Oh I managed to overcome that".
And many more. I'll update this thread. I just came from a b-day party (yeppp I managed to do it ) and tired as hell so I will write you more soon.
I can also help you via skype or facebook.
Skype: Tomitzakiller
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latommy.toxy
I am here to help you at ANY point. If you even want I can give you my phone number so you can call me during hard time so I can help you, or if you need some advice or such.
PS: I am NOT going to accept any money or such. My services are completly free.
First of all, my name is Tomislav and I live in a country called Serbia in Europe. I've got agoraphobia around 5-6 years ago. How did I get it? Well as you might know "It was a drop in already full glass". I had weird life, I dont want to say hard because there were great moments and there were horrible ones.
What happend? Well first this that happened to me is that my brother cut his arm, he was in hospital for 4 days, and he was in coma for 2 days. He almost bleeded out. After 3 months my father died. He was 50 and he died from 2 instant hearthattacks.After 4 months (6 months from my fathers death) my granpa died. After 2 weeks since my granpa died, my uncle shot himself in the head and died. So preety much "Horrible" year. But besides that, there were minor issues that I had to resolve. Even my life seemed like it came to an end, it became even worse at some points, but let's get back to Agoraphobia. I went to school one day and my friend fainted in front of me. That was worst thing I've seen, since I thought he is dead since he had hearth issues, good thing it was only fainting. After all those things, I tried having normal life, but no. Agoraphobia already did it's own things. I was stuck. Stuck somewhere in flowing time. I visited around 20-30 doctors that told me much much things that I didnt have. Firstly they suspected I have diabetes, but they failed since it wasnt, then cancer etc.... I've been visiting doctors for 2 years and NO ONE diagnosted me with Agoraphobia. I gave up then, I continued having horrible life until one day I talked with my friend that works in Ireland as a doctor. I explained him my simptoms and after a while he came to an conclusion. I was confused. Then he told me his story, he had agoraphobia when he was a kid. I had few consultations with doctors over internet (other country doctors) and they agreed. After I Told that to my doctors they said "Oh we knew that" yeah right. But living with it is hard, and I've been living with it for 6 years now (almost 6 years). I wont be able to fully make that agoraphobia dissapear, it's still there at some points of my life, and yes I still do have panic attacks (once upon a month) and they last for around 5 minutes. Let's take a look at some things.
Get a support buddy
What is a support buddy? Well support buddy is someone that trusts you, and that you feel safe with. In my case it was my best friend, my brother and of course my mother. How can they help you? Well go with them somewhere and then re-do that again alone. You will see difference. I couldnt get into a public bus for 3 years and then I hopped in one day with my buddy and guess what? I was happy. I didnt have panic attacks at all, since I felt safe and I knew someone is there with me that I cannot dissapoint. I was feeling realy proud at that point. So support buddy ASAP. If you dont have anyone get a dog, dogs can realy help, because they will always be there. As the time pass try to redo the steps alone, if you cant, call ya buddy and ask him to redo that with you. Focus on difference. Those things such as "Ignore it" are complete stupidance, since I survived all that and I know how hard it is to ignore it.
Start working something
If you are able to get a job then get one, if not, then go around the house and clean it if needed. After you get realy tired go shower and then sleep. Get the bad energy out from your organism! You dont need it!
NEVER take any sort of medicine
Are there medicine that can help you? Yes and No. I used to drink medications but they helped me in one way, but they brought horrible after-effect. Agoraphobia is specific sickness, it's not like normal depression or such that's why many doctors will just write you what medicine to drink without worrying about you. Agoraphobia cannot be beaten up by medicine, only by brain.
Stop being selfish
Imagine all stuff your parents gotta do in order so you can have stuff that you do. I had no choice, I had to work. No matter if I got agoraphobia or not, I had to wake up everyday and work the entire day. I had 10 panic attacks a day. I remember once that my panic attacked lasted for 45 minutes. It was HORRIBLE, that's why you gotta move. You gotta start doing something. No matter how much times you get striked, do it again!
What can happen?
I know that panic attacks are just horrible. But you gotta survive them. What will happen? NOTHING. Panic attacks are just stupid. Nothing will happend to you. I've been living in fear of fainting, that was my agoraphobia focus. Every single time I wanted to get from my house I was like "Oh I will faint", you know how I changed my thinking? I took picture of my dog, funny picture and each time I was having bad time, I looked up at that picture and laughed. No matter how much I was in bad mood, no matter how large was my panic attack it made me laugh. You gotta change your thinking. I know it's hard and sometimes might seem impossible but you gotta do it!
Train your brain
Agoraphobia. Well your brain got used to work in repeat mode now. Ex: I saw my friend faiting in a bus and now each time I get into a bus I will think of it. No. Stop it! Stop thinking that you will disgrace yourself or such. Nothing is going to happen! You gotta go or do the stuff that caused your agorophobia. You MUST do it! In order to overcome a fear you gotta face it first!
Baby steps
I dont care how big agoraphobia is in your brain, you gotta move! You gotta do things, get out from the house, walk to the lawn, then get inside and do it 10 times in a single day. Then again tomorrow.
Plan your goings
Plan in your brain what will you do if a panic attack happens. Ex: "I will hide in a corner, and wait for it to shut down". Also make sure you plan the night if you are going out. Agoraphobia can stirke at any point that's why you gotta plan when you gonna get back, when you are going to get out. Follow the plan. If you say you will be at home at 8PM then do so. Dont stay more, or less, if you think it was enough then it was because an attack can happen anytime.
What to do during attacks
Walk. That helped me much times. I start running or walking realy fast while having an attack. It helps a lot. Tho in your case it might help, but if it doesnt make sure you find out what can reduce the attack period.
Your home is your castle
I know, you are locked up on your home all day long. Nothing to do? It happened to me lots of times. Call a buddy or someone else then. Dont be alone. The depression will arrive and after it a panic attack will have bigger chances of producing. Dont forget that agoraphobia is hard to overcome but it's possible.
Have a diary or such
Write everything that happens. Such as "I had an attack today" and write EVERYTHING that happened while having it. Once in a while read it. You will see the difference and you will feel stronger. "Oh I managed to overcome that".
And many more. I'll update this thread. I just came from a b-day party (yeppp I managed to do it ) and tired as hell so I will write you more soon.
I can also help you via skype or facebook.
Skype: Tomitzakiller
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latommy.toxy
I am here to help you at ANY point. If you even want I can give you my phone number so you can call me during hard time so I can help you, or if you need some advice or such.
PS: I am NOT going to accept any money or such. My services are completly free.
