[monique3096]

I have agoraphobia and I don't take medication for it. My mom doesn't really want me taking it. She doesn't really like talking about my issues so I don't go to help. I recently turned 18. I was planning on getting medication but first I wanted to try to self help myself. Im not in control right now. Any suggestions? Should i just go straight to medication? Does it help without any other major side effects?

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[ChangingMyMind]

Hey Monique, what have you been doing to help so far? I don't think taking medicine straight away is the best option. If you can help it. Have you thought about therapy? Maybe some supplements.

I have agoraphobia as well, specifically I panic when I feel like nobody is near by or if I am in a remote area.

I don't take anything for it now but I previously went on Celexa, an antidepressant to help. It did but 11 years later I have new health conditions due to the medicine.

I am in therapy which seems to help a bit.

[monique3096]

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

Hey Monique, what have you been doing to help so far? I don't think taking medicine straight away is the best option. If you can help it. Have you thought about therapy? Maybe some supplements.

I have agoraphobia as well, specifically I panic when I feel like nobody is near by or if I am in a remote area.

I don't take anything for it now but I previously went on Celexa, an antidepressant to help. It did but 11 years later I have new health conditions due to the medicine.

I am in therapy which seems to help a bit.

Ive tried listening to music and breathing exercises with no luck. I want to go to therapy but I heard about how its a waste of time. How has it been for you? Thank you for the suggestions

[ChangingMyMind]

Therapy can help but i think you get what you put into it. If you take notes from your session and take action on the homework then you can see results. I've been in for 5-6 sessions now and feel like it is finally starting to help a bit. I have far less anxiety and less depression, although I am taking supplements and doing things to lift my mood, like spending time with family and friends and I am lucky that I enjoy my work because that keeps my mood leveled out during the day.

I only warn against medicine right away because I personally see it as a last resort because of the potential side effects. Although I am prone to side effects so I am more cautious. There are some supplements that can help some people. Many of them are listed in this forum, look for SAMe, 5HTP, Magnesium... I think magnesium helped calm me quite a bit. Listening to music helps me sometimes but not often. Yoga makes me feel amazing after I finish, it only lasts for a little while but it's a great feeling to have. I am going to try meditation, haven't tried yet so I can't say if it will work or not but I am going to give it a try.

[monique3096]

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

Therapy can help but i think you get what you put into it. If you take notes from your session and take action on the homework then you can see results. I've been in for 5-6 sessions now and feel like it is finally starting to help a bit. I have far less anxiety and less depression, although I am taking supplements and doing things to lift my mood, like spending time with family and friends and I am lucky that I enjoy my work because that keeps my mood leveled out during the day.

I only warn against medicine right away because I personally see it as a last resort because of the potential side effects. Although I am prone to side effects so I am more cautious. There are some supplements that can help some people. Many of them are listed in this forum, look for SAMe, 5HTP, Magnesium... I think magnesium helped calm me quite a bit. Listening to music helps me sometimes but not often. Yoga makes me feel amazing after I finish, it only lasts for a little while but it's a great feeling to have. I am going to try meditation, haven't tried yet so I can't say if it will work or not but I am going to give it a try.

Thanks! I'll definitely look for a therapists soon. Im just a little hesitant about finding one because Im not very open.

Ill look into the supplements. Do they give you any side effects?

[hvert]

Supplements can have side effects, just like medication.

Have you looked into CBT at all? Even if you are not that open, I think you can get something out of a therapy session. They're familiar with tools and methods that can help you overcome or figure out your problems.

[Perna]

I would rank order some literal fears and see if I could work on the "easier" seeming ones on my own. The more "success" you have confronting your fears yourself, the better you should feel/faster you should be able to work on harder ones.

Agoraphobia Definition - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic