It’s been over two years since my agoraphobia journey started. I couldn’t leave my home for months and it took a lot of exposure and practice to feel more comfortable leaving the house. I have now traveled to San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Corpus, basically all over Texas by Vehicle. My next big step is flying. What scares me about flying is the thought of not being able to get off if I need to. I just don’t want to feel the intensity of a panic attack mid-flight and create a scene. I’m also afraid of landing at my destination and immediately regretting being so far away from home. As mentioned in the video, these are just creative ways that our mind thinks of in order to hold us back, to keep us “safe” when in reality we are safe. I’m scheduling a discovery flight this coming week for exposure and practice with flying. I can now leave my home comfortably, I can go out, I can do road trips. Now I just need to fly so I can travel.
@@verofrostoh I’m sorry to hear. I haven’t flown for nearly 10 years now. I have the EXACT same fears as this person even when driving. So hearing someone who struggled in the exact the same way as I am right now and make amazing progress like that has given me a lot of hope and I hope it can do the same for you. Even if that’s enough hope to get you to setup outside your home one day this week 🙏
I’m a 41 year old man and I’ve been having this intermittently for the past 11 years. It’s been really persistent the past 7 months since I’ve been recovering from my gambling addiction. I think the gambling made it easier for a long time but now it’s all fully exposed. Great video and I’m using your tips
I don’t like to plan either. I’ve got this thing that when I plan on staying away from home for 2 hours for example, I get so much more anxious beforehand than if I just told myself ok I’ll go out and I’ll just see how long I’ll feel and what I’ll be doing. I’ve gotten sooo far with doing things somewhat spontaneous and not pressuring myself. Id go in a market and if I feel in that moment that I’m capable to look around or even buy stuff I’d do it. If I don’t I don’t and that’s fine. With this method I could actually visit multiple markets in one session and stay away from home for hours. And exposure sessions wouldn’t be this absolutely exhausting and negative experience.
For example Id have to take loperamide to even trust myself to go out anywhere. If I didn’t take it I could only go out for about 5 mins. Now I go on walks 30 mins+ with no issue, drive in the car for quite a while before freaking out, visit multiple shops in one go. All WITHOUT loperamide. I honestly didn’t give my body the credit it deserves.
I'm going home for spring break at the end of this week. I took the bus last time, which really terrified me, but I might do it again just to push myself. I know how it goes now and the ride goes by pretty quick. Thank you for the encouragement and tips!
Iv had agoraphobia for around 20 years. I’m not housebound and feel for those who are to my very core I really do ❤. Personally I am fine to travel from town to town with my family mainly but and get the odd attacks for instance if we say we will meet back at a place at a time and they are not there or if I loose them in a shopping centre say. I want to travel abroad with them but can’t get myself to do it as I feel I would ruin it for them by being an anxious wreck all the time. Also I must Google and watch 5 videos a day on this subject and have it in my mind all the time. I guess what I’m asking is should I stop watching or reading anxiety stuff and will the thoughts ever stop. Well done on you’re journey you’re a brave soldier x
I'm driving on the motorway daily to try and get more comfortable with it. I'm still on edge and some days are easier than others. Sometimes the anticipation anxiety is quite bad and then it actually goes really well and I feel this amazing kind of high/buzz while doing it and after it. Some days it's a little harder than I was expecting and I don't feel as proud or amazing after it but thats fine, I still did it. I've also decided to record and vlog them. I actually find it sort of reassuring talking as if someone is there with me, it's a good distraction too but I'm making sure to not always record it incase it becomes some sort of safety behaviour
Last time I was doing exposure I've completely failed. I experienced so massive panic attack I was hugging a tree in a forest to calm my self down and then I ran from that place like a rabbit 😅 Because of my failed exposured actually my agoraphobia worsened. Some panic attacks just scares me too much.... Somehow I must show courage and do exposures again...
Sometimes we do run!!! I’ve done the same thing (countless times!) It’s a natural response and it’s sometimes the only thing we can do to regulate. That’s not a failure; that’s a fear response and it’s normal. It feels extremely counterintuitive to stay and surrender when fear is that intense, and I think the key is in your willingness to try. ❤️
this happened to me too a couple of months ago. I was out with my bike in a forest around 30 mins from home when the panic hit. My bladder was a little full and I’ve got that overwhelming feeling I was not going to make it home. The time went by so slowly and I thought to myself shit what have I done I went too far this time. I won’t make it. Shit I won’t make it. What will I do? When I arrived home I actually thought I peed myself because it felt like it, but I didn’t. That was a big setback…Dang I was scared 😅
@@lisamngr8816Anxiety and panic obviusly have always some new sensations and symptoms in 'brain storage' that surprise you and almost make you pee in the pants. To compare panic attacks 5 years ago and today they are just more intense and frightening and mix of fine tuned symptoms to scare me.
I have my sisters wedding in a week and ive been slowly driving towards the venue. It is only an 18 minute drive from my house but it just feels impossible. I am terrified that I wont make it there or that I will ruin the wedding somehow. The most terrifying thing for me above all else is the drive and I mean both drives the one to the venue and the one home. For some reason lately the drive home is sometimes just as bad and my main anxiety symptom that I am feeling besides panic is the intense tight rippling feeling over my heart almost like its being squeezed. I tapered off medication last year and have just been trying to get better. I took medication for 6 years and they only made me worse and I mean a lot worse. Ive had anxiety since I was a kid but nothing compares to the attacks I had on medication and the ones I am currently having even though the attacks since stopping have been a fraction better.
Hi ☺️ I have just made a video response to this question! (Or, my thoughts on it, at least) Hope it is helpful ruclips.net/video/fjt4rcoyto4/видео.html
It’s been over two years since my agoraphobia journey started. I couldn’t leave my home for months and it took a lot of exposure and practice to feel more comfortable leaving the house.
I have now traveled to San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Corpus, basically all over Texas by Vehicle. My next big step is flying.
What scares me about flying is the thought of not being able to get off if I need to. I just don’t want to feel the intensity of a panic attack mid-flight and create a scene. I’m also afraid of landing at my destination and immediately regretting being so far away from home.
As mentioned in the video, these are just creative ways that our mind thinks of in order to hold us back, to keep us “safe” when in reality we are safe.
I’m scheduling a discovery flight this coming week for exposure and practice with flying.
I can now leave my home comfortably, I can go out, I can do road trips. Now I just need to fly so I can travel.
Wow you should be so proud, you've given me a lot of hope!!
@@PokeMikeme too! I suffer also from agorophobia and havent Travel since 2018
@@verofrostoh I’m sorry to hear. I haven’t flown for nearly 10 years now. I have the EXACT same fears as this person even when driving. So hearing someone who struggled in the exact the same way as I am right now and make amazing progress like that has given me a lot of hope and I hope it can do the same for you. Even if that’s enough hope to get you to setup outside your home one day this week 🙏
I’m a 41 year old man and I’ve been having this intermittently for the past 11 years. It’s been really persistent the past 7 months since I’ve been recovering from my gambling addiction. I think the gambling made it easier for a long time but now it’s all fully exposed. Great video and I’m using your tips
I commend you for working through your addiction! 🩷🩷
I don’t like to plan either. I’ve got this thing that when I plan on staying away from home for 2 hours for example, I get so much more anxious beforehand than if I just told myself ok I’ll go out and I’ll just see how long I’ll feel and what I’ll be doing.
I’ve gotten sooo far with doing things somewhat spontaneous and not pressuring myself. Id go in a market and if I feel in that moment that I’m capable to look around or even buy stuff I’d do it. If I don’t I don’t and that’s fine. With this method I could actually visit multiple markets in one session and stay away from home for hours. And exposure sessions wouldn’t be this absolutely exhausting and negative experience.
For example Id have to take loperamide to even trust myself to go out anywhere. If I didn’t take it I could only go out for about 5 mins. Now I go on walks 30 mins+ with no issue, drive in the car for quite a while before freaking out, visit multiple shops in one go. All WITHOUT loperamide. I honestly didn’t give my body the credit it deserves.
I have followed you for years. You inspired me and continue to inspire me to push myself towards a better future. Thank you for sharing with us.
I'm going home for spring break at the end of this week. I took the bus last time, which really terrified me, but I might do it again just to push myself. I know how it goes now and the ride goes by pretty quick. Thank you for the encouragement and tips!
Iv had agoraphobia for around 20 years. I’m not housebound and feel for those who are to my very core I really do ❤. Personally I am fine to travel from town to town with my family mainly but and get the odd attacks for instance if we say we will meet back at a place at a time and they are not there or if I loose them in a shopping centre say. I want to travel abroad with them but can’t get myself to do it as I feel I would ruin it for them by being an anxious wreck all the time. Also I must Google and watch 5 videos a day on this subject and have it in my mind all the time. I guess what I’m asking is should I stop watching or reading anxiety stuff and will the thoughts ever stop. Well done on you’re journey you’re a brave soldier x
I'm driving on the motorway daily to try and get more comfortable with it. I'm still on edge and some days are easier than others. Sometimes the anticipation anxiety is quite bad and then it actually goes really well and I feel this amazing kind of high/buzz while doing it and after it. Some days it's a little harder than I was expecting and I don't feel as proud or amazing after it but thats fine, I still did it.
I've also decided to record and vlog them. I actually find it sort of reassuring talking as if someone is there with me, it's a good distraction too but I'm making sure to not always record it incase it becomes some sort of safety behaviour
Last time I was doing exposure I've completely failed. I experienced so massive panic attack I was hugging a tree in a forest to calm my self down and then I ran from that place like a rabbit 😅 Because of my failed exposured actually my agoraphobia worsened. Some panic attacks just scares me too much....
Somehow I must show courage and do exposures again...
Sometimes we do run!!! I’ve done the same thing (countless times!) It’s a natural response and it’s sometimes the only thing we can do to regulate. That’s not a failure; that’s a fear response and it’s normal. It feels extremely counterintuitive to stay and surrender when fear is that intense, and I think the key is in your willingness to try. ❤️
this happened to me too a couple of months ago. I was out with my bike in a forest around 30 mins from home when the panic hit. My bladder was a little full and I’ve got that overwhelming feeling I was not going to make it home. The time went by so slowly and I thought to myself shit what have I done I went too far this time. I won’t make it. Shit I won’t make it. What will I do? When I arrived home I actually thought I peed myself because it felt like it, but I didn’t. That was a big setback…Dang I was scared 😅
@@lisamngr8816Anxiety and panic obviusly have always some new sensations and symptoms in 'brain storage' that surprise you and almost make you pee in the pants. To compare panic attacks 5 years ago and today they are just more intense and frightening and mix of fine tuned symptoms to scare me.
Omggg this is what im going through once i got diagnosed with blood clots and using my nebulizer machine has made ne scared to go anywhere
I have my sisters wedding in a week and ive been slowly driving towards the venue. It is only an 18 minute drive from my house but it just feels impossible. I am terrified that I wont make it there or that I will ruin the wedding somehow. The most terrifying thing for me above all else is the drive and I mean both drives the one to the venue and the one home. For some reason lately the drive home is sometimes just as bad and my main anxiety symptom that I am feeling besides panic is the intense tight rippling feeling over my heart almost like its being squeezed. I tapered off medication last year and have just been trying to get better. I took medication for 6 years and they only made me worse and I mean a lot worse. Ive had anxiety since I was a kid but nothing compares to the attacks I had on medication and the ones I am currently having even though the attacks since stopping have been a fraction better.
My agoraphobia recovery has been delayed because the rest of my life has got super stressful...job stuff, increased anxiety etcetc
Its on my list 😂
do you still get adrenaline rush??
Shouldn't a person not push themselves too far at first?
Hi ☺️ I have just made a video response to this question! (Or, my thoughts on it, at least)
Hope it is helpful ruclips.net/video/fjt4rcoyto4/видео.html