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overcoming fear of going outside

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overcoming fear of going outside

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6

thank u davit i think u are right .may be my problem is not going outside but going outside and facing perticular situation. after some day i have to go to some social function i hope i will be able to handle it properly.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6252

aqua

The definition of agoraphobia is outdated. Technically it is the fear of the outdoors. And if you look it up you will see it comes from the Greek. As far as I am concerned that is not the problem, only the symptom. Like a lot of things in this condition we have, what appears to be the problem or the answer is not so. It only appears to be. I have a different definition of agoraphobia from a lot of people and books. It really needs a new name but since agoraphobia covers so many of the same situations some learned people have been using it. This has caused confusion.

I discovered what I have is not a fear of the outdoors but a fear of not having control of the situation. This same fear is responsible for a lot of phobias including Agoraphobia and a lot of similar phobias that fall under that category.

What stops a person from going outdoors or to the store or doctors or driving a car for that matter is not the fear of the great outdoors but actually the fear of not having control of the situation. Sounds silly? How can a person have control of the situation if there are so many factors? Simple really. By taking back control of the situation. By saying "it is my decision"

My decision to do this thing, or go to this place. No I can not fly the plane and I have no control there but I do have control of whether I fly or not so in truth I have control. This way of thinking will give you control of any situation. I'm tired tonight or I would explain it better. Maybe I will in another post. Maybe some one else will jump in and do it.

Davit.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6

thanks davit

i am taking pills for my pain as well as reading good books to help myself to handle the problem but i am little bit confused about my situation . i have read that people with agoraphobia are even afraid of sitting in the front of their house . but nothing such things happen with me i even go to market to do some shopping without any problem though i am quite concious about my physical sensation but still i go outside . problems arises only when i am physically ill or u can say feeling some minor problem, at that time i become so tense and try to avoid going outside or when i have to do long travelling or staying at someone's home. i am confused is this agoraphobia or fear about specific situation.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6252

aqua

Sounds to me more physical although if it is an ulcer it could be mental induced. It could be an unbilical hernia or adhesions. But these are all things to see a doctor about. What ever it is, it is best to find out so it doesn't trigger anxiety.

Davit

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6

thanks davit

i think u r right most of the time my thoughts cause panic attack and anxiety. when i have to face some situations that i am avoiding for a long time all my 'what if' thought start coming and its hard to stop them.but i am confused about one thing that even i am totally relaxed and happy at home still i have stomachache around my naval area when i pressed it. so could it be physical or mental?

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6252

aqua

I forgot to mention that anything I post is from personal experience or as explained by my therapist and may or may not be relevant. I have had anxiety all my life but not till CBT did I get relief.

Davit.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 517

Hi Aqua, nice to meet you. I also have agoraphobia but it's not triggered from my stomach problems. I'm more like the person Sunny gave as an example.. I'm afraid to fall.

Davit, what you said hit home for me too. When I've been searching for how my anxiety is triggered, I often concluded that it was more physical than from my head. Everyone says it's in the mind but I just couldn't pin point it that I would worry something is wrong with my body. But it's true I end up thinking I'm living normal and I just don't realize what I'm really thinking is what causes the anxiety.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 11226

Welcome Aqua,

It looks like you have already received some great advice and it is good to hear you have already begun working on the program! There is lots to learn, but you will get there and we will help you get there. Continue to work on the program and post in the support group but also ask questions to our expert Dr. Farvolden in the Ask the Expert section. He might be able to help you with some of your tougher questions.

Anxiety can create quite a few symptoms, upset stomach can be a symptom of anxiety. The upset stomach can also trigger anxiety for some people. Especially when individuals may have a history of hypochondria. Check out the Ask the Expert section, as Dr. Farvolden answers a lot of questions related to managing panic symptoms and what to do if a symptom makes the anxiety worse.

Let us know what information you find that is helpful to you.

I look forward to reading more from you!

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6252

Hi.

The first time a panic attack happens it seems like it comes out of nowhere. Truth of the matter is that it has been building up to the breaking point. Why it doesn't happen sooner is usually that a person goes through life thinking the way they are living is normal. In the Agoraphobic it is the loss of control over there life that causes the panic attack. The trigger is usually some thing or thought that they don't want to do or fear because of a bad situation that happened or happens when they do a certain thing.

Keep that in mind. It is not going outside, that is a normal occurrence people do every day. It is the thought of going outside. Now you need a reason not to go outside because that will keep the panic attack from happening. This is negative thought. "If I go outside something bad will happen" A totally illogical thought since you do not know for sure that something bad will happen. This thought can cause your stomach to be irritated or for it to stop working as part of the fight or flight system that shuts down every thing not necessary to the situation in preparation to fight or flee. So now comes the vicious circle. Anxiety causes your stomach to be sore, which causes more anxiety, round and round. The symptoms could be something else, a sore back, a head ache, vertigo or practically anything.

The symptoms are real and will probably need to be treated both physically and mentally. Medication for the pain and CBT for the thought.

CBT is a bit different for every situation but basically it is like this. Change negative thoughts to positive ones.

First though you have to be sure there is no physical reason for the symptom. Second for a time you have to remove all irritants.

Here I am sitting here drinking coffee which for a long time I did not dare touch. I know it will bother my stomach and leave me slightly dizzy if I have too much. That is a positive thought based on acceptance of the situation so that I have control. A negative thought would be " I'm going to be sick or I'm going to have a panic attack " I love coffee so I live with it. It is not the coffee that is the actual trigger but the thought that comes from the effects.

This is the thing with panic attacks. Often the trigger is not what a person thinks. Often what a person thinks is the trigger is just an effect. And worse, often the trigger is subconscious.

It takes time to learn all of this. But first you need to learn relaxation techniques and coping skills to survive and then all the rest to cure yourself.

Follow the program, no skipping ahead, it is important to do it in order.

Ask anything you do not understand. Post often. Vent your frustrations here and know that we are here to support you.

Oh and I am just a member like you but one of the cured.

Davit.

for 13 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6

i have gone through the first session and i feel better because this is the same thing that happens to me i avoid situations and then feel guilty for behaving in such a way. but i am confused about triggers that cause panic attack. when i am outside a slight physical sensation especially in my stomach cause me to panic and i want to run away from that situation now. though i have some digestion problem now but they are not serious. i have pain around my naval area when i press it i have done ultrasound but all reports are normal. i want to know do agoraphobia cause stomachache or being outside is the my trigger point. most of the time i avoid situation when i am not feeling good or i have upset stomach

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overcoming fear of going outside