Agoraphobia-Finally a A Solution You Can Live With…

What Is It? (Skip To the Bottom to Learn, "What Can Be Done?")

Agoraphobia is a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Typical "phobic situations" might include driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings and social gatherings. No one enjoys having a panic attack. And no one enjoys living with the fear that they might have one (Agoraphobia). No amount of conscious effort or willpower can eliminate a phobia or actual panic attack because the root of the problem is at the unconscious level of mind.

Maybe you are completely homebound, or maybe you stay in for days at a time, or maybe your the kind of person that only likes to get out every couple of weeks. And, hey, what's wrong with being a person that likes to stick around the house? If you are reading this, then you (or someone you are close to) are making these same statements to some degree. To call these statement excuses is insensitive since it is not an excuse to respond to the need to feel safe.  To refer to Agoraphobia as a disease  is a complete misunderstanding when it is actually a combination of symptoms that can be fixed completely-not just brought under temporary control or subsided/numbed with medications.

The beginning of your recovery starts here. What you will learn is that you are about to end the hold Agoraphobia or fear of panic attacks has on your life through hypnosis. You will learn to regain the carefree life you remember once having, and will also gain new confidence in living. Your answer to living free from “panic” or “anxiety attacks” is at hand.

Understanding Agoraphobia (or Skip to the Bottom of This Article for the Solution...)

Here's an example of this fully natural survival instinct we all possess on over-drive:

Standing in line at the store, and only one customer left to go before you make it to the cashier, smile amiably, pay and go home. What's that feeling? It forms in your throat, your chest feels tighter, now a sudden shortness of breath, and what do you know—your heart skips a beat. “Please, not here.” Your eyes dart around assessing your surroundings—is it threatening? Four unfriendly faces behind you, one person in front. Pins and needles seem to prick you through arm, you feel slightly detached and dizzy...then fear as you dread the worst. You are about to have a panic attack.

Is this is going to be a big one? The big one? Okay, focus: Remember, it's time to apply those coping techniques that must work for everyone else, otherwise, why would you be told to use them? Technique #1, the deep breathing exercise you were told about. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Think relaxing thoughts, and again, while breathing in, think “Relax,” and then breathe out. Wait, it doesn’t seem to be having any positive effect; in fact, just concentrating on breathing is making you feel self-conscious and more uptight.

Technique #2:

Gradual muscle relaxation. Tense both shoulders, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Try it again. No difference. This feeling of tightness almost like a dull pain is getting worse and the very fact that you are out of coping techniques worsens your panic. If only someone you trusetd were there, you could better deal with this situation.

Now, you feel strangely keen and highly alert as the adrenaline is really pumping through your system, your body is tingling with uncomfortable sensations, and now the dreaded feeling of losing complete control engulfs your emotions. "Am I fidgeting? Am I standing to still? Can anyone tell how weird I feel? I can't stand this. It's my life, I can just walk out that door now." No one around you has any idea of the sheer terror you are experiencing. (Prove it, right?) For them, it’s just a regular day and another frustratingly slow line in the store.

No Time for Technique #3, or Plan A & B, Cut to Plan C Fast

You politely excuse yourself from the line even though it is finally your turn. The cashier looks confused as you leave your cart behind and stroll towards the door. No time for excuses—you need to get out of there now and be alone. You leave, get into your car and drive. Is this the one that will push you over the edge mentally and physically. Ten minutes later the panic subsides.

It’s 10:30 a.m. How are you going to make it through the rest of the day?

There are several kinds of Agoraphobia treatment, though generally, there are three types that are accepted as being the 'best Agoraphobia treatment'. They are medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication with CBT. If you are no stranger to Agoraphobia, one or maybe all of these have been used in your situation.

These modern methods for treating Agoraphobia can often be brutal. Once medication is introduced, methods of exposure to the things you fear the most are initiated. This flooding technique can be terrifying and debilitating but over time (and unfortunately very high monetary expense), conditioning may eventually occur and sometimes this solution works.

A Solution You Can Live With…

Hypnosis, however, allows you to take your first steps outside (that flooding technique) in the comfort of your own mind. The hypnosis treatment for Agoraphobia is similar to hypnosis for panic disorder but will also probably need to help you combat depression and low self esteem as well as more extensive exposure to avoided situations and places. The hypnotherapist who will treat you knows that the fear finds its roots in your subconscious. The subconscious mind has tremendous power to influence your autonomic nervous system. This is the reason why deep breathing is so ineffective in helping people control a panic attack. All deep breathing does is try and restore calm to the body.  Your body and its chemistries are already in action preparing you to physically defend yourself.  Trying to mentally calm the body at this point is like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. 

Being familiar with your situation, your hypnotherapist will work with you over the phone, or in the privacy of your own home, getting you to the point of where you are comfortable greeting the outside world again, with Agoraphobia being just a faint, uncomfortable memory.

How Many Hypnosis Sessions Will This Take?

That depends on you and your current situation. We will give you a free consultation to get a general idea of 'where you are' as far as Agoraphobia is concerned. Your hypnotherapist can, after one hypnosis session, give you a fairly definite estimate (within one or two sessions) of what it will take for you to feel better again.

The hypnosis techniques incorporated into this program will help you or your loved one (even children) rapidly make important changes at the unconscious level of mind, which can completely eliminate these irrational fears and panic attacks.

So, if you look for reasons not to leave the house, experience anxiety at the thought of open spaces, find it difficult or impossible to go to the grocery store, chat with a friend over coffee, or enjoy a meal at a sidewalk cafe without worry-it's time you gave yourself a chance and us a call today.  You can stop dealing with this issue temporarily and be free of it forever.