| There are two things that are apparent when you | | | | confines of my home. However, I do know of other |
| start to seek a definition for agoraphobia and that is | | | | agoraphobics that do suffer them at home, |
| that, depending on where you look, there is more | | | | sometimes quite frequently. For me, there was a |
| than just one definition. If we take a look in a | | | | fear bigger than the fear of having yet another panic |
| dictionary, we will find that the interpretation given | | | | attack and that was of having a massive panic |
| there is similar to the following: a disease which | | | | attack that left me in a condition whereupon I could |
| results in the sufferer being afraid of open or public | | | | no longer stand up and walk or would result in some |
| spaces which, can result in the sufferer becoming | | | | uncontrollable and embarrassing emotional outburst. |
| housebound. The second usual definition goes | | | | Knowing that certain situations could trigger my panic |
| something like this: An anxiety disorder where the | | | | fuelled the second part of my condition. Being in |
| sufferer lives in fear of finding themselves in an | | | | heavy traffic made me feel very panicky and |
| embarrassing situation from which there is no escape. | | | | uncomfortable or standing still and not progressing |
| More advanced agoraphobics may, indeed, become | | | | forward on public transport had the same effect. So |
| confined to their home in order to avoid any such | | | | any thought of such an encounter brought on my |
| discomfort occurring whilst in public. We can see that | | | | "what if" syndrome. I'd be travelling down a road |
| the result of being housebound is the same in both | | | | where the traffic was light and flowing freely when a |
| definitions, how the sufferer becomes housebound, | | | | thought such as: "I hope the traffic isn't backed up at |
| though, is quite different. So, let's compare both | | | | this or that road intersection" would enter my head |
| definitions to the real-life experiences of an | | | | and this would get me "what ifing". "What if the |
| agoraphobic. I became an agoraphobic more than | | | | traffic is backed up and we're stuck there for |
| twenty years ago, following a series of panic attacks | | | | twenty minutes and what if I have a panic attack |
| that occurred whilst I was travelling. At that time, my | | | | and what if I can't get to work and can't get home?" |
| phobia was only connected to travel by any mode of | | | | This kind of thinking had just one outcome; it made |
| transport that I chose: car, train, bus etc. but walking | | | | me scared. And being scared and away from my |
| around outside posed no threat whatsoever. | | | | safe zone just brought on my panic. This was one of |
| However, as the years progressed so did the | | | | the worst parts of my agoraphobia; me thinking my |
| severity of the condition and eventually, after around | | | | way into a panic attack. Agoraphobia and its partners |
| 18 years or so, I became totally housebound. So, | | | | in crime, panic attacks and anxiety, stole everything |
| what is it that can make an agoraphobic's life so | | | | that made my life good. But it didn't stop there. It's |
| limited? I'll try to explain as best I can. But, if after | | | | effects upon me altered the lives of my family and |
| reading this you can't quite grasp the whole concept, | | | | friends too. Having recovered from this nightmare |
| don't worry, most health professionals that I've | | | | existance, it's only now that I can look back and see |
| consulted over the years couldn't grasp it either. As | | | | just how debilitating this condition truly is. |
| an agoraphobic, I lived in fear of when my next panic | | | | To find out how I eliminated my agoraphobia |
| attack would strike. I was lucky, in one respect, in | | | | completely, please visit my agoraphobia website. |
| that I've never had a panic attack whilst within the | | | | |