Things You'll Need:
- Support Network
- Medical Attention
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Step 1
Get a complete physical, including various types of bloodwork. Agoraphobia, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks can sometimes have a physical origin, such as a nutrient deficiency. Often, a carefully prescribed regimen of nutrients containing specified doses of Vitamin C, the various B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium can help to restore balance to the nervous system and over time help to decrease the terror that accompanies agoraphobia.
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Step 2
See a therapist. When the root cause of the agoraphobia is not obviously physical, there is a chance that either a long repressed memory or an accumulation of various experiences have resulted in the development of agoraphobia. A trained counselor or therapist can help uncover these events, and assist the patient in beginning to defuse their impact on the mind, often with the use of specific types of behavior therapy
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Step 3
Consider the use of medication to help during your recovery. Several anti-anxiety medications, such as alprazolam have proven helpful as one component in the treatment of agoraphobia. While anti-anxiety medication does not actually treat the condition, it does alleviate the symptoms for many people and thus support the effectiveness of other treatments. Use only as prescribed by the physician.
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Step 4
Identify and expand the range of “safe places.” Many agoraphobics have a few places where the fears and anxiety subside enough that it is possible to function. These safe places often include the home, the homes of a few loved ones, and perhaps a local park. Using these safe places as a foundation, begin to expand the perimeter of these places. If the home is safe, spend time sitting in the back yard until this space begins to feel safe. Walk one city block from your home regularly until traveling that distance begins to register as safe, then add another block to the walk.
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Step 5
Spend more time in these reclaimed safe places. Instead of staying at the park for a half-hour, take along a book and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air for an hour. Make two walks around the neighborhood instead of one. Each gain, no matter how small it may seem, helps to decrease the hold of agoraphobia on daily activities.
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Step 6
Attempt to visit new places in the company of a loved one. Often, having someone nearby who is supportive and inspires a sense of being safe can make it possible to at least endure a meal in a small, quiet restaurant. As time goes on, that meal out becomes less of a chore and more of a pleasure.
