best way to cope with agoraphobia

[karaoke1]

What is the best way to cope with anxiety, panic, agorphobia without medication?  I have epilepsy and numerous other health issues that require medications.  It seems if I take anything else I almost always have an adverse reaction.  This is why I am coping the hard way.  Any helpful hints?

[cj29]

There are many people that choose to do confront this without medications.  I believe the most important step in dealing with this is talking it through with a mental healthcare professional.  By learning about it, you can gain the knowledge to thrive with this.  You have definitely come to the right place.  I encourage you to read the archives here in this community...keep us posted!

[karaoke1]

I have already seen a psychrist, who did no, absolutly no good!  In fact he thought I made it all up.  I said, if you don't think I have an illness then you can't help me!  What do I need you for?  He apoligized, but I knew if I continued seeing him it would be me giving him money but not getting treatment.  He perscribed Buspar, but I never took it I never even had it filled.  Ive gotten information from everywhere over the past six years.  Suprisingly, it all seemed to say if you can do it without meds so you can control the attacks yourself.  Like learning to live with your symptoms without it controling you.  I did a lot of exposure therapy on my own I just did what I was ready for and even what I wasn't ready for.  I work, attend college and my grades are a's and b's.  I just have a real hard time in resturants still because some of my worst panic attacks happened in resturants and I get there and it's just a nightmare.  I don't know if this is as good as it gets and to be glad with my accomplishments (not being able to leave the house) to where I am now or if it could get better and I could maybe some day be myself again.  

[kristine9190]

I have a book at home that talks about dealing with agoraphobia, I will send you the information. Basically it talks about Baby steps. I know I was borderline agoraphobic early on, and decided to take it head on, and do small things, get through them, be proud  of myself and try it again the next day. Eventually, I was out doing my grocery shopping again, maybe not as comfortable as I had been at one time, but I was doing it. And if I had to leave, than that's was OK too. My therapist talked with me a lot about agoraphobia. Are you in therapy at all??

[karaoke1]

I knew I had this six years ago, so no I am not in therapy.  I've seen a few, none helped me as much as I have helped myself over the years.  If I can just get past this resturant anxiety I'll be ok.  I only have it bad in two places in resturants and of course when I am with my mother who I never got along with.  She don't like me, never has!  So when I'm around her I anticipate the usual arguements and my palms get sweaty, my stomach gets butterflies, the room gets real hot and I feel faint my heart beats fast, all panic symptoms but only in those two situations.  I just can't make it stop there, like I did everywhere else.  I get my hair done, go to the store normal stuff work, college but this just has been hanging there with no improvements while everything else is back to normal.  I mean at one time I couldn't leave my house to go anywhere, if I did the panic attack was so exhausting I slept for hours when I got home cause it would take sooo much out of me.  It's not that way now but yet I'm still not the way I was, will I ever be?