Agoraphobia Panic Attacks - The Myth of the Safe Zone

Mar 20
13:52

2010

Andrew Hunter

Andrew Hunter

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Agoraphobia panic disorder is the expression used to to identify people who have significant or constant anxiety attacks. A lot of people will suffer a feeling of dread and fear at some time within their life, specifically when placed in hazardous or intimidating cases. When these worries apparently have no evident cause, they come to be what is named a panic attack, though they often come with stretches of severe pressure to us (like significant deadlines at your workplace or school).

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Agoraphobia panic disorder is a name used to to identify people who have serious or recurring anxiety attacks.  Almost all people will feel a sense of worry and panic sooner or later in their life,Agoraphobia Panic Attacks - The Myth of the Safe Zone Articles specifically when placed in risky or intimidating conditions.  When these worries often feature no apparent spark, they turn into what is named a panic attack, though they are likely to come with instances of severe pressure in our life (just like crucial deadlines on the job or school).

When somebody has constant panic attacks, ordinarily about each week or higher, and with out a obvious cause or aggravating stimulus, the individual may have what is referred to as a panic condition.  They might begin to be afraid that they will experience a panic attack at the drop of a hat.  They worry that any of the familiar indicators (lightheadedness, pounding heart, shaking, sweat, concerns of going into cardiac arrest or death) may become too much for them and turn into a all-out anxiety attack.

As a result, they often start to steer clear of locations where they believe they could be unable to get away from should an anxiety attack develops.  They might keep away from crowded places, driving a car in substantial traffic, public transit, small and claustrophobic rooms, and in intense cases even leaving the home.  It's this that we call an agoraphobia anxiety condition.

One time, a few years ago, I got in a crash and messed up my car while going down a rather busy street in Tempe, Arizona.  I recall the squealing tires and that sound of bashing steel upon impact.  Thank goodness, I was physically alright.  However in the days that followed, I began to find myself feeling apprehensive when it came time to get in the car and drive to work, or right at the end of my shift when I would return back to my house.  One day, I found myself hanging out one weekend with a group of friends and out of the blue my hands began getting sweaty, and I found myself breathing rather fast.  Before long my arms began to seem numb as if they were just hanging dead at my side and I was feeling dizzy.  My best friend, seeing something was not right, took me to the hospital.  The tests revealed I was perfectly fit.

I felt something comparable a couple weeks later on and started to wonder if the doctors at the clinic for some reason overlooked anything when they were diagnosing me.  I began to feel awkward about to the places where my attacks had happened.  I had a few more panic attacks and started to fret when the next would appear.  Imagine if it was on the freeway?  Imagine if my car spun out of control and smashed into someone else?  I soon could barely get myself to leave my home even for essential things such as getting groceries.  I had a bad case of agoraphobia panic disorder.

I thought I have to be going crazy!  I was trapped in my life and I was drifting away from close friends because I was so afraid of venturing out and presumably getting agoraphobia panic attacks.  I was nervous when I left my home, I might have a panic attack.  If I got an anxiety attack, I could be rendered weak and absolutely at the mercy of the location I could be in and also the other people that could be out there.

I assumed that I might be at less risk in the house where I did not need to worry about going through agoraphobia panic attacks during dangerous circumstances like getting behind the steering wheel or suffer from the embarrassment of going insane" in public.

What I have gradually come to learn, is that my life was shutting me in and getting to be smaller and smaller because of the idea that there was a "safe zone."  Frankly, I assumed that I would be protected at home and for some reason moving out the front door, I would somehow be less safe.  I now know there really isn't a safe zone.  Relaxing in my house is just as safe as walking down a packed street.  I've had anxiety episodes in a variety of circumstances and in several different areas, and I'm still living at well.  With time every one of my agoraphobia panic attacks would have went away by itself even without clinical treatment.  I might have even had one out in the forest and although undoubtedly would be scary, it would inevitably go away and I would be perfectly alright-with no medications, no psychiatrists, and no protection anywhere to be seen.

What about yourself?  In spite of your most severe agoraphobia panic attacks, where you were completely sure you were dying, aren't you still here living?

Sure, it is recommended to find medical treatment if you're having a considerable physical trouble like an asthma attack, diabetic issues, or other substantial physical health problem, but no doctor on earth will inform you that you would be more secure at home than at the supermarket or the mall.  There is no safe zone.

Believe me I've been there and I've had to face all the fear and panic.  When you can understand this notion, and acquire it on a instinctual level, it can shift how you understand the world and it will offer back your self-reliance.  This tiny notion was truthfully life-altering the moment I grasped it deep down inside.  It started the process that helped me get my agoraphobia panic attacks in order by changing just how I looked at the world.

I know you can recover.  How?  Because I got over it, myself.  Nowadays, I am a solid believer in the concept that what one man or women is capable of doing, another person also can do.  The path won't be the exact same, nevertheless, you can gain control of your life as well.