| Agoraphobia treatments include a wide range of | | | | reversal of sorts takes place and the cure is near as |
| possible medication usage coupled with either | | | | the patient is emboldened to leave home for longer |
| behavioral therapy or cognitive therapy. Of all these | | | | periods of time. At this point, he/she generally |
| choices, behavioral therapy is the one I've actually | | | | becomes interested in visiting more places as well. |
| seen work wonders and so it is the one I generally | | | | Overcoming Agoraphobia Involves Doing |
| use to help others trying to overcome agoraphobia. | | | | Medication could not achieve a thought process |
| This is not to say I believe medication to be of no | | | | change of this kind. There simply is no pill which |
| use. In fact, I believe the opposite. However, the | | | | encourages the patient to change his or her thought |
| kinds of medications being used change frequently | | | | process or physical activity desires. Cognitive therapy |
| and not being a doctor, I am loath to prescribe any. | | | | is very helpful in anxiety disorders such as depression |
| Also true about medication is, They are used to | | | | because this therapy helps the patient react |
| make the nervous illness manageable while the | | | | positively to thoughts he or she used to react |
| patient is recovering. The medications in themselves | | | | negatively to. |
| are not agoraphobia cures. This is much the same as | | | | However, agoraphobia is an illness which actually |
| a patient being prescribed pain killers while recovering | | | | involves physically doing, or not doing things. So, |
| from a broken leg. | | | | behavioral therapy holds great promise because this |
| The Advantage to Behavioral Therapy | | | | therapy gives the patient true hands-on experiences. |
| Behavioral therapy holds the real cure for | | | | The kinds of experiences only a non-agoraphobia |
| agoraphobia because while agoraphobia patients are | | | | sufferer could have. Even if the confidence brought |
| generally panicked when they are outside their | | | | on by this experience is short lived, the next lesson |
| homes, this therapy gives them a pleasant | | | | will bring more anti-agoraphobia experiences and more |
| experience outside their homes. With behavioral | | | | confidence. |
| therapy, a patient is accompanied while leaving the | | | | If the therapist takes his/her time and doesn't force |
| house, sometimes at a rate of one step further each | | | | the issue sooner or later the patient will want to go it |
| day. The turnaround happens when the patient | | | | alone. The therapist must refuse to let the patient go |
| becomes impatient with this slow rate of progress | | | | alone until the patient absolutely begs or revolts |
| and forces the issue. | | | | altogether. When this happens the patient is cured of |
| When this happens, the therapist tries to keep the | | | | the agoraphobia even though some anxiety disorder |
| patient from progressing further. At this time, a role | | | | may linger. |