@@rayek84I take minimal anti anxiety med the lowest kind on the day i need to expose myself to let’s say going to a concert with my kids. Other days i don’t need meds if am around my neighborhood.I progressed from being afraid to be on line at a supermarket… It’s an awful condition I developed it in my late forties and it’s taken my years to be able to get to where I am but I always have to carry medication even if I don’t take it. It’s the best that I can do although I loved to be cured therapy didn’t work for me. It’s like my brain one day switched. God bless wish you the best.
I'm 39 now. I developed agoraphobia when I was 18. I have now lived with it for longer than I lived without it. Was a depressing and miserable 21 years it has been. the agoraphobia tends to get worse. It chases you. You avoid more and more and your world shrinks more and more. I have done all the exposure and medicines but nothing seems to work. God i hate it so much. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.
Im right there with you brother im 42 years old had panic attacks since i was 19 then i had my lung collapse on two seperate occasions and then found out i had a heart condition and had to have surgury. Probably the worst things that could happen to a person like myself. I struggle every day to even attempt to work part time while sedated enough to cope. We must keep pushing forward
Same here. I've been an agoraphobe all my life, and then when I was put on benzodiazepines it got better for a while. Then my doctors decided that it was bad for me to take so much, so they halved my prescription. Within a week, all my symptoms were back. That was 8 years ago, and I haven't left my home for anything aside from a few select places once every month or so. Agoraphobia is absolute hell. The things I've missed out on; the things I want to do _so badly_ ...it's unbearably difficult to deal with. What's worse, people often don't believe you. My heart goes out to both of you and everyone struggling with this horrible condition.
I had this for 10 years. The last 3 years of my disorder i didn't go further than 3km from home. Damn looking back now how paralyzing it was. I'm now living in Paris. I'm also writing a book 📖 to tell my story. Crazy how i turned my life around to where I am now i feel blessed every day. Anyone struggling i want you to know you can overcome this. I ran through panic attacks everyday into my agoraphobic zones that's I avoided most of my life. In 5 months I was fully recovered after 10 long years. Pretty amazing really. Got to pinch myself sometimes. Once I lost the fear of panic. I went INTO it everyday as soon as I woke up I put my running shoes on and off i went running for my life literally. Had a complété psychological switch over 💪🏾💪🏾
@4th Chairman sorry your going through this. Your not messed up, your actually stronger than you think you are you just need help realizing it. It sounds like you described hypochondria. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can really help with recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with neutral or positive ones. Work on the mind, no one actually teaches us that in school so don't feel bad if you need help figuring it out.
Jeremiah Northern do you see a therapist, if so what kind. Also, do you have any advice for me, because I really lack the courage to make an effort, and I haven’t had a life in so long
I don't see a therapist and I just slowly pushed myself a little each day. I still suffer from it to an extent but it's so much manageable. Also, I took Xanax to combat it which only made my agoraphobia worse.
As someone who's struggled with agoraphobia, what Dr. Peterson talks about here is spot on, I haven't found a clearer explanation anywhere on RUclips. I like that he talks about the obsessive focus on the heart and palpitations and how that builds up to a state of full fledged panic through a distorted thought process. I also completely agree about voluntary, progressive exposure to whatever constitutes the worst of your fears. This worked amazingly well for me. The fear of both death and humilliation are so true, and how that leads you to become paralyzed.
I'm a guy, 23 years old. I rarely leave my room. I have no friends. All I do is watch youtube videos, play video games, and look at memes. I can't talk to people correctly. I can't even express emotion through my face properly. Everybody thinks I'm weird. My life is going nowhere and I don't know what to do
Does it feel easier going out at night? I ask this because I have during periods of my life, being in a similar situation. I have also travelled the world alone, owned property abroad, taught in front of large groups of people etc. My reason for mentioning the above, is that it is possible to overcome it, though I totally understand how it can feel. I'm in my 40s so have had longer to practice techniques. Everyone is different, so try to find out what personally works for you.
Spot on, middle aged lady, experienced mothers death and domestic assault. I go to work and i feel safe there, and my house. I take my dog for walks and thats it. I will also go grocery shopping. I dont socialise. I find other peoples carefree enjoyment aggrivating. I miss it so it gets to me.
Love Jordan Peterson. I once had a psychoanalyst who thought I had Agoraphobia...now here I am in Bangkok alone, enjoying every minute. Being handicapped is a great inconvenience, but it does not need to be a curse.
I haven’t actually seen a professional, but when you get nervous going to the mailbox, I think it’s safe to assume something is wrong. Mine’s a little different-I have epilepsy. It’s a phobia of having a seizure in public, then dying, so it’s similar. The issue is that I appear as though I’m a fully functional human being-going to school and working full-time-but basically, I’m having a panic attack all day every day and it’s slowly killing me. I have absolutely no social life because as soon as someone speaks to me, I get anxious and want them to get away from me. You wouldn’t think it’s possible to hide that level of anxiety, but it is. I seriously need help…prayers would be appreciated.
I have agoraphobia (age 19) where I cannot feel secure when I’m outside my house by myself. I’m always paranoid that I will be attacked or kidnapped (when there is obviously no one around/no one having any intentions of doing so) Funny, cause when I was a kid, I wanted to travel the country/world someday LOL
I believe its a spiritual problem and u should seek Jesus, read the bible and cast out devils of fear if needed. Because i had too and it works because its reality. Jesus is the truth. Psalm 34:4 ESV I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
I have had agoraphobia for a very long time and the behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy only helped to a very small extent. I did not start to get better until I started taking Xanax XR. I used the coping skills I had learned over the years in combination and it worked fantastic. I never thought I could feel normal again, but this went a long way in improving my quality of life. I went from not being able to leave my home at all for over a year to eventually being able to take 2 week vacations in NC and I live in PA. I think this stays with you your whole life though because I still have occasional setbacks but I keep adding to my knowledge from people like Peterson and never quit.
That's fantastic, however, some of the worse anxiety or panic attacks I've ever had have been on xanax. If I take a xanax and it doesn't completely remedy my anxiety or panic, my brain re-calculates and determines that what I'm experience must not in fact be anxiety, otherwise the xanax would have fixed it. Then it's off to the races. I'm stuck. Dr Peterson doesn't accept mail for clinical advice, and there are 0 psychologists in my area. They're all "psychiartists", and they usually have 16 people in the waiting room and have patients in and out in less than 10 minutes. I have a serious issue that requires professional help, and I have no idea what to do or who to talk to.
@@NikoBased Same here. All of the local mental health professionals in my area are LCSWs working with psychiatrists. The LCSWs are there simply as a buffer to keep the places from turning into 'pill mills', but they're still just handing out meds and not treating the problem. For me the _only_ medications that have really helped my agoraphobia are benzodiazepines - Xanax and Valium in my case. I rarely leave my home, and when I do, I don't go far. Now both of my doctors want me off of the benzos and I've gotten _much_ worse. I only go out for absolute necessities, and I won't let anyone drive me anywhere (I'll only drive myself). I have nobody to talk to about it, and because I have a history of drug addiction (12yrs ago), doctors don't take my claims seriously. This is no way to live, and in America of all places - not to mention in super-progressive Massachusetts - you'd think I'd be able to find some real help.
Shady Brady hey Brady, I know how terrible the situation you’re going through is right now and I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m going through pretty much the same thing right now with agoraphobia and panic attacks, although there are a few therapists in my area that I plan on going to soon (which I’m terrified to even do that), I understand how you feel really lost, and have no one to talk to. I haven’t really had a single person I could actually turn towards for the past few years, not a parent, friend, or anyone. So although I have no idea who you are, and you have no idea who I am lol, I just want you to know you can always reach out to me if you need someone to talk to, and I have faith you will reach recovery.
I have agoraphobia and just realized it after living with it for 15 years. I abused alcohol, tried xanax and paxil but nothing has worked. I found a small local gym that I can go to where there aren't a lot of people and I found that lifting heavy weights helps me stay calm for the day. I stay home and avoid people as much as possible.
@@tradesthatmakesense Not me, I prayed and read the bible and even played the church band and was living in hell the entire time. I was baptized and did everything I could but Christianity did nothing. Jesus is a myth.
@@M.Đ-z4u I would recommend working out and keep your body and mind active. Then take small steps from there. Go for an evening walk once you feel you can do it without too much anxiety. But start off by working out and giving your body and mind something to focus on for now.
agoraphobia is a genetic disorder and only the Claire weekes method works for it. If you have an anxiety disorder, then it’s psychological and you need to find the root of the cause.
It being voluntary is really important. You don't want your exposure to be that you had to go to that location for something. You should try just going there without a need to do or get anything. I really can't believe I'm dealing with this. It's come on after Covid and working from home. I've always had anxiety but to have agoraphobia is not something I ever pictured myself having. I'm at the point where I'm going for a walk every day in a park before I start my work day. Baby steps are better than nothing. I feel pathetic and embarrassed but I know I can fix this.
I have been homebound, for nearly for 25 years due to this. I HAVE tried to take baby steps..getting out and socializing…it usually backfires. I’m called names..as in The Crazy Lady on the Hill. Years ago, after a horrific childhood, I reached out for counseling. It was a huge help. However, I live in the south, Texas. STIGMA, is alive and well. Stigma, is crippling. Whatever positive ground I thought I covered, was all down the tubes once I realized how society treats us. I’m worse than ever. I refuse to go anywhere and certainly have no friends. There’s no hope that I can see in my lifetime. I can only pray that in the next generation, my offspring will be more educated, evolved in such matters. I hope so.
so sorry you have to struggle with this. i have agoraphobia as well but its almost gone. if you have truly tried everything with no results, maybe look into Ketamine therapy near you. It sounds crazy, but if you look into it online it has very promising results and it isnt as scary as it sounds. a bit expensive aswell. i've never done it myself, i just know of it. best of luck to you, just know you're not alone
I have agoraphobia. I tried to be out in public but it only got worse over time. I was sexually attacked regularly as a child and became afraid to leave the house. When I was old enough that guys started looking at me, I withdrew further and further. I'm not sure how to overcome it since I've tried it all and nothing works. It's exhausting to the point I'm happy just to stay home where I can feel normal.
I think the treatment to your problem, in regards to Dr. Peterson's methods, would be facing your fear directly, but not like making a public speech right off the bat, I mean you can start just going on parks and sitting on benches looking at people to see how they act, and I know it's hard in your condition but you have to stop thinking in how people judge you and start looking at them to see that they also have failures, and if you think you have done something wrong they will tell you if you pay enough attention to them and when you do pay attention you will learn how to not do it again or maybe you'll percieve that you haven't done anything wrong to begin with.
Yagod No not really. Ive had times where I can be around people and then all of a sudden become really anxious. It doesnt always depend on getting used to the environment.
Jackson Scully In that manner it could be that you are in the bottom of the dominance hierarchy of the group that you're anxious for being around. I have found myself in similar cases and thought that I couldn't be myself in the group, but the more I acted truthfully, and not just did what was acceptable for the group, the more I was accepted by it, climbing the hierarchy and not being more anxious, of course that there are people that will hate you for being yourself but you have to be around good people that like you and help each other.
i noticed having panic attacks in public, and then when i would try to sleep at night my heart would start pounding, id feel faint and my thoughts cloudy. I could bearly walk. im still dealing with it, ive been to the emergency room a few times and all tests came up clean. So the fear of not knowing whats wrong with me even made it worse. But now... now i might know whats going on.
It really amazes me how little help I've been able to find for this condition. In Massachusetts of all places, home to some of the greatest doctors, I haven't been able to find a psychologist-psychiatrist team willing to take me on as a patient because I'm dependent on benzodiazepines. Ironically, they're the only thing that has helped me get out of the house! Now that I'm being forced to taper off of them, my agoraphobia has gotten _really_ bad, and I have no one to turn to. It's awful.
Yup. I'm going through the same thing. Been on the same low dose of Xanax for 20 years with the same doctor. A little over a year ago he retired and since then, no other doctor I've been to will prescribe Xanax anymore because of the "so called" war on drugs. I have also tried 15 different therapists and and loads of different antidepressants and meds and none of them could help me. Only Xanax helped me function like a normal person and never once did I abuse it. Since I've been off my meds, I quit my job because the panic attacks became so bad, haven't been able to drive or leave the house in over a year. Every time I try to find a Dr or therapist to help me, either they say they no longer prescribe Xanax, are not taking any more patients or don't take my insurance. Around here they charge $350+ per session which I can't afford out of pocket. All I need is .5 mg of Xanax daily to live a normal, productive life and they took it away from me and millions of others. It's like giving a diabetic insulin and then taking it away. This is a real illness that makes people's live's miserable.
@@FuturesPast1 That's just terrible. Have you tried presenting any doctors with some of the Ashton information, or not asking for Xanax up front? Some doctors (like a family doc / primary care physician) might hear your case and prescribe Valium instead. I know for certain that Xanax in particular has a _really_ bad reputation among doctors, despite being the most effective for stopping panic attacks. If you've been off of it for more than a month or two now, honestly, I'd just stay off. The future looks real bad for benzo-dependent people like you and I, so if even though you're in hell, sooner or later you've gotta come around. I guess I'm just trying to be hopeful. For sure, if you've been off of Xanax completely for more than 30 days now, I wouldn't get back on Xanax. If life is really that bad (I believe you and empathize if it is), then perhaps ask if you could be put on a low dose of Valium. A doctor would be more likely to do that for you than to put you back on Xanax. Also consider that kindling is a big issue for you now. Maybe you've heard, maybe not, but read about it. Put simply, if you've gotten off of Xanax or any benzo. and gone through withdrawal, then the next time you withdraw (if you ever do), it will be worse. Kindling happens to benzodiazepine-dependent people and alcoholics who've withdrawn once before, and each withdrawal usually gets worse and worse. It's a big problem with people who abuse benzo's and binge on them, but it's still very possible that another withdrawal for you would be bad. It's just something to consider. Just remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I know you mentioned that sessions are $350 or more, so I know it's a big risk going to another new doctor, but maybe you could write to some doctors in your area and explain to them your issue. For every 100 of these benzo nazis, there's at least a few who understand the situation. The key is not to sound desperate for the medicine, but to mitigate the symptoms you're having. I wish you all the best Future's Past, and I hope you find peace.
@@bveracka Hi. Thanks for replying. You are very kind. There are no dr's in my area that are taking on new patients because of covid-19. They are filled with people with anxiety. When I call to try to get an appointment with any one, most have a message on their answering machines stating they no longer prescribe controlled substances. I recently called one of those teledocs for anxiety and mental health and have an appointment in a week. They will probably try to just put me on an SSRI which don't work for me, When I last got Xanax before my dr. retired I saved some xanax for when I have a really bad attack. I have taken the xanax about 2-3 times a week since so I have not been fully off it. My Dr. told me the main reason he was retiring is because the government is getting too involved with how he treats his patients. He said if he prescribed too many benzos, he could have lost his license. He said his practice was made up with mostly panic disorder and anxiety sufferers. He said at anytime the DEA could have raided his office if he prescribed a certain percentage of benzos to his patients. He could no longer treat his worse cases any longer and got burnt out. Before he left he tried to taper me off of xanax. He also switched me from Xanax IR to Xanax XR. It did not help my attacks. Then he tried a low daily dose of valium for the taper for a few months and it made my anxiety worse and did not stop my bad panic attacks. At this point I have zero quality of life. I do not work anymore, cannot drive a car, lost all of my friends, and do not ever leave the house to visit family members. The farthest I have gotten away from my house in the past year is a few blocks away from my house and each time, I had to go back. My husband and adult children can't take living with me anymore. My husband is about to throw the towel in. He cannot stand the fact that I am so dependent on him. I am afraid of being left alone and abandoned by the people I love. They are tired of me. All I need is a low dose of xanax to function again like a normal person and feel hopeless. I have been to over 20 different therapists with all different treatment options and have been put on about 30 different medications over the years like SSRI's and nothing works. When I take a low dose of daily xanax, I feel normal not high. The scary repetitive thoughts go away and I function like a normal person. At this point I don't look forward to the future and wish I would just die. At 47 my life is basically over. I want to be a normal functioning person in society again. Most doctors look at people like me with disdain and think we are addicts. The only thing I am addicted to is having a normal functioning life not filled with fear and suffering.
I have both agoraphobia and social anxiety and it’s making it hard to sustain a job. Which really sucks because it just creates more anxiety for me because I worry people will think I’m lazy..when it’s just really hard to not panic even looking for jobs. For instance, if I look at jobs and the location is on a bad side of town i have stopped myself from applying because I automatically start thinking I’ll be on the job alone and someone will come in and Rob the place and try to hurt me.. or stuff like that. As far as passed trauma..I grew up in a cult 😳
Mine started at 17. Also the public thing is not about my heart, it’s over awareness and feeling everyone’s eyes on you and wanting everyone to go away or to get away but you can’t
Key word is VOLUNARILY exposure. Can have way different outcomes. I had a time where I wanted to overcome my fears ect...then the past 2-3 I have been thrown into situations that feel like death to me(being on a cash register, ect..) and I wasnt ready and didnt want it. Now I'm more ashamed than ever, self esteem went down. I'm all about getting out of comfort zone, but when its (psychological) life or death, my advice is learn some coping skills first and have a desire to try it.
I don’t fear death, I fear people’s judgements, how I look how I act etc. If nobody is around I am fine but if I can feel someone looking at me I just can’t handle it. I’m not bed ridden or house bound but going out every day is like Dr Peterson describes “a living hell”. I have no idea how to make this better, I thought being exposed to it would work but it clearly doesn’t.
I feel the same way! If i go grocery shopping i feel like everyone is looking at me (which i know they arnt) but my starts racing and i have a panic attack.
Laurie E. Me too, shopping is one of the worst things even though it’s so simple. Waiting in line is probably the worst part for me, especially if it’s a big line.
Sideways Nutrition I’m the same way. I feel like everyone is judging the way I look or act. I don’t even like going to the corner store. And I too get extremely nervous waiting in line. Wow it’s good to know other people feel the suffer from the same things
Victoria Obledo You’re right it’s good to know you’re not alone, thing is you never think anyone you see when you’re out shopping has any similar problems so maybe it’s really not that noticeable. I think the simple advice when people say relax is actually the most important thing because first you stress yourself out so you’re uncomfortable then you think people can see you’re uncomfortable which makes you even more uncomfortable 😂 it’s a vicious circle.
Sideways Nutrition exactly! Lol I’m telling myself the whole time “relax it’s fine. Everyone is tied up in their own stresses Nobody is worried about you “ I think it helps but really makes me overthink everything
I've had agoraphobia since middle school and off and on in high school and now mine is ocd and anxiety I think I'm either going to get harmed or judged but also have sensory issues. Exposure therapy works but its not a cure all its only helps its life long normal school bullying didn't trigger it it just brought it at ten fold aggressive flooding exposure even on purpose even voluntarily can either make it better or worse. Baby steps but not overly comfortable baby steps. You're a very good Dr tho. Thank you for this video
I was mugged a few months ago, and now I've got heart palpitations and panic attacks everytime I step out. I wasn't like this, I am a physically fit guy and was always confident in social situations but now I don't have the courage to step out thinking I might get mugged or worst I might get killed. Idk how to deal with this
I have agoraphobia and he isn't wrong. I have found that going out once a week minimum (I am disabled so I don't work) keeps my anxiety manageable. One time I got so scared and didn't leave the house for weeks and those weeks turned in to about 3 months and by the time I did leave my house just stepping outside the door had me in uncontrollable hysterics. Sadly it's a constant battle but I have learned if I have someone with me (commonly referred to as a safety person) and the things that help me feel more calm ( I have heard from many agoraphobics that carrying around certain items helps them feel better. Not sure if this is the case for everyone but it sure works for me. Mine is chapsticks/lip balms btw. Not sure why.) and I do it semi frequently it is manageable. Just gotta keep up on it and not completely hide from the fears.
I used to love outdoors, now I don't leave the house. I believe it is this toxic society we live in I want no part of. Y'all can have that batshit crazy world full of fakes and clowns, all yours, enjoy. I was born loving, the world turned me cold.
Agora means market place, This horrible disorder has been with us for a very long time There are plenty of quacks but find a good therapist who has an open mind From an Australian doctor
Mine is not because of either of these reasons..it's because i dislike the fakeness of people. About how they all seem concerned about shallow things..it drains me to be around large groups of people.
@TheNeuroticAlpha appreciate your reply. I did have a bad childhood. No molestation that i can recall. Just good ole verbal emotional abuse...i used to enjoy being social..but i had to drink to feel comfortable enough to be social. Now that ive gotten older i realize just how much life seems like a game..work..pay bills..die. The "small talk" is usually about weather or sports..i dont watch sports..and people complain about Hating their work without ever talking about solutions!!! It's frustrating...i also have 3 kids..so my longing for solitude is real lol. I love my kids but self-care and alone time are very important...
I think your filtering their behavior by your own perspective. People can be happy, i know you and i don't necessarily feel like that's possible, but it is. Perhaps it's like the dunning Kruger affect of social intelligence, we perhaps don't have enough of it to be able to accurately gauge our own level of social intelligence leading to us over estimating it. So i think i'm normal, but to somebody who's actually average would make us seem almost socially retarded. It's a blunt way to look at it, but i think it's a rather accurate way of looking at it. Or maybe i'm just a cynic.
My panique attack is lacking the possibility to choose your life by my self and i cant stand that doctor know better than the patient. I feel sick when i see people laugh at me while i am in difficutly.
Agoraphobia by definition I'd fear of being in public places with no way to escape. A lot of ppl I think have Anthropophobia, which is the fear of people. They're not afraid of being in a public building, it's the people in the building. But they're both types of anxiety.
i have agoraphobia and i've had it for almost 10 years, i know all of these things, how to overcome it etc, but i don't know how often you have to subject yourself to exposure for it to take effect or how do you know you've achieved progress? to me it's like a comfortzone, as soon as i leave it, it becomes more and more unbearable until my mind snaps and i feel dazed and confused and extremely tired, like being hit in the back of the head. so do i have to have my mind snap or does progress occur when that doesn't happen, or are both legitimate standards of progressing? and how often? because i feel so sluggish after one of those sessions that i pretty much go home and sleep or that i move in the speed of a sloth both mentally and physically and that effects lingers for a couple of days.
I found, at least for me once a week minimum works well. It keeps my anxiety manageable and feels comfortable over all. I dunno if it is different for others but I'd give that a shot if you are unsure. If you need to dial back or do it more often go with that. Challenge yourself as much as you can handle with out harming yourself.
I've had agoraphobia for 15 years and I have the same symptoms as you. My life has changed completely. I now realize I am never going to be the person I was.
Had my first intense panic attack after getting the Pfizer vaccine (dose 2; dose 1 was okay) and life has been an absolute horror show since then. But this sounds like the hell I'm experiencing now all the time.
My entire childhood I had absolutely no fear of the dentist. In fact, I liked going. I thought it was cool. I had developed anxiety later in life , and after a visit to the dentist office a few years ago, I started feeling really anxious and strange at the dentist. I asked the dentist if there was something in the numbing agent because I felt unusual. She said there was epinephrine in the numbing agent , and that it was adrenaline. This made sense to me. Adrenaline is not pleasant for somebody with panic disorder or anxiety. However, I had the tooth fixed , and was able to go back 4 or 5 times after that. My anxiety and panic only got worse as I returned. Every time I returned to the dentist office, my anxiety got worse. The last time I went I couldn't even sit still for 30 seconds before completely panicking. If the "fatal mistake" is avoidance, then what do you call this? I have a tooth that needs to be serviced and I am absolutely terrified. I mean it's awful. It's so bad. I've been living in complete pain for almost a year because I don't want to die from cardiac arrest at the dentist office. I've even requested no epinephrine in the shots, and the dentist said she would try another type of numbing agent but had to be careful about toxicity. Now I'm worried about my kidneys or liver shutting down instead. It's like none of these dentists knows how to deal with somebody like me, and I don't blame them. It's not their fault. I just don't know what to do.
Niko, you won't go in to cardiac arrest from a panic attack, in fact panic attacks are completely harmless, they are just very painful and intense, but they are about as harmful to the body as a short run. I recently started to have agoraphobia, it started because I was having weird symptoms after covid, and when I had my first panic attack I thought I was dying from a heart condition, but it turns out it was a panic attack. I kept avoiding whatever triggered that feeling, and it just got worse and worse. I think the key is to understand: panic attacks are not physically harmful, not at all. And they are temporary. You should let it happen, and let it pass. Easier said than done of course, this requires courage. I had my wisdom teeth pulled out and when they injected the epinephrine I had a sort of panic attack, but it just passed over the next 5 minutes and I didn't really react to it. Same thing on a plane flight last year, I had a short panic attack when the plane took off because I knew from that point on I would be trapped in the plane, and the sensation of lift off is intense anyways. It passed after 5 minutes, I stayed on edge the whole flight but I have always been that way, I use wine to help in that situation. I think what I've learned so far is basically that: Expose yourself to whatever causes you to panic. Let the panic happen, do not resist it or even ignore it, stare it straight in the "eye", and let it pass. Because after all, the feeling is always temporary.
It NOT "AGRO -phobia" You're not afraid of "land", it's "AGORA" - fear of public gathering and the marketplace. If you're going to speak on the topic - get it right!
Well the outside world is dangerous. Don't wanna be attacked. Better off staying home and doing things that don't require socializing. Such as sleeping, Netflix, games, etc.
I have agoraphobia and nothing this man said has anything to do with how my fear gets processed. my agoraphobia has nothing to do with me fearing heart illness or any other physical condition. I can say with 100% certainty that this man should not be listened to. Agoraphobia is not a one size fits all fear.
Ok sure the specific fears he stated don't fit you. They don't fit me either. But his advice is spot on. The alternative is becoming one of those fucking hermits that hide in their house for 30 plus years, dies and gets eaten by their cats! I dunno about you, but I don't wanna be fucking cat food! Just sayin.
His examples don't relate to me either, but it would be impossible for him to talk about every single trigger that us agoraphobics have. He could have made it clearer that it was one example, but being mad and rude at people trying to spread the message of the disease and get us more help is not going to help anyone.
Almost cried. The sympathy. The understanding. The compassion for the pain I’ve been shouldering...the hope. Thank you sir.
As did I, it’s been hard and still feel trapped where ever I am. I don’t know what to do
@@rayek84I take minimal anti anxiety med the lowest kind on the day i need to expose myself to let’s say going to a concert with my kids. Other days i don’t need meds if am around my neighborhood.I progressed from being afraid to be on line at a supermarket… It’s an awful condition I developed it in my late forties and it’s taken my years to be able to get to where I am but I always have to carry medication even if I don’t take it. It’s the best that I can do although I loved to be cured therapy didn’t work for me. It’s like my brain one day switched. God bless wish you the best.
@@rayek84Break free
@@rayek84How are you now?
I'm 39 now. I developed agoraphobia when I was 18. I have now lived with it for longer than I lived without it. Was a depressing and miserable 21 years it has been. the agoraphobia tends to get worse. It chases you. You avoid more and more and your world shrinks more and more. I have done all the exposure and medicines but nothing seems to work. God i hate it so much. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.
Im right there with you brother im 42 years old had panic attacks since i was 19 then i had my lung collapse on two seperate occasions and then found out i had a heart condition and had to have surgury. Probably the worst things that could happen to a person like myself. I struggle every day to even attempt to work part time while sedated enough to cope. We must keep pushing forward
Same here. I've been an agoraphobe all my life, and then when I was put on benzodiazepines it got better for a while. Then my doctors decided that it was bad for me to take so much, so they halved my prescription. Within a week, all my symptoms were back. That was 8 years ago, and I haven't left my home for anything aside from a few select places once every month or so.
Agoraphobia is absolute hell. The things I've missed out on; the things I want to do _so badly_ ...it's unbearably difficult to deal with. What's worse, people often don't believe you. My heart goes out to both of you and everyone struggling with this horrible condition.
I had this for 10 years. The last 3 years of my disorder i didn't go further than 3km from home. Damn looking back now how paralyzing it was. I'm now living in Paris. I'm also writing a book 📖 to tell my story. Crazy how i turned my life around to where I am now i feel blessed every day. Anyone struggling i want you to know you can overcome this. I ran through panic attacks everyday into my agoraphobic zones that's I avoided most of my life. In 5 months I was fully recovered after 10 long years. Pretty amazing really. Got to pinch myself sometimes.
Once I lost the fear of panic. I went INTO it everyday as soon as I woke up I put my running shoes on and off i went running for my life literally.
Had a complété psychological switch over 💪🏾💪🏾
@4th Chairman sorry your going through this. Your not messed up, your actually stronger than you think you are you just need help realizing it. It sounds like you described hypochondria. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can really help with recognizing negative thoughts and replacing them with neutral or positive ones. Work on the mind, no one actually teaches us that in school so don't feel bad if you need help figuring it out.
Spot on. Year ago i was a complete agoraphobic. Baby steps and exposure therapy I'm able to live life again stronger than ever.
Jeremiah Northern do you see a therapist, if so what kind. Also, do you have any advice for me, because I really lack the courage to make an effort, and I haven’t had a life in so long
I don't see a therapist and I just slowly pushed myself a little each day. I still suffer from it to an extent but it's so much manageable. Also, I took Xanax to combat it which only made my agoraphobia worse.
Jeremiah Northern thank you man
No problem. I know the struggle. Don't give up
How did. U dO it. Brother?
As someone who's struggled with agoraphobia, what Dr. Peterson talks about here is spot on, I haven't found a clearer explanation anywhere on RUclips. I like that he talks about the obsessive focus on the heart and palpitations and how that builds up to a state of full fledged panic through a distorted thought process. I also completely agree about voluntary, progressive exposure to whatever constitutes the worst of your fears. This worked amazingly well for me. The fear of both death and humilliation are so true, and how that leads you to become paralyzed.
I'm a guy, 23 years old. I rarely leave my room. I have no friends. All I do is watch youtube videos, play video games, and look at memes. I can't talk to people correctly. I can't even express emotion through my face properly. Everybody thinks I'm weird. My life is going nowhere and I don't know what to do
Jordan Shackelford Im in the same situation as you :(
@@Melisza90 :( wish I knew how to fix it
Sounds Exactly like me
Does it feel easier going out at night? I ask this because I have during periods of my life, being in a similar situation. I have also travelled the world alone, owned property abroad, taught in front of large groups of people etc.
My reason for mentioning the above, is that it is possible to overcome it, though I totally understand how it can feel.
I'm in my 40s so have had longer to practice techniques.
Everyone is different, so try to find out what personally works for you.
Im the same. I'm afraid of panic attacks in public. They traumatize me. Love to all of you
Spot on, middle aged lady, experienced mothers death and domestic assault. I go to work and i feel safe there, and my house. I take my dog for walks and thats it. I will also go grocery shopping. I dont socialise. I find other peoples carefree enjoyment aggrivating. I miss it so it gets to me.
Love Jordan Peterson.
I once had a psychoanalyst who thought I had Agoraphobia...now here I am in Bangkok alone, enjoying every minute. Being handicapped is a great inconvenience, but it does not need to be a curse.
I haven’t actually seen a professional, but when you get nervous going to the mailbox, I think it’s safe to assume something is wrong. Mine’s a little different-I have epilepsy. It’s a phobia of having a seizure in public, then dying, so it’s similar.
The issue is that I appear as though I’m a fully functional human being-going to school and working full-time-but basically, I’m having a panic attack all day every day and it’s slowly killing me. I have absolutely no social life because as soon as someone speaks to me, I get anxious and want them to get away from me. You wouldn’t think it’s possible to hide that level of anxiety, but it is. I seriously need help…prayers would be appreciated.
He nails it! It's especially hard for a man.
I have agoraphobia (age 19) where I cannot feel secure when I’m outside my house by myself. I’m always paranoid that I will be attacked or kidnapped (when there is obviously no one around/no one having any intentions of doing so)
Funny, cause when I was a kid, I wanted to travel the country/world someday LOL
What's your question?
I believe its a spiritual problem and u should seek Jesus, read the bible and cast out devils of fear if needed. Because i had too and it works because its reality. Jesus is the truth.
Psalm 34:4 ESV
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
@@tradesthatmakesense If you find peace in "Jesus" good for you. A lot of people can't just can't "pray" this condition away.
Do you smoke the jazz cabbage?
I have had agoraphobia for a very long time and the behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy only helped to a very small extent. I did not start to get better until I started taking Xanax XR. I used the coping skills I had learned over the years in combination and it worked fantastic. I never thought I could feel normal again, but this went a long way in improving my quality of life. I went from not being able to leave my home at all for over a year to eventually being able to take 2 week vacations in NC and I live in PA. I think this stays with you your whole life though because I still have occasional setbacks but I keep adding to my knowledge from people like Peterson and never quit.
That's fantastic, however, some of the worse anxiety or panic attacks I've ever had have been on xanax. If I take a xanax and it doesn't completely remedy my anxiety or panic, my brain re-calculates and determines that what I'm experience must not in fact be anxiety, otherwise the xanax would have fixed it. Then it's off to the races. I'm stuck. Dr Peterson doesn't accept mail for clinical advice, and there are 0 psychologists in my area. They're all "psychiartists", and they usually have 16 people in the waiting room and have patients in and out in less than 10 minutes. I have a serious issue that requires professional help, and I have no idea what to do or who to talk to.
@@NikoBased Same here. All of the local mental health professionals in my area are LCSWs working with psychiatrists. The LCSWs are there simply as a buffer to keep the places from turning into 'pill mills', but they're still just handing out meds and not treating the problem. For me the _only_ medications that have really helped my agoraphobia are benzodiazepines - Xanax and Valium in my case. I rarely leave my home, and when I do, I don't go far.
Now both of my doctors want me off of the benzos and I've gotten _much_ worse. I only go out for absolute necessities, and I won't let anyone drive me anywhere (I'll only drive myself). I have nobody to talk to about it, and because I have a history of drug addiction (12yrs ago), doctors don't take my claims seriously. This is no way to live, and in America of all places - not to mention in super-progressive Massachusetts - you'd think I'd be able to find some real help.
Shady Brady hey Brady, I know how terrible the situation you’re going through is right now and I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m going through pretty much the same thing right now with agoraphobia and panic attacks, although there are a few therapists in my area that I plan on going to soon (which I’m terrified to even do that), I understand how you feel really lost, and have no one to talk to. I haven’t really had a single person I could actually turn towards for the past few years, not a parent, friend, or anyone. So although I have no idea who you are, and you have no idea who I am lol, I just want you to know you can always reach out to me if you need someone to talk to, and I have faith you will reach recovery.
@@kevinc721 This is a VERY lonely process Kevin. Reach out to me if you wish. I'll be back to check if you've responded.
Take care, Howard
Same. Cept no Xanax and just making myself get out . And yes, setbacks pop up.
I have agoraphobia and just realized it after living with it for 15 years. I abused alcohol, tried xanax and paxil but nothing has worked. I found a small local gym that I can go to where there aren't a lot of people and I found that lifting heavy weights helps me stay calm for the day. I stay home and avoid people as much as possible.
It sounds like a lot of us have this. Jesus can help.
Psalm 34:4 ESV
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
thats me for 3 years now.i have no money to get to therapy
@@tradesthatmakesense Not me, I prayed and read the bible and even played the church band and was living in hell the entire time. I was baptized and did everything I could but Christianity did nothing. Jesus is a myth.
@@M.Đ-z4u I would recommend working out and keep your body and mind active. Then take small steps from there. Go for an evening walk once you feel you can do it without too much anxiety. But start off by working out and giving your body and mind something to focus on for now.
agoraphobia is a genetic disorder and only the Claire weekes method works for it. If you have an anxiety disorder, then it’s psychological and you need to find the root of the cause.
It being voluntary is really important. You don't want your exposure to be that you had to go to that location for something. You should try just going there without a need to do or get anything. I really can't believe I'm dealing with this. It's come on after Covid and working from home. I've always had anxiety but to have agoraphobia is not something I ever pictured myself having. I'm at the point where I'm going for a walk every day in a park before I start my work day. Baby steps are better than nothing. I feel pathetic and embarrassed but I know I can fix this.
It’ll get better. You’re already doing great by taking walks. That’s what I’m doing. Baby steps. We’ll get through this
I have been homebound, for nearly for 25 years due to this. I HAVE tried to take baby steps..getting out and socializing…it usually backfires. I’m called names..as in The Crazy Lady on the Hill. Years ago, after a horrific childhood, I reached out for counseling. It was a huge help. However, I live in the south, Texas. STIGMA, is alive and well. Stigma, is crippling. Whatever positive ground I thought I covered, was all down the tubes once I realized how society treats us. I’m worse than ever. I refuse to go anywhere and certainly have no friends. There’s no hope that I can see in my lifetime. I can only pray that in the next generation, my offspring will be more educated, evolved in such matters. I hope so.
so sorry you have to struggle with this. i have agoraphobia as well but its almost gone. if you have truly tried everything with no results, maybe look into Ketamine therapy near you. It sounds crazy, but if you look into it online it has very promising results and it isnt as scary as it sounds. a bit expensive aswell. i've never done it myself, i just know of it. best of luck to you, just know you're not alone
@@xSilentRecon Thank you. That means the world. 💕
I have agoraphobia. I tried to be out in public but it only got worse over time. I was sexually attacked regularly as a child and became afraid to leave the house. When I was old enough that guys started looking at me, I withdrew further and further. I'm not sure how to overcome it since I've tried it all and nothing works. It's exhausting to the point I'm happy just to stay home where I can feel normal.
I think the treatment to your problem, in regards to Dr. Peterson's methods, would be facing your fear directly, but not like making a public speech right off the bat, I mean you can start just going on parks and sitting on benches looking at people to see how they act, and I know it's hard in your condition but you have to stop thinking in how people judge you and start looking at them to see that they also have failures, and if you think you have done something wrong they will tell you if you pay enough attention to them and when you do pay attention you will learn how to not do it again or maybe you'll percieve that you haven't done anything wrong to begin with.
Yagod If it was as simple as that everyone would do it.
The problem is that for being simple as that no one do it.
Yagod No not really. Ive had times where I can be around people and then all of a sudden become really anxious. It doesnt always depend on getting used to the environment.
Jackson Scully In that manner it could be that you are in the bottom of the dominance hierarchy of the group that you're anxious for being around. I have found myself in similar cases and thought that I couldn't be myself in the group, but the more I acted truthfully, and not just did what was acceptable for the group, the more I was accepted by it, climbing the hierarchy and not being more anxious, of course that there are people that will hate you for being yourself but you have to be around good people that like you and help each other.
i noticed having panic attacks in public, and then when i would try to sleep at night my heart would start pounding, id feel faint and my thoughts cloudy. I could bearly walk. im still dealing with it, ive been to the emergency room a few times and all tests came up clean. So the fear of not knowing whats wrong with me even made it worse. But now... now i might know whats going on.
It really amazes me how little help I've been able to find for this condition. In Massachusetts of all places, home to some of the greatest doctors, I haven't been able to find a psychologist-psychiatrist team willing to take me on as a patient because I'm dependent on benzodiazepines. Ironically, they're the only thing that has helped me get out of the house! Now that I'm being forced to taper off of them, my agoraphobia has gotten _really_ bad, and I have no one to turn to. It's awful.
Hi, hope your doing well. I have this condition also but I'm young and hoping i can get it under control now rather than later.
I have agoraphobia too. Hope you are well and able to work on it.
Yup. I'm going through the same thing. Been on the same low dose of Xanax for 20 years with the same doctor. A little over a year ago he retired and since then, no other doctor I've been to will prescribe Xanax anymore because of the "so called" war on drugs. I have also tried 15 different therapists and and loads of different antidepressants and meds and none of them could help me. Only Xanax helped me function like a normal person and never once did I abuse it.
Since I've been off my meds, I quit my job because the panic attacks became so bad, haven't been able to drive or leave the house in over a year. Every time I try to find a Dr or therapist to help me, either they say they no longer prescribe Xanax, are not taking any more patients or don't take my insurance. Around here they charge $350+ per session which I can't afford out of pocket.
All I need is .5 mg of Xanax daily to live a normal, productive life and they took it away from me and millions of others. It's like giving a diabetic insulin and then taking it away. This is a real illness that makes people's live's miserable.
@@FuturesPast1 That's just terrible. Have you tried presenting any doctors with some of the Ashton information, or not asking for Xanax up front? Some doctors (like a family doc / primary care physician) might hear your case and prescribe Valium instead. I know for certain that Xanax in particular has a _really_ bad reputation among doctors, despite being the most effective for stopping panic attacks.
If you've been off of it for more than a month or two now, honestly, I'd just stay off. The future looks real bad for benzo-dependent people like you and I, so if even though you're in hell, sooner or later you've gotta come around. I guess I'm just trying to be hopeful.
For sure, if you've been off of Xanax completely for more than 30 days now, I wouldn't get back on Xanax. If life is really that bad (I believe you and empathize if it is), then perhaps ask if you could be put on a low dose of Valium. A doctor would be more likely to do that for you than to put you back on Xanax.
Also consider that kindling is a big issue for you now. Maybe you've heard, maybe not, but read about it. Put simply, if you've gotten off of Xanax or any benzo. and gone through withdrawal, then the next time you withdraw (if you ever do), it will be worse. Kindling happens to benzodiazepine-dependent people and alcoholics who've withdrawn once before, and each withdrawal usually gets worse and worse. It's a big problem with people who abuse benzo's and binge on them, but it's still very possible that another withdrawal for you would be bad. It's just something to consider.
Just remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I know you mentioned that sessions are $350 or more, so I know it's a big risk going to another new doctor, but maybe you could write to some doctors in your area and explain to them your issue. For every 100 of these benzo nazis, there's at least a few who understand the situation. The key is not to sound desperate for the medicine, but to mitigate the symptoms you're having. I wish you all the best Future's Past, and I hope you find peace.
@@bveracka Hi. Thanks for replying. You are very kind. There are no dr's in my area that are taking on new patients because of covid-19. They are filled with people with anxiety. When I call to try to get an appointment with any one, most have a message on their answering machines stating they no longer prescribe controlled substances.
I recently called one of those teledocs for anxiety and mental health and have an appointment in a week. They will probably try to just put me on an SSRI which don't work for me, When I last got Xanax before my dr. retired I saved some xanax for when I have a really bad attack. I have taken the xanax about 2-3 times a week since so I have not been fully off it.
My Dr. told me the main reason he was retiring is because the government is getting too involved with how he treats his patients. He said if he prescribed too many benzos, he could have lost his license. He said his practice was made up with mostly panic disorder and anxiety sufferers. He said at anytime the DEA could have raided his office if he prescribed a certain percentage of benzos to his patients. He could no longer treat his worse cases any longer and got burnt out.
Before he left he tried to taper me off of xanax. He also switched me from Xanax IR to Xanax XR. It did not help my attacks. Then he tried a low daily dose of valium for the taper for a few months and it made my anxiety worse and did not stop my bad panic attacks.
At this point I have zero quality of life. I do not work anymore, cannot drive a car, lost all of my friends, and do not ever leave the house to visit family members. The farthest I have gotten away from my house in the past year is a few blocks away from my house and each time, I had to go back.
My husband and adult children can't take living with me anymore. My husband is about to throw the towel in. He cannot stand the fact that I am so dependent on him. I am afraid of being left alone and abandoned by the people I love. They are tired of me.
All I need is a low dose of xanax to function again like a normal person and feel hopeless. I have been to over 20 different therapists with all different treatment options and have been put on about 30 different medications over the years like SSRI's and nothing works. When I take a low dose of daily xanax, I feel normal not high. The scary repetitive thoughts go away and I function like a normal person.
At this point I don't look forward to the future and wish I would just die. At 47 my life is basically over. I want to be a normal functioning person in society again. Most doctors look at people like me with disdain and think we are addicts. The only thing I am addicted to is having a normal functioning life not filled with fear and suffering.
I have both agoraphobia and social anxiety and it’s making it hard to sustain a job. Which really sucks because it just creates more anxiety for me because I worry people will think I’m lazy..when it’s just really hard to not panic even looking for jobs.
For instance, if I look at jobs and the location is on a bad side of town i have stopped myself from applying because I automatically start thinking I’ll be on the job alone and someone will come in and Rob the place and try to hurt me.. or stuff like that.
As far as passed trauma..I grew up in a cult 😳
Mine started at 17. Also the public thing is not about my heart, it’s over awareness and feeling everyone’s eyes on you and wanting everyone to go away or to get away but you can’t
Key word is VOLUNARILY exposure. Can have way different outcomes. I had a time where I wanted to overcome my fears ect...then the past 2-3 I have been thrown into situations that feel like death to me(being on a cash register, ect..) and I wasnt ready and didnt want it. Now I'm more ashamed than ever, self esteem went down. I'm all about getting out of comfort zone, but when its (psychological) life or death, my advice is learn some coping skills first and have a desire to try it.
Say what you like about his political opinions but he completely hit the nail on the head with this.
I don’t fear death, I fear people’s judgements, how I look how I act etc. If nobody is around I am fine but if I can feel someone looking at me I just can’t handle it. I’m not bed ridden or house bound but going out every day is like Dr Peterson describes “a living hell”. I have no idea how to make this better, I thought being exposed to it would work but it clearly doesn’t.
I feel the same way! If i go grocery shopping i feel like everyone is looking at me (which i know they arnt) but my starts racing and i have a panic attack.
Laurie E. Me too, shopping is one of the worst things even though it’s so simple. Waiting in line is probably the worst part for me, especially if it’s a big line.
Sideways Nutrition I’m the same way. I feel like everyone is judging the way I look or act. I don’t even like going to the corner store. And I too get extremely nervous waiting in line. Wow it’s good to know other people feel the suffer from the same things
Victoria Obledo You’re right it’s good to know you’re not alone, thing is you never think anyone you see when you’re out shopping has any similar problems so maybe it’s really not that noticeable. I think the simple advice when people say relax is actually the most important thing because first you stress yourself out so you’re uncomfortable then you think people can see you’re uncomfortable which makes you even more uncomfortable 😂 it’s a vicious circle.
Sideways Nutrition exactly! Lol I’m telling myself the whole time “relax it’s fine. Everyone is tied up in their own stresses Nobody is worried about you “ I think it helps but really makes me overthink everything
I've had agoraphobia since middle school and off and on in high school and now mine is ocd and anxiety I think I'm either going to get harmed or judged but also have sensory issues. Exposure therapy works but its not a cure all its only helps its life long normal school bullying didn't trigger it it just brought it at ten fold aggressive flooding exposure even on purpose even voluntarily can either make it better or worse. Baby steps but not overly comfortable baby steps. You're a very good Dr tho. Thank you for this video
I was mugged a few months ago, and now I've got heart palpitations and panic attacks everytime I step out.
I wasn't like this, I am a physically fit guy and was always confident in social situations but now I don't have the courage to step out thinking I might get mugged or worst I might get killed. Idk how to deal with this
I wish you were my therapist..:) I love your lectures and RUclips shorts!!
I have agoraphobia and he isn't wrong. I have found that going out once a week minimum (I am disabled so I don't work) keeps my anxiety manageable. One time I got so scared and didn't leave the house for weeks and those weeks turned in to about 3 months and by the time I did leave my house just stepping outside the door had me in uncontrollable hysterics. Sadly it's a constant battle but I have learned if I have someone with me (commonly referred to as a safety person) and the things that help me feel more calm ( I have heard from many agoraphobics that carrying around certain items helps them feel better. Not sure if this is the case for everyone but it sure works for me. Mine is chapsticks/lip balms btw. Not sure why.) and I do it semi frequently it is manageable. Just gotta keep up on it and not completely hide from the fears.
Every since I suffered from sudden cardiac arrest I've isolated myself from crowds.
That’s anxiety, not agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a genetic disorder
I used to love outdoors, now I don't leave the house. I believe it is this toxic society we live in I want no part of. Y'all can have that batshit crazy world full of fakes and clowns, all yours, enjoy. I was born loving, the world turned me cold.
There a lot of good people out there
We'll see.
Agora means market place, This horrible disorder has been with us for a very long time
There are plenty of quacks but find a good therapist who has an open mind
From an Australian doctor
Mine is not because of either of these reasons..it's because i dislike the fakeness of people. About how they all seem concerned about shallow things..it drains me to be around large groups of people.
@TheNeuroticAlpha appreciate your reply. I did have a bad childhood. No molestation that i can recall. Just good ole verbal emotional abuse...i used to enjoy being social..but i had to drink to feel comfortable enough to be social. Now that ive gotten older i realize just how much life seems like a game..work..pay bills..die. The "small talk" is usually about weather or sports..i dont watch sports..and people complain about Hating their work without ever talking about solutions!!! It's frustrating...i also have 3 kids..so my longing for solitude is real lol. I love my kids but self-care and alone time are very important...
Agoraphobia is an actual fear. It sounds like you're just very introverted. Introverts find social interaction very exhausting.
I think your filtering their behavior by your own perspective. People can be happy, i know you and i don't necessarily feel like that's possible, but it is. Perhaps it's like the dunning Kruger affect of social intelligence, we perhaps don't have enough of it to be able to accurately gauge our own level of social intelligence leading to us over estimating it. So i think i'm normal, but to somebody who's actually average would make us seem almost socially retarded. It's a blunt way to look at it, but i think it's a rather accurate way of looking at it. Or maybe i'm just a cynic.
My panique attack is lacking the possibility to choose your life by my self and i cant stand that doctor know better than the patient.
I feel sick when i see people laugh at me while i am in difficutly.
I'm sorry 😕
Some ppl have said that it came out of no where 🤷🏽♀️
You must get to The Mall.
The Mall. The Maaaall.
this video always stops at the 3:00 minute mark...in different browsers.
what's going on?
Must be your computer. Mine had no stopping.
Agoraphobia by definition I'd fear of being in public places with no way to escape. A lot of ppl I think have Anthropophobia, which is the fear of people. They're not afraid of being in a public building, it's the people in the building. But they're both types of anxiety.
I developed it after taking LSD 51 years ago.
To say that I have had a rough life is the greatest of understatements
Don't take LSD people
i have agoraphobia and i've had it for almost 10 years, i know all of these things, how to overcome it etc, but i don't know how often you have to subject yourself to exposure for it to take effect or how do you know you've achieved progress?
to me it's like a comfortzone, as soon as i leave it, it becomes more and more unbearable until my mind snaps and i feel dazed and confused and extremely tired, like being hit in the back of the head.
so do i have to have my mind snap or does progress occur when that doesn't happen, or are both legitimate standards of progressing? and how often? because i feel so sluggish after one of those sessions that i pretty much go home and sleep or that i move in the speed of a sloth both mentally and physically and that effects lingers for a couple of days.
I found, at least for me once a week minimum works well. It keeps my anxiety manageable and feels comfortable over all. I dunno if it is different for others but I'd give that a shot if you are unsure. If you need to dial back or do it more often go with that. Challenge yourself as much as you can handle with out harming yourself.
I've had agoraphobia for 15 years and I have the same symptoms as you. My life has changed completely. I now realize I am never going to be the person I was.
go expose yourself to your fears when the moment presents itself.
Dead on accurate
Had my first intense panic attack after getting the Pfizer vaccine (dose 2; dose 1 was okay) and life has been an absolute horror show since then. But this sounds like the hell I'm experiencing now all the time.
My entire childhood I had absolutely no fear of the dentist. In fact, I liked going. I thought it was cool. I had developed anxiety later in life , and after a visit to the dentist office a few years ago, I started feeling really anxious and strange at the dentist. I asked the dentist if there was something in the numbing agent because I felt unusual. She said there was epinephrine in the numbing agent , and that it was adrenaline. This made sense to me. Adrenaline is not pleasant for somebody with panic disorder or anxiety. However, I had the tooth fixed , and was able to go back 4 or 5 times after that. My anxiety and panic only got worse as I returned. Every time I returned to the dentist office, my anxiety got worse. The last time I went I couldn't even sit still for 30 seconds before completely panicking. If the "fatal mistake" is avoidance, then what do you call this? I have a tooth that needs to be serviced and I am absolutely terrified. I mean it's awful. It's so bad. I've been living in complete pain for almost a year because I don't want to die from cardiac arrest at the dentist office. I've even requested no epinephrine in the shots, and the dentist said she would try another type of numbing agent but had to be careful about toxicity. Now I'm worried about my kidneys or liver shutting down instead. It's like none of these dentists knows how to deal with somebody like me, and I don't blame them. It's not their fault. I just don't know what to do.
Niko, you won't go in to cardiac arrest from a panic attack, in fact panic attacks are completely harmless, they are just very painful and intense, but they are about as harmful to the body as a short run. I recently started to have agoraphobia, it started because I was having weird symptoms after covid, and when I had my first panic attack I thought I was dying from a heart condition, but it turns out it was a panic attack. I kept avoiding whatever triggered that feeling, and it just got worse and worse. I think the key is to understand: panic attacks are not physically harmful, not at all. And they are temporary. You should let it happen, and let it pass. Easier said than done of course, this requires courage.
I had my wisdom teeth pulled out and when they injected the epinephrine I had a sort of panic attack, but it just passed over the next 5 minutes and I didn't really react to it. Same thing on a plane flight last year, I had a short panic attack when the plane took off because I knew from that point on I would be trapped in the plane, and the sensation of lift off is intense anyways. It passed after 5 minutes, I stayed on edge the whole flight but I have always been that way, I use wine to help in that situation.
I think what I've learned so far is basically that: Expose yourself to whatever causes you to panic. Let the panic happen, do not resist it or even ignore it, stare it straight in the "eye", and let it pass. Because after all, the feeling is always temporary.
I just want to go cycling
God bless you Jordan peterson.
Thanks :)
It NOT "AGRO -phobia"
You're not afraid of "land", it's "AGORA" - fear of public gathering and the marketplace.
If you're going to speak on the topic - get it right!
Well the outside world is dangerous. Don't wanna be attacked. Better off staying home and doing things that don't require socializing. Such as sleeping, Netflix, games, etc.
I hate it
Its not "agraphobia"..its a-gor-a-phobia.....Had this for 45 years
John Doe he says it right. He just barely pronounces the "o".
It depends where you're from... In my country its ag ra phobia
@@karenmellett9232 Check the spelling, there is no r after the g, its a o.....I have had the issue for 40 years
@@JohnDoe-xu2vx yes I can read but that's just how we say it here 🤷
Worse comment on my agoraphobia and panic attacks...
...go see your doctor
Kind of off base with this one Jordan at least for certain circumstances
I have agoraphobia and nothing this man said has anything to do with how my fear gets processed. my agoraphobia has nothing to do with me fearing heart illness or any other physical condition. I can say with 100% certainty that this man should not be listened to. Agoraphobia is not a one size fits all fear.
yes nobody listen to the clinical psychologist with over 10+ years of education (PHD) with years and years of workplace experience.
Ok sure the specific fears he stated don't fit you. They don't fit me either. But his advice is spot on. The alternative is becoming one of those fucking hermits that hide in their house for 30 plus years, dies and gets eaten by their cats! I dunno about you, but I don't wanna be fucking cat food! Just sayin.
jim page you are angry because he is correct !!!!!
His examples don't relate to me either, but it would be impossible for him to talk about every single trigger that us agoraphobics have. He could have made it clearer that it was one example, but being mad and rude at people trying to spread the message of the disease and get us more help is not going to help anyone.
everything he said fits me perfectly. he’s talking about the most common reasons for it, he never said it was the reason for every single case
weed and meditation works
Weed is iffy it depends on your biology but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else trying g to overcome anything. It's more like a guilty pleasure
@@kaliyuuu yes that is why it helpt me!
I have seen weed cause it and also worsen it
I would not recommend it as 'therapy'
From an Australian doctor
I can’t afford to go out , A full English costs over £10. I need to do maths 🤓🧮