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Want to Know Three of the Biggest
Mistakes People Make in Trying to Recover from Agoraphobia?
by Stephen Price
Here are
three big mistakes that people make in their recovery from
agoraphobia that can set them up for a relapse:
1)
They spend too much
energy and effort trying to figure out how they got
agoraphobia. They spend countless hours in therapy
trying to unravel a past they can't do anything to change.
Insight is not a bad thing, but I suggest focusing on things
you have the power to change - things that are sustaining your
anxiety right now!
2)
They rely too much
on medication. Not only do pills quit working as soon
as you stop taking them, there is now research to suggest
that people who give medication to much credit for their
recovery from agoraphobia are more likely to relapse. People
who are more likely to stay well attribute their recovery to
their own hard work.
3)
They focus all of
their recovery efforts toward just relieving or masking
symptoms. You are more likely to stay free from
agoraphobia if you make the major life changes necessary to
shut off anxiety at its source.
When I
recovered from agoraphobia, I didn't waste too much time
dwelling on my past. I worked on things I had the power to
change - things that were keeping my anxiety alive in the
present.
I also
didn't rely too much on medication. I used medication only
as a tool while I practiced real recovery strategies that
helped me get well.
When
recovering, I also restructured my whole life in ways that
would help me stay well. I changed my basic belief system
from one that caused anxiety to one that brought me a sense
of peace. I surrounded myself with people who contributed to
peace of mind rather than my anxiety. Most importantly, I
developed a strong sense of who I am and why I am in this
world.
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