Exploring Agoraphobia

Concerts and parties are situations that most of us attend to in order to de-stress. We dance, sing and laugh to be away from the pressure in our everyday lives. However, a number of people can’t stand this kind of crowded place. These are people who suffer from the pains of Agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that is triggered by a crowded or small space. People who have this condition experiences panic when they thing of the idea that they don’t have an escape. Most of the time, the panic start with a difficulty of breathing then it escalates to trembling, nausea, dizziness or palpitations. The effect can sometimes be too intense that the victim has to be sent to the hospital to receive medication.

Similar to other anxiety disorder, Agoraphobia can be battled by proper diet and exercise. In the aspect of diet, it’s best to avoid food and drinks that are rich with caffeine and sugar. These ingredients tend to heighten one’s energy. Instead of having a rich brew, a person who suffers with Agoraphobia should have decaffeinated beverage instead. Moreover, instead of having sweets, fruits can be a perfect alternative.

Smoking should also be avoided. Nicotine also provides unnecessary energy that can make the body very vulnerable to panic attacks. On the other hand, exercise should be regularly observed, moving around and sweating makes use of your excess energy. This practice can also improve your breathing.

For a quick relief, the old tactic of breath-in breath-out is very effective. It’s best to use a small brown paper bag to control the air that you are inhaling. Simply breathe through this until you feel that the difficulty of breathing has subsided. If there is no paper bag in sight, you may use your cupped hands to block excess air, which will only make breathing more difficult.

There is no overnight solution for Agoraphobia. It’s a long battle but there is a huge chance of success.