Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks

There is phobia that is linked to the experience of panic attacks, and that is agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places such as shopping markets. It is a fear associated with leaving a safe zone, such as the home.

Because of a feeling of being vulnerable, people who experience this fear often suffer from panic attacks in these “open” situations. It is true to say many people who have regular panic attacks experience different degrees of agoraphobia. Some have a lingering background anxiety about being away from home should they experience a panic attack. Other people are so immobilized by this fear that they find it very difficult to leave their home for even a short period.

The thinking behind agoraphobia usually follows the line that were a panic attack to occur, who would look after the person, how would he or she get the assistance and reassurance they needed? The vulnerability grows from the feeling that once victims of agoraphobia are caught in the anxiety, they are suddenly unable to look after themselves and are therefore at the mercy of the place they find themselves in and the strangers around them. In its extreme form, agoraphobia and panic attacks can lead to a situation where people become housebound for numerous years. Please note, this is by no means a hopeless situation, and I always need to reinforce the fact that something only becomes hopeless once the person really believes that to be the case.

To begin with, the primary issue that needs to be addressed is the belief in the safe zone. To clarify, when I talk about safe zone, I am referring to the zone where the person believes panic attacks do not occur, or at least occur infrequently. As comfort is found there, it is where the person tends to spend more and more time. The safe zone of anxiety is a myth sustained by the mind. The mind has developed a habit of thinking that dictates that being inside the safe zone is the only place to feel secure and avoid agoraphobia and panic attacks. If agoraphobia is an issue for you, watch as your mind comes up with reasons why it believes only a certain area is safe and another is not. Those reasons range from being near the phone or people you trust to having familiar physical surroundings to reassure you.

The reality of anxiety is that there is no such thing as a safe zone. There is nothing life threatening about a panic attack, and therefore sitting at home is the same as sitting under the stars on a desert island. Of course, your mind will immediately rush to tell you that a desert island is a ridiculous place to be as there are no hospitals, no tranquillisers, no doctors, NO SAFETY.

You need to review your previous experiences of panic attacks. Aren’t you still here, alive and well, after all those attacks during which you were convinced you were going to die?

It may be that on occasions you have been driven to the hospital where they did medicate you to calm you down, but do you really believe that you would not have survived were it not for the drugs? You would have. If the same bout of anxiety had occurred on this desert island, it too would have passed, even if you were all alone. Yes, when it comes to conditions that need medical attention such as asthma, diabetes, and a whole litany or other conditions, then having medical aid nearby is a big asset, but no doctor in the world would tell someone with anxiety that there are only specific safe zones in which she or he can move.

As I know more than anyone how terrifying it can feel to move out of your safe zone as the feeling of fear is welling up inside, I do not wish to sound harsh. This course is not about chastising people for their behaviours. It is a way of looking together at solutions and seeing through the myths that form prison walls. The goal is to enable you to return to a richer and more meaningful life and ultimately defeat your agoraphobia and panic attacks. I also realize that people around you cannot understand why a trip to shops would cause you such discomfort. You will have to forgive them and try not to be upset by their lack of understanding of your problem.

If an individual such as a partner or family member has not had a similar anxiety issue, that person may often find it hard to understand and empathize with what you are going through. I am sure you have been dragged out of the house numerous times against your will, kicking and screaming. This can then lead to tensions and arguments and is upsetting as it can make you feel less understood by those around you. People around agoraphobics are often simply trying what they feel is best. If you can see that their intentions are well meaning (although often misguided), then you will be able to relate to them better and help sooth any potential conflicts.

There is one thing I am sure you will agree with, and that is that the only person who will get you out of agoraphobic thinking is yourself. These are your thoughts, and only you can begin to change that pattern. Dealing with long term agoraphobia and panic attacks is a slow process to begin with, but once the results start happening, it moves faster and faster until you reach a point where you will find it hard to believe that going out was such a difficult task.

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How Uncertainty Leads to Stress

Author: Peter Gitundu

In our lives, we have found that when we are not sure of what is going to happen, we are more stressed. Uncertainty can lead to stress and there is no fact as true as this one. Many times when we have a prior knowledge of something, we tend to be more relaxed and this is easy for us so that we can be comfortable. As you walk along the road of life you will certainly discover that we have more questions than answers. This means that there are so many uncertainties that we have to form a coping mechanism which can help us go through the stress caused by an unknown tomorrow.

One of the coping mechanism that offers calm and peace to people is faith. This is a system with a different order organized to seek higher power intervention for the present and the future. Religion has therefore transformed many people who actually come with uncertainty to be told that the future can actually hold a lot to look forward to. The change of mind and attitude becomes evident and a positive outlook on life emerges. Despite the life challenges that we go through, you are promised something beyond you. It has been seen in many people who have overcome uncertainty and stress this way.

One thing we can learn from faith is that it takes a different view or perception of the world so that you can face the future without stress. Therefore, it has been seen that the answer can lie in the attitude of an individual when they decide to take each day as it comes. Sometimes, we might go through life with a lot of expectation just to be disappointed severally. When this person tries to make something out of themselves again, it will be difficult because they will associate their future with past failures. Uncertainty therefore plays a major role in causing frustration an discouragement.

A key word that is usually associated with uncertainty and stress is fear. No body has been able to conquer fear and in our daily lives, we have expressed fear and stress has been part of us because of this reason. The first thing that you can do if you want to get out of stress caused by fear is to identify what you might be fearing. Many have had fears of being fired, others fear that secrets do not come out, fear of failure is very common and this might be in business or at a personal level. Other people may fear snakes and other animals that are in their view fearful.

All these fears create a lot of uncertainty. Many experts have advised people to face their fears in order for them to overcome. Facing a fear is to recognize and identify your enemy or your problem and it is also to acknowledge that you will not allow the fear to rule your life. Many people have overcome this way. Make sure that you visit a specialist for guidance if you have stress from uncertainty. We cannot always be sure of the future but, we can take every challenge as it comes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/how-uncertainty-leads-to-stress-483501.html

About the Author

Peter Gitundu is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Stress for Years. For More Information on Causes Of Stress, Visit His Site at CAUSES OF STRESS You Can Also Post Your Views About Causes Of Stress On My Blog Here CAUSES OF STRESS

Anxiety Disorder - Is It A Physical Or Mental Illness?

In short, no, anxiety disorder is neither a physical nor mental illness!

The word disorder suggests illness, but I can assure you that you are not ill. Anxiety is a behavioral condition regardless of how it makes you feel. Anxiety is a natural response to fear and, like other bodily systems that can falter, causing things like indigestion, palpitations or sensitive eyes for example, the anxiety response can become disrupted too. But, this isn't mental or physical illness... it's a temporary disruption which can be 'reset' very quickly indeed.

Anxiety disorder is the condition caused when stress or constant anxiety provoking situations cause the mind to become reset at a higher than normal benchmark anxiety level. Anxiety disorder is most noticeable by the vast range of unpleasant sensations and thoughts it creates... unpleasant but harmless!

Creation of an anxiety disorder can happen quickly and is usually the result of an event such as work stress, bereavement, divorce or other anxiety-provoking situations. When anxiety levels become raised due to such stressors, the mind can make a decision to re-set at this new level of anxiety; when this happens an anxiety disorder is formed. Anxiety causes a wide range of both physical and psychological symptoms, all directly caused by the anxiety reaction, all harmless, BUT all also feeling much worse than they actually are! They are the sensation of FEAR... BUT, they are NOT true fear!

Anxiety Conditions - what are they?
There are five main 'anxiety disorders', these are:

Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Phobia
Post traumatic stress disorder

Just because conventional medicine has decided to apply these names to specific features of anxiety conditions, doesn't mean that there aren't some 'fuzzy edges' during diagnosis. If you suffer from any of the above conditions, you have underlying high anxiety, without which none of these anxiety conditions would exist.

Often, anxiety will create a mixture of obsessions, high anxiety and panic, making it very difficult to categorize a sufferer's condition. But, it isn't important to categorize because all of these conditions are caused by elevated anxiety and require the exact same solution to remove them.

Often, anxiety disorder sufferers can be diagnosed as having 'depression' which is a common mistake made by medical practitioners world over; anxiety is a completely separate and very different condition to depression and confusing the two is akin to telling an Athlete's Foot sufferer that they have Eczema... they are both skin conditions but completely unrelated!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS HORRIBLE DISORDER CLICK HERE AND GET WITH THE PROGRAM

Stop the Stress Train. I Want to Get Off!

Author: Sharon Capehart

Stress is a significantly rampant and dangerous phenomenon throughout the world. Stress can cause illness and most people are not aware of that. You can relieve stress by performing deep breathing. If you have to take classes such as yoga, then it would be recommended. Yoga relaxes you. Meditation is also another method of relieving stress and yoga also provides some form of mediation. You can do deep breathing on your own by breathing in and out through the nose. Close your eyes when you are doing so and this will give you a sense of meditation and relaxation.

Do something different and change your routine. You might be surprised how walking up to a stranger and striking up a conversation might be a great stress reliever because there are no inhibitions. You can just be yourself. You can even talk to the person about any issues you are having and they will listen to you without judging you so you can be yourself

Appreciate the people in your life. Give them a hug and let them know how you love and appreciate them. Gratitude is the best stress reliever. You no longer think about what is going wrong, but what has been done right so far. Learning to be appreciative can be a great stress reliever.

Maintain clarity in your mind. Do not harbor any negative thoughts or negative people who burden you with their own stress. You can be a problem solver, but you don’t have to make it your life’s goal to solve everybody else’s problem.

Walking is a good stress reliever. When you go for a walk, you can get to clear your head and be more aware of what is going on around you. You get time to think about whatever is challenging you.

Listen to soothing music. This is a great way to relax you. You can put on a CD in your car when you are traveling so that it will relax you before you get to your destination. If you make that a habit, then you will always be in a relaxing mood.

Laughter is also a good way to relieve your stress. Laughter is good for the heart and also relaxes you. Find friends that share jokes with you and who also love to laugh a lot. You would be surprised what this can do for you. Try having more fun with your life. Go out with your friends and enjoy life. Don’t be serious all the time. There is a time and place for everything.

It is said that chamomile tea is good for relieving stress. Drink it at the end of the day and see if it works for you. Change your lifestyle, if you have a hectic life. Tone down a little. Drop some of the things that are not so important and simplify your life. Sometimes, it is our busy lives that cause us to be so stressed out all the time. You can change your own destiny by changing the things that you do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/stop-the-stress-train-i-want-to-get-off-472879.html

About the Author

Whether from her home office in Dallas, Texas, or traveling around the country, SHARON CAPEHART, the Empress of Empowerment, makes it her mission to "wake up" women everywhere to the incredible potential they have long forgotten they possess. She is the author of "The Power 2 Be You!," creator of "A Woman's Path to Success" as well publisher of the FREE Power Up! ezine. Sharon's breakthrough "Path To Success" series helps women build a solid foundation for success as Sharon herself guides them on a journey to a life filled with excitement and personal power! "A Woman's Path To Success" is available now at www.positivelywomen.com.



Sharon Capehart, Empress of Empowerment, is an Author, Coach, Speaker and Entrepreneur. Sharon will help you build a solid foundation of confidence, cultivate a success-oriented mindset, and walk with you on your journey to a life filled with Passion, Excitement and Personal Power. For more information please visit www.positivelywomen.com.

Play With Consciousness

When all else fails and your riddled with anxiety and panic different approaches can be a good thing and laughter is good for the soul and so I wanted to pass this along to you today and perhaps it will help you. ALL of the programs are here to help you to find solutions to your anxiety and stress so be sure to check them out!


"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.”
~ Diane Ackerman ~



Many of us take life so seriously yet fun and laughter bring so many gifts. Laughter releases endorphins and energizes us. It shifts our perspectives, lightens our load and lifts our spirits. Laughter is contagious and stimulates even more humor. Beware, though: it may bring on humorrhoids or truth decay!

Let's have more fun right now with two simple jokes:

Did you hear about the baker who went bankrupt?
He ran out of dough!

Did you hear about the butcher who got behind in his business?
He backed into the meat grinder!

What happens when we hear jokes like this? The questions prompt our minds to open and search for answers. Then when we hear the answer and reflect on it, we grasp the double meaning. The 'ah-ha' turns into a 'ha-ha.'

Humor always offers some kind of 'out of the box' ideas that break us out of our linear thinking. The new twist presented creates a new connection in our brains. This expands our perception.

By the same token, playfulness sets us up to expand consciousness. When we are playful, we are open, spontaneous and welcoming new possibilities. Because we are enjoying ourselves, fear is minimized. Life is full of potential and possibilities and the attitude of play helps us access these potentialities and new experiences of consciousness.

So give humor and playfulness a higher priority in your life. Allow your mind to open to the bigger picture and play with a new level of freedom. Build up more interconnections in your mind and life will reflect new dimensions back to you.

We invite you to have some fun with consciousness and take our ABC's to XYZ's of Consciousness. These light-hearted consciousness journey e-mails use each letter of the alphabet to explore pains, potentials and processes for making the most of life. Alliteration awakens awareness, allows answers and activates aspirations. To request this consciousness journey click here
"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo ~
"It is essential to our well-being, and to our lives, that we play and enjoy life. Every single day do something that makes your heart sing."
~ Wieder Marcia ~
Seven days without laughter, makes one weak.