i'm 16 years old and i've always been quite claustrophobia. one day i went to this concert and first i felt bad there, then i couldn't find my ride and felt even worst. i had two traumas in the same day which made me start having panick attacks out of nowhere. i had no idea what i had until i went to my teraphist and she told me i have agoraphobia. it's the worst thing ever and i would much rather die than go thru this again. i can't be home schooled cause i don't have money for that and my teachers knows what i have but i still have to ask to go outside and tell them why cause they forget and it makes me feel even worst. idk what to do, i'm desperate. i can't stop crying. summer break is over now and i have to go back to that nightmare that never seems to end. i don't know how to keep myself from having panick attacks. i need help, recommendations. some tips idk i'll take anything. thank you i really really need help.
Answers & Comments
I had the same problem on and off when i was in school. The problem almost entirely faded away as i got older, but every now and then i get a little claustrophobic in small, crowded spaces.
Here's what did to adjust. First i learned all i could about the physiology and psychology of panic attacks and phobias. Learning the physiology helped me understand what was going on with my body. I learned that all the symptoms of a panic attack are normal effects of adrenalin, and that even though effects of adrenalin make you feel like you can't breathe or that something is wrong with your heart, none of these symptoms are actually dangerous. So, this understanding took the fear out of having another panic attack. Now when i have these symptoms i know its not really a big deal and that i just have to wait a few minutes to calm down and let them pass.
For me, my fear of having a panic attack was what was causing the attacks in the first place. Once that fear was gone, i still sometimes get a little panicky in tight situations, but the symptoms pass quickly. I just remind myself that i am feeling effects of adrenalin, and that they will will last until i calm down. I found that trying to stop panic attacks made them worse. Now i sort of expect to feel panicky in certain situations and i know that i can take few breaths, calm down, and try to relax and the feelings will pass. And even if i don't calm down, i know i sit there and feel panicky all day and it won't hurt me.
Another thing i did to learn how to cope with claustrophobia was to go on a couple of caving trips that scared the daylights out of me, but i can always remind myself that if i can survive crawling through a narrow cave for several hours, i can easily survive a crowded space in a building, car or airplane.
I practiced the techniques at the link.
I feel for you! Call someone at HopeInLifeCounseling.com. They offer phone counseling and they are therapists. I talked to the lady once or twice. She is very nice and very good. I just checked and they don't have their phone counseling set up via web site, but you can still call them.