Complete Idiot's Guide to Conquering Fear and Anxiety

Page 138One Step at a TimeAgoraphobia is a serious and complicated disease that needs aggressive intervention in all of the four ways in which it manifests itself:Physical: Strange bodily sensations during panic and on­going agitation or anxietyFeelings: Uncomfortable fright, dread and free­floating anxietyThoughts: Catastrophic worries of the worst case scenarioBehavior: Avoidance of panic provoking situationsAs you read about the different interventions available, keep in mind that it takes time and effort to break loose from agoraphobia's chains and rarely can people dothis on their own. You will be greatly aided by finding a therapist you can trust and using the material in this book to augment treatment, including the information inChapter 15 on coping with panic attacks. Generally, agoraphobics show the best progress with cognitive­behavioral therapy.Quieting Your BodyWhen you're constantly anxious, you feel continually tense and keyed up. Since it takes little to put you over the edge, it's hard to cope with day­to­day stresses, letalone panic attacks.