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In some cases, fear of having a panic attack may be so great that one may not be able to leave safety of their home. In other cases, one learns to live a restricted lifestyle and is able to tolerate certain situations as long as one is accompanied by a dependent family member or friend. Risk factors that predispose to agoraphobia include having a panic disorder, a stressful experience earlier in life (child abuse), and/or alcohol or substance abuse.
Agoraphobia can lead to social isolation, depression, and make one overtly dependent on others. The despair often leads to alcohol and substance abuse to help cope with the situation of hopelessness and loneliness.
Once diagnosis of this disorder is made, treatment includes medications and behavior therapy. Medications like SSRIs, tricyclic anti depressants or anti anxiety medications do not cure the disorder but significantly reduce symptoms and panic sensations. In many cases, symptoms of agoraphobia can be controlled within 12 months.
Cognitive behavior therapy also helps people over come agoraphobia. One learns to cope with panic attacks using relaxation techniques. In this treatment, one is slowly desensitized to things that create panic.
There are some people who claim that herbal and dietary supplements like Kava may help but these supplements have also been linked to liver damage.
Individuals who have agoraphobia should definitely seek treatment because the disorder can be successfully treated in most cases. There are also support groups where one can connect with others and understand more about the disorder. Finally, those who have agoraphobia should avoid alcohol and use of illicit drugs- these recreational items just make the condition worse.
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Hey, I am sorry that you feel that this argument is not giving you trusted advice; but if you read carefully, you will see that there is a lot that can be learned from what people offering information are saying here. If agoraphobia were easily treated, you would not be coming here for information in the first place--you would be able to get treatment from your doctor, like anyone else with an illness. The fact is, agoraphobia is not curable. That is what you need to take away from these postings, so you can stop endlessly looking around on the internet for a cure that doesn't exist. There are only two treatments right now, and nothing else- some form of CBT therapy and/or drugs. That's it. Nothing else. No magic herb, no expensive DVD programs from England (or anyplace else), no "guaranteed cure or your money back". That is the reality of the situation. I am sorry that you suffer from agoraphobia, and if you want to ingest anything, I suggest you talk to a doctor who you can trust. They are the ones that went to medical school and got the license--anyone else is just PLAYING doctor, and you won't get anywhere dealing with them. This disorder is not a walk in the park-you need trained people to help you overcome it. Please consider contacting a professional be it MD or psychologist in order to help you decide what treatment is best for you. Good Luck to you.
February 11, 2010 - 9:55pmThis Comment
You know your arguing about what is more harmful, and what is more useful only feeds the fears of people like me (agoraphobics) who are trying to find a trusted way to deal with our situation. We don't log into these sites in order to listen to people argue about whats best for us, we come here to just get some sort of trusted advice. Due to your arguing at least I know I am completely confused and deterred from getting any treatment that involves ingesting anything. Thanks.
February 11, 2010 - 9:26pmThis Comment
Lawsuits? Like zicam for instance? Or the hundreds of deaths that occurred due to use of herbal remedies like ma huang? Or the millions of people that endanger themselves every day by NOT visiting an MD and instead delay treatment and waste money on quacks like you who spout some easy fix for intensely difficult problems that Phd scientists with 20 years of study can't solve---but YOU and your ilk have the ANSWER, right? You guys can cure anything--cancer, viruses, the common cold, mental health issues--it is all waiting there on the shelf for me to just buy it. Noooo one ever knew about all this before YOU came along, telling us of the big conspiracy to keep every one of us at the mercy of evil no good pharmaceutical companies, right?
My best friend who is a research scientist is just part of the scam, then-- dedicating his life to finding actual MEDICINE to help people when YOU and your "positive thinking" and your "eye of newt herbal potion remedy" will work so much more effectively. Millions of research dollars that just go to waste, because the simple solution is right there on the shelf, if only I would listen to someone with a high school diploma and ZERO medical degrees who has the REAL TRUTH about what works. Seems to me I don't recall ANY objective research ANYPLACE to PROVE that any of these things you spout about will CURE anything.
Yeah, you are absolutely right. Someone as stupid and foolish as you can't help me, or help anyone else either. Hopefully the government will eventually outlaw you and your witchdoctor naturopathic friends--the real crime is that foolish idiots like you are allowed to give anyone medical advice.
By the way Einstein, your body and brain are made up of nothing BUT chemicals. Everything at the molecular level reduces to chemicals. Check here:
February 4, 2010 - 6:16pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_makeup_of_the_human_body
This Comment
I love how you point out that Kava and other natural herbs that have worked since ancient history to help people out in these situations have been linked to "liver damage", but you fail to mention any of the nearly 300 side-effects linked to the psychiatric drugs you suggested right off the bat.
Not to mention, Kava and other herbs (go to a Naturopath to get reliable information) can actually cure the situation at hand, whereas psychiatric drugs will only "cover-up" the problem.
I wonder what conflicts of interest Shamir Benji has, that makes him so quick to jump on the drugging route to a "quick fix", and point out the singular problem with a mainly healthy way of permanently fixing yourself.
January 28, 2010 - 10:39amThis Comment
There is nothing about Kava that will cure anything, and no "naturopath" can cure anything either, least of all agoraphobia, which has NO CURE. I suspect you are nothing but an industry shill for the billion dollar natural supplement industry- which is an unregulated, scam operating out of nothing but imorality and greed, raping people's money every day selling snake oil placebos that do nothing, and YES KAVA DOES CAUSE LIVER DAMAGE. People should be aware not only of legitimate drug side effects, but illegitimate bogus natural remedies being sold as CURES. If something is too good to be true, it probably is.
January 28, 2010 - 9:45pmThis Comment
Luckily, your comment does nothing to discredit mine. Where as you spend your time in a hole of "doom and gloom" and "except your limitation"- type thinking, I am offering to anyone willing to read this an actual step OUT of your problems. However, I am definitely NOT the naturopath, traditional doctor that could truly help you.
There are many herbs, foods, etc. that can you help you have a high quality life. Kava has been known to calm and soothe your nerves, same as Calcium-Magnesium. Other herbs, such as Omega-3 (Fish Oil) has recently been in the press for helping people with Schizophrenia or psychosis. There ARE many solutions. And the side-effects of natural supplements occur at a MUCH smaller rate than pharmaceutical drugs.
And anonymous, I would love to point out the PSYCHO-PHARMACEUTICAL companies are the ones with proven conflicts of interest, lawsuits for intense and life-impairing side effects, ghostwritten articles, chemicals for "cures" (when our bodies are not even MADE up of chemicals), and multiple other issues. You are fighting the wrong company, here. And you totally, completely, and fucking know it.
February 4, 2010 - 5:07pmThis Comment