Understanding Panic/Agoraphobia.

Perhaps you know someone who has difficulty with this.

Please note. I'm no expert or doctor in this and any information here is from my own experience.

People with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia have the fact that Panic Attacks are the primary cause of their fear.
Agoraphobia is a fear of being away from home, having a panic attack outside and not being able to get to where you feel safe again.. your home or safe boundary.
The fear of being out and the dread of panic can escalate until going outside can be too much (so is thought at that time) to face.
People unfortunately, too easily become housebound with shutting themselves away and the very thought of going out is too terrifying. This is where Agoraphobia can start.
Some have "safe zones" or boundaries that they create for themselves. In this area they feel more comfortable, .
Perhaps a person may just walk round their own neighborhood but not any further away.
Or it could be as little as their own garden. Some people are battling to get to work then getting through each day. Everyone is different.
Often there are days when its a struggle and fight with panic to get to places even in the safe zone.

How You can Help (Support people, family and friends)
 First just try to understand how distressing this is to experience. No-one will expect you to know what it is like to have a panic attack if you have never had one, you can't. 
There is lots of information now about panic, agoraphobia involving all aspects, to read up about this and listening is a lot of help as you can gain the trust of someone with feelings, and knowing that you can be confided in is a big help on the road to recovery.
  One thing that is important to realise that these things aren't mild and 'pulling ourselves together' just isn't the right prescription it isn't as simple as that. If it were there wouldn't be so much of a problem. 
Believe me and many, many others PD sufferers don't choose to avoid situations because of a 'little happening'. 
In panic it is believed by the sufferer that the situation feels extremely dangerous, can cause harm or that they can lose control. Again that doesn't sound rational but the fear is very real.

Panic attack sufferers/agoraphobia is nothing to do with insanity, and isn't due to laziness, emotional weakness or being selfish. It seems irrational to others and also to the sufferers themselves. 

Be patient, different people work out their own pace in overcoming. Encourage, gently and lovingly, be supportive. 

It helps just to talk to them when they are experiencing an attack. Or be with them. 
You can ask a doctor, find information in books, help groups and the internet have lots of resources but don't forget to really talk and listen to the person who is going through this. For more information of internet links go to

Links for PD homepages and resources Page.

  • Accept the person and what they are going through.
  • Listen, talk and read about these disorders. 
  • Don't gossip about it to others. A silly but hurtful remark from people who think they mean well, or just doesn't accept the person for who they are, makes it so hard to face the world. Its hard enough without having to fear what people are saying.

  • Offer to help. This is important, it can be a great strength to have someone with you and often feels more secure.
  • Encourage progress gently without forcing, it is important that agoraphobia sufferers go at a pace where they feel more in control.
     

    mail me if you have any more How You can help ideas. This is mostly common sense. We aren't fragile and don't need too special a treatment but as with everyone we need a little TLC, even if you don't have P.D.

    Back to Panic Pages Index

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1997 This page was updated April 2001