Agoraphobia:
Afraid
of having a panic attack in public, hesitation of leaving
your home, due to
this. ( not really the common definition, which is, "being
afraid of leaving
your house and afraid of big open spaces")
AN
EXAMPLE OF "WHAT AN AGORAPHOBIC PERSON MAY FEEL LIKE"-
Now
you must try to imagine, that you are about to leave your home
(simply enough). You open the door, and there is a man, say 15 feet tall,
(this may sound silly, but I am just trying to make a point) this 15 foot
man also has a massive baseball bat. Now when you try to leave, and there
is no way of avoiding that swinging bat, and you have no way to fight him
back. He swings the bat and it hits you. (OUCH!) You go back inside your
house. When you again open the door, this man is still there (and always
is), how many whacks with his bat, will you take, till you stay safely
in your home? This is one way of kind of explaining the fear, an Agoraphobic
person may feel, each time they reach for that door. A very frightening
feeling, that they have no control over.
Panic
Attack:
Psychological
sense of apprehension, a sense of total doom and the utmost fear. Extreme
worry and anxiety. These fears, are usually irrational, but brought on
by the sub-conscious mind. The person is powerless to do anything about
them, before and after they strike. (but with medications and help nowadays,
they can be controlled to a point).
AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A
PANIC (ANXIETY) ATTACK MAY FEEL LIKE-
Once again you must try to imagine this scenario. You are driving in your
car and all is well, until all of a sudden, your car stops dead, on a set
of
railroad tracks. (OH OH) You look to the side and see a TRAIN
coming FULL SPEED, towards YOU!! But as hard as you may try, you CAN NOT
get OUT of your car in anyway. You look in the trains direction once again,
and it is ALOT closer. Now you can hear the whistle of the train, and that
Whistle is meant for YOU! But as hard as you trying, there is no escape
from your car.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?-
The adrenaline enters your brain and your body at a very rapid pace, and
your heart would start pumping, and no doubt you would have something to
panic about. Your Life is on the LINE here. A train heading your way, full
force and there is no way of getting out of your car whatsoever. The train
is now only SECONDS away from you, but somehow now, you are able to get
out of the car, just before IMPACT, and you watch the train totally destroy
your vehicle, AND YOU, if you had still been in it.
NOW HOW WOULD YOU
FEEL?- Perhaps some of the symptoms
mentioned above? Now take that fright and multiply it by about 15 or 20
times. THAT IS A PANIC ATTACK!
(More symptoms to follow).
SOME SYMPTOMS OF PANIC ATTACKS (DISORDERS): rapid heart rate, difficulties in breathing, shakiness, headaches, fear that you have a terminal illness and are dying, afraid you are losing your mind, nausea, shortness in breath, heart pounding in chest, hot or cold flashes, sweating, dizziness, faintness, lightheadedness, become fearful of somewhat closed spaces (somewhat claustrophobic), sense of throat tightening (like you are being strangled), clumsiness, room spins, disoriented, off balance, problems with focusing your eyes, body feels and may go limp like Jell-O, loss of reality (to a certain degree), and many more. This makes the person want to flee out of that situation, to a safe place. (explanation of safe place to follow).
Safe Place:
is the place where the Agoraphobic person feels safe. Perhaps their bedroom,
house, or some other place where they feel safe from and during their panic.
(Usually Agoraphobia comes with the Panic Attacks, but this differs from
case to case).
A
Safe Person: A person (usually one)
with whom the Agoraphobic person feels comfortable with, trusts them, and
this person knows about their condition. A person who will understand,
if and when the Agoraphobic, must leave someplace in a big hurry, that
the safe person has no problem with doing that and is prepared and willing
to leave, at the spur of the moment. Also the safe person may also calm
the Agoraphobic down when a Panic Attack arises, and may be able to help
them feel safer and more in control. This person may be a good friend,
spouse, Doctor, or family member, someone with whom they are comfortable
with.
The following pages contain more definitions, My story and battle with Agoraphobia, Panic Attacks and Depression, some possible help suggestions to calm panic attacks, and links. I really hope you will read on, and perhaps expand your horizons some and possibly be prepared, should you ever meet or have a loved one with this condition. Thank you.
****Important note: I am not
a Doctor. I have done much research, study, reading and from my own personal
battle and experiences, write this information, from what i have learned.
Hopefully this will help others to understand this Disorder, and should
ONE person be helped by this information, then all I have researched, studied
and lived, will have been worth reliving it all again. Not all circumstances
are the same in all cases, and may differ immensely. None of this information
should be taken to diagnose yourself. If you need help, PLEASE see your
doctor****