All caused after 2 panic attacks 22 years ago have a fear of mostly driving and sometimes walking of bridges,motorways,cliff drives as I’ve a fear of heights also,hills multi-storey car parks mountains shopping malls anywhere unknown it restricts your life even to I had no fear b4 the agoraphobia kicked in I think it’s the fear of having panic attacks that we avoid all these triggers at all costs to help us Cope which I now finally realise is the wrong thing to do it only makes it worse and you’ll never be free of it if you don’t push through the fear 👍
I have such a hard time going over my bridge and especially on highways even though i used to be fine with it. I appreciate this thank you I feel less alone
I have been agoraphobic for 5 years but had no idea until I got better (I was homeless and Had To get a job etc so was doing exposure without knowing it) then worse and ended up homebound (after trying to go back to university/stressss). I haven’t been to a public space since Jan 2019 but a few months ago I just randomly started driving again and it’s pretty casual! I have to move an hour away (out of this big city for my exposure) sometime soon and am nervous but also not. I plan to be the passenger and just listen to guided meditations if I have difficulty being in the present present. Sorry your vacation and exposure plans got canceled!
Holy cow! This is what I’ve been dealing with, like panicking the next day a bit back then when driving. I drove back when I was a teenager the most I did was an hour drive on the highway I wasn’t as nervous then my dad was in the car. But now at age 30 I’m nervous just stepping outside alone. With somebody I know don’t feel nervous. I’ll be driving again next year wish me good luck!👍 Thank you so much for posting this I don’t feel as alone which gives me more confidence. Btw 4 years ago there wasn’t hardly anyone posting about agoraphobia and now I have this video about driving which is my last step to beat this. You can do it so I can too.
Oh you can definitely do it! I was completely crippled and even though it's not perfect now, I have so much more freedom than I used to! Just persevere and be forgiving with yourself, it's a long road but a good one.
Thank you for the video! I have to have my phone with me wherever I go I too don’t know how people managed before mobile phones. Thanks again for showing your progress
Solid positive message, man. I'm starting new meds and been feeling pretty down. I've come a long way in the past few years, so thanks for reminding me of that.
I hear you mate. It's so easy to get bogged down in what we haven't achieved yet. But looking at where we used to be, it's night and day! Keep up the fight and stay on track my man.
Glad I could help, as long as you've connected with it, know it gets better the more you push yourself! don't go too far, but keep changing your boundaries. Recently got back from a road trip around Europe and I never would have even left my village without pushing my boundaries! Keep up the good fight and good luck! George
Watching your video, it sounds insane that you’ve made any progress at all. I was driving my whole life completely fine then at 26 its lke a switch flipped now driving anywhere is horrifying. I have no idea how you possibly made progress or how your heart stopped exploding anytime.
I hear that and for a long time i thought i would never ever get better. slowly and steadily i started driving very short distances and with people who i trusted in the car with me. over time i started going slightly further until eventually i could go quite far with someone and now i drive around europe with my partner every summer. Still i can only drive about 10 minutes from home by myself but that's where I'm at in my journey right now, gotta have faith it can get better!
Remember that once you've done the journey a few times, it will become normal to.your brain. Give it time for this new journey to settle in and you'll smash it man Well done on the new job, keep fighting the good fight, life is here to be enjoyed.
Kerry, I've been there. I wrote down every single day on a piece of paper my goals for the day. I didn't always reach them but every day I tried. I know it's the hardest thing you've ever done, but may I suggest starting with a list. I'm not a doctor but it helped me.
holace hey holace, so, first of all I didn’t just one day go to the store, I had to gradually build up over time. I would first go and get in my car and simply drive to the end of my street and I would do that until I was comfortable in doing so. Next I would drive a couple of streets away. Then I would drive near the store. Then I drove to the store car park. Then I got up and did the hardest part, I walked in. I didn’t shop I simply walked in and walked out. After doing this many times I managed to buy something and walked out. Now I’m at the stage where I’m doing that part regularly and it isn’t easy yet but it’s not as bad. You can definitely do this and although it takes time, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do. Just get ready to put 30 mins of your day every day into it. Also I don’t go at peak times. Let me know if you start doing this, how it goes and if you have any more questions! Good luck my friend, you got this.
Not at first, it took a long time to go from housebound to where I am now, but only because I didn't realize what I had to do. Now I know, diet, exposure therapy, correct medication and supplements, and meditation. It seems simple once you know how.
All caused after 2 panic attacks 22 years ago have a fear of mostly driving and sometimes walking of bridges,motorways,cliff drives as I’ve a fear of heights also,hills multi-storey car parks mountains shopping malls anywhere unknown it restricts your life even to I had no fear b4 the agoraphobia kicked in I think it’s the fear of having panic attacks that we avoid all these triggers at all costs to help us Cope which I now finally realise is the wrong thing to do it only makes it worse and you’ll never be free of it if you don’t push through the fear 👍
I have such a hard time going over my bridge and especially on highways even though i used to be fine with it. I appreciate this thank you I feel less alone
I hear that. I have similar boundaries especially regarding motorways. You’re not alone, keep me updated!
When I drive I get so lightheaded and feel like I'm gonna faint and crash the car .. this is the most terrifying fear that I couldn't overcome.
I hear you, and sorry for the late reply. But these things do get better with time and the right approach. I hope you’re doing better, let me know!
Have you gotten better? Or you just can’t drive now?
I have been agoraphobic for 5 years but had no idea until I got better (I was homeless and Had To get a job etc so was doing exposure without knowing it) then worse and ended up homebound (after trying to go back to university/stressss). I haven’t been to a public space since Jan 2019 but a few months ago I just randomly started driving again and it’s pretty casual! I have to move an hour away (out of this big city for my exposure) sometime soon and am nervous but also not. I plan to be the passenger and just listen to guided meditations if I have difficulty being in the present present.
Sorry your vacation and exposure plans got canceled!
Hey so sorry for the late reply, let me know how it went! I’m so happy it sounds like things are getting better for you. ❤️
Holy cow! This is what I’ve been dealing with, like panicking the next day a bit back then when driving. I drove back when I was a teenager the most I did was an hour drive on the highway I wasn’t as nervous then my dad was in the car. But now at age 30 I’m nervous just stepping outside alone. With somebody I know don’t feel nervous. I’ll be driving again next year wish me good luck!👍 Thank you so much for posting this I don’t feel as alone which gives me more confidence. Btw 4 years ago there wasn’t hardly anyone posting about agoraphobia and now I have this video about driving which is my last step to beat this. You can do it so I can too.
Oh you can definitely do it! I was completely crippled and even though it's not perfect now, I have so much more freedom than I used to! Just persevere and be forgiving with yourself, it's a long road but a good one.
Thank you for the video! I have to have my phone with me wherever I go I too don’t know how people managed before mobile phones. Thanks again for showing your progress
Tell me about it! It's a pleasure. New videos coming soon!
Solid positive message, man. I'm starting new meds and been feeling pretty down. I've come a long way in the past few years, so thanks for reminding me of that.
I hear you mate. It's so easy to get bogged down in what we haven't achieved yet. But looking at where we used to be, it's night and day! Keep up the fight and stay on track my man.
George Askew are you taking medication?
thank you for sharing this, i too have agoraphobia and i have a hard time driving around my city.
You aren't alone, but it did get better for me especially when I keep up the exposure therapy! Have faith. Keep it up man
Hey man I’m from the U.K. and I have anxiety never had agrophobia but anxiety is horrible
I hear that man, you’re far from alone in this! Hope things are improving ❤️
Good god, thank you. This is the only video I actually can connect with
Glad I could help, as long as you've connected with it, know it gets better the more you push yourself! don't go too far, but keep changing your boundaries. Recently got back from a road trip around Europe and I never would have even left my village without pushing my boundaries! Keep up the good fight and good luck! George
Watching your video, it sounds insane that you’ve made any progress at all. I was driving my whole life completely fine then at 26 its lke a switch flipped now driving anywhere is horrifying. I have no idea how you possibly made progress or how your heart stopped exploding anytime.
I hear that and for a long time i thought i would never ever get better. slowly and steadily i started driving very short distances and with people who i trusted in the car with me. over time i started going slightly further until eventually i could go quite far with someone and now i drive around europe with my partner every summer. Still i can only drive about 10 minutes from home by myself but that's where I'm at in my journey right now, gotta have faith it can get better!
Well done mate! I’m just now stressing about a new job I got that is 10 miles from my home
Remember that once you've done the journey a few times, it will become normal to.your brain. Give it time for this new journey to settle in and you'll smash it man
Well done on the new job, keep fighting the good fight, life is here to be enjoyed.
I have agoraphobia and am totally housebound I shop online and everything don’t leave the house at all 😢
Kerry, I've been there. I wrote down every single day on a piece of paper my goals for the day. I didn't always reach them but every day I tried. I know it's the hardest thing you've ever done, but may I suggest starting with a list. I'm not a doctor but it helped me.
Grappling Anxiety thanks for the reply and I will try
What a pain in the ass of an illness... Been dealing with it for years. I drink beer and it calms me down. It may not be healthy, but it works
Brian I’ve used alcohol to numb the feelings but it makes me feel worse the next day
Same here😢😢
I had to pull over on the side of the road when I got panic attacks while driving. Really scary.
It's a grim feeling for sure. So easy to curl up and never try again but good on you for continuing to get out there. Subbed you
Rocking it. Really impressive. How's it going now x
Harriet A sorry I have only just seen this! It’s going well but of course this quarantine has made things tricky for everyone!
How did you get through it? How can you go into the store without freaking out? Also, how long did it take you to get over this?
holace hey holace, so, first of all I didn’t just one day go to the store, I had to gradually build up over time. I would first go and get in my car and simply drive to the end of my street and I would do that until
I was comfortable in doing so. Next I would drive a couple of streets away. Then I would drive near the store. Then I drove to the store car park. Then I got up and did the hardest part, I walked in. I didn’t shop I simply walked in and walked out. After doing this many times I managed to buy something and walked out. Now I’m at the stage where I’m doing that part regularly and it isn’t easy yet but it’s not as bad. You can definitely do this and although it takes time, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do. Just get ready to put 30 mins of your day every day into it. Also I don’t go at peak times. Let me know if you start doing this, how it goes and if you have any more questions! Good luck my friend, you got this.
@@georgeaskew1 Thank you. I'm definitley going to take your advice.
Also were you ever housebound from anxiety?
holace yes I was for a month or so
@@georgeaskew1 its happened to me for about a year. I've been in public but, only to go to the doctor. Do you think there's still hope?
Could you do a video on how you developed agoraphobia?
Good idea, most definitely
Could you leave the house thanks
Not at first, it took a long time to go from housebound to where I am now, but only because I didn't realize what I had to do. Now I know, diet, exposure therapy, correct medication and supplements, and meditation. It seems simple once you know how.
@@georgeaskew1 thank you