Episode 15: Agoraphobia

The Panic Pod

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I am using excuses to make myself feel temporarily more comfortable,”? What about, “I fear deviating away from locations which are familiar to me,”? What happens when you reach the point of realising, “I am avoiding leaving the house”?

In this episode, we discuss agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is defined in the dictionary as 'a fear of open or crowded spaces’. However, as Josh explains, it can be defined in a more nuanced way to identify what the trigger of panic is. As with other manifestations of anxiety, it’s important to remember that panic is harmless. It’s scary, but feeling it won't hurt you. Furthermore, Josh explains the idea of exposure: if you go towards what panics you, it disappears.

Books we talked about:

Anxiety: Panicking about Panic by Joshua Fletcher

Anxiety: Practical about Panic by Joshua Fletcher

Needing to Know for Sure by Martin Seif and Sally Winston

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