Agoraphobia It can happen to anyone!

I enjoyed your comments on how you have dealt with Agoraphobia.
The first step in dealing with any problem is to admit that you have it and not to worry about how the world looks at you
but to understand that Jesus takes negatives and changes them to plusses. To show you that Agoraphobia is no respecter of person's let me give you a little background on myself.

I am 41 years old, stand 6' 1", weigh 285 pounds, have benchpressed over 500 pounds (that may not mean anything to you!), grew up an athlete that played all sports,
have a B.S. degree in counseling and psychology, have a Rank I in counseling and psychology (this is 30 hours above a B.S.), and am finishing my PsyD (Doctor of Psychology).
And yet I have and still do deal with Agoraphobia!
Those things I listed were not for praise but just to show you that it can happen to anyone.

The ultimate answer that I have found in curing people of anxiety and Agoraphobia is not the research material that I have learned through- out my academic life, but instead it is turning to the Lord!

Sorry about that, all of you intellect- uals! The knowledge I have gained from the books I read is useful such as the "desensitization process" you described by taking "baby steps" to get to the final result.

However, a person also needs to realize that Jesus does not want us to live lives feeling trapped. He created this world for us to enjoy and give him praise for.

There is no doubt that fear is instilled by Lucifer. But if we simply turned more towards Jesus as he instills these negative thoughts, then he is defeating himself. And as Jesus stated, "No kingdom that is against itself can stand".

Lucifer may be cunning but he is a fool.

I thank you for getting word out to others and ask that you and others pray for me and I will reciprocate the request towards you and others who also deal with this same problem.

One little helpful hint, there are some things that we can do to help avoid producing these symptoms. Satan has many tools in our world.
1. Avoid the use of caffeine or nicotine. (If you have to, take caffeine free drinks with you to restaurants. I do!)
2. Avoid eating too many sweets.
3. Exercise (I am in the process of trying to lose 85 pounds! I need prayers! My 1 year old and 3 year old sons deserve better!)
4. Realize that though others may not be experiencing agoraphobia, they still have underlying weaknesses. Even men who benchpress over 500 pounds!
5. Admit to others that you have anxiety problems. You would be surprised how much better it makes you feel and you would be surprised at those who will open up about their anxieties.
6. Above all else, pray, pray, and pray! The ultimate physician will give us healing. After all, he has already died for our sins and anxieties.

Satan has no chains to bind us with!

If anyone else reads this, I have my most important statement below:

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please do. Anxieties are just a small "hell" here on earth but to be cast into outer darkness for eternity without ever having the hope of a possible relationship with Jesus Christ ever again is beyond any fear that we can imagine on earth!