Agoraphobia Treatments Ive Tried
Ive tried several things. Some helped and some didnt. These are my opinions on these products and should be consulted with a doctor before trying any of them.
Attacking Anxiety and Depression
In July of 2005, just one month after starting to have panic attacks, I was up late and seen a infomercial of a program called "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" I thought my prayers had been answered. I received the package and it came with 16 DVDs just as many CD's which were like group sessions where other people told there stories ect. There was also a relaxation cd and a thick work book that you use while doing the program and it had a lot of information to try and help you see where your anxiety came from and it was also like a diary. It also came with cards that had inspirational stuff on them that you were suppose to carry with you and look at if you were panicking.
The first week she said to exercise and cut out caffeine and salt and I did and I also started working out everyday. I felt great but my anxiety was still bad. My neck would get tense like a rock when Id take a shower. By week seven I was just doing the program just to be doing it and it wasnt helping me. You can blame it on not trying but either way I gave it three good months with little or no results. The few good things to come from it is I still dont drink soda from a can and I learned a lot about my anxiety and why I have it. The worst part of all is it cost me around $500 or $600 but they will work with you and you can try it for 30 days before making a payment.
I think this would work for someone who doesnt have very bad agoraphobia and/or panic disorder. The link to the website is Attacking Anxiety and Depression
Brain Sync
Every program or website and doctors Ive been to tells me to relax. So, I tried this site out. Brain Sync It goes on the concept that the mind uses signals or frequencies to tell you how to think, what to think and what to do because our mind is just energy. If these frequencies become unstable or out of tune the you will have relaxation problems or panic disorder or a whole list of mental ailments. The ones I tried were Stress Free Forever Total Relaxation and Deep Meditation While wearing earphones it sends frequencies into your ears and play relaxing music and most of these are 30 minutes at a time and by the time the 30 minutes is up you will be relaxed trust me. My only problem is I personally dont stay relaxed for long and just like playing a cd too many times you get tired of hearing it after a while. But it could be my A.D.D but Id recommend it to anyone. I may just be picky.
My psychologist said that my brain was at fault and said my bodies circuits were out of sync. She said a bodies energy flows in one direction and when you disturb this energy your bodies energy, along with your mind may become out of sync. How to fix this according to her is to do circuit exercises. A few examples are "Bridge" where you trace figure 8's on the side of your body with your hands and imagine 8's on your back. Theres one called "Triple Warmer" You put your hands on your temples and breath in and out, on a in breath you sweep behind the ear slowly and on the out breath hang on to your neck until your hands slide by them self (usually 1 -2 minutes)
This somehow is suppose to redirect your bodies energy in a positive flow and to make a long story short, this isnt conventional psychology and truly didnt work at all for me.
The Linden Method
Also, The Linden Method. I tried this program a few months back and it totally doesnt work for me. It was some guy who claimed he had panic disorder with agoraphobia and he just told me to face it and whats the worse that can happen. He guaranteed it would work. All the tapes were maybe an hour all together and it was information you can find on the net. The relaxation tape it came with was grainy footage of some guy doing chi, it looked like he got it from youtube. So, watch out for those programs that claim to be able to cure you in 24 hours or a few days.
The Linden Method surprises me, because its very popular and I see it everywhere, yet theres nothing special about it. This program as of right now on Amazon goes for $177.00 which is not worth it at all. Let me save you the money and tell you that you will be told to face your fear and to not leave that fear (avoid) it once you face it. Theres your $177.00 thats if you like to pay for a personal story to go along with it. Theres no message in this program that someone with chronic anxiety doesnt already know and I dont think youll learn much from this program at all.
I am not saying that its a fake or the guy never had agoraphobia or anxiety but Im saying his technique although it is the truth, isnt a miracle cure. What I hate most is the guy says in some cases people are instanly cured of there anxiety which to me the majoirty of people buying this are probably bad off and this in my opinion leads them on and suckers them into buying this and Im here to tell you that most likely this will not cure you in 24 hours!
Chamomile tea
Ive also drink Chamomile tea. Its suppose to relax you and it does but like the brain sync tapes it doesnt last long for me but Im sure for others it would do the trick. I dont like tea anyway and it doesnt taste very good. I recommend drinking it hot because it helps you relax better if its warm. You can find it anywhere and its fairly cheap and maybe a quick fix but definitely not a cure.
St Johns Wort
Im taking St Johns wort, which is two pills three times a day. I havent had any dise effects and the most common of is gas and I havent had any while taking it. It suppose to stabilize your mood and Ive only been taking it for two weeks so Ill have to update this when Ive got more time taking it under my belt. So, far it doesnt seem to be helping.
Im in no way telling you what to try or what not to try but these are things Ive tried and Im giving my opinion on them. I cant recommend what is best for you because each person is different and Im not a doctor. This is just meant as a personal review by someone who has agoraphobia and panic disorder.
Smoooth Deep Breathing Software
Yes its Smoooth with three o's and really works if you want a simple tool to help you regulate your breathing. If you dont know if youre breathing slow enough or if you cant keep yourself on pace this little tool is what you need. You realize fast how fast youre really breathing and by slowing your breathing down you naturally relax. Which means, over time youll be able to regulate your breathing on your own with out help. I recommend it.Smoooth Deep Breathing Relaxation Software
Zen Mind For Beginners
Zen Mind For Beginners is a little strange if youve never meditated before but it is in simple english and he explains in depth all about meditation. Its great for the beginner and is also available in book and audio format. Ive said before the meditating has been my biggest plus so far and this is a must have if you want to get serious about meditation.
The Worlds First Digital Drug -DaN.jpg)
The Worlds First Digital Drug by Binaural Beats, is a BrainSync type program which is a hour long sound which relaxes and of course means no anxiety, which is true for me at least but like most other programs this is short term and not a "cure" for agoraphobia or at least in my case. Id recommend this to someone who has chronic anxiety and needs to relax or justs need an hour of empty thoughts. This program is $29.00 and has free shipping but like I said in my blog when I first started listening to this I was surfing the net and I felt myself relaxing and calming asfter a few minutes and I wasnt sitting there with my eyes closed or anything (which it would be hard to suf the web that way) but thats what sold me.
So, will it cure anxiety? Short term, maybe. A few hours at most. Does it cure agoraphobia? Well mine isnt cured so I guess not but the answer to agoraphobia isnt a CD but little things like this help to relax and let go sometimes.
Heres what the site says your "experience" will be.
Digital Drug CD - Your Experience
---------------------------------
You love the rush of a theme park roller coaster, or the true inner happiness experienced during a rare moment of love.
Why can't these moments happen more often, you think? Why can't the world live like that all the time?
With a "digital drug", you can touch those parts of your mind usually reserved for the momentary peaks of our existence.
This is a totally legal, completely safe, non-addictive binaural beat recording that releases endorphins, the body's natural
"happy pill", to bring about an elevated mood state.
You simply slip on the headphones and relax. You feel soft and cosy. As the noises swish around inside your head, you gain a
total sense of clarity and harmony. Your brain naturally generates and releases endorphins, enkephalins, endogenous opiates, and
serotonin... your mood elevates, pain disappears, fears and anxieties are crushed. You steadily begin to realize your sensitivity
has increased. Suddenly everything looks brighter and more beautiful. Why don't people usually see this? You feel like a famous movie director, with a very special lens on life. You're totally conscious with amazing clarity of mind. You feel a sense of euphoria. You close your eyes and can suddenly visualize
anything you dream of. It's truly amazing. And it doesn't just last for your sixty minute session... this is a totally natural
"high on life" digital drug, with the effects lasting for hours afterward... no sudden "drop down", no adverse effects. It's just
a feel-great, total-mind state of happiness, pure and simple.
Digital Drug CD - Frequencies Used
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As part of our dedication to being an open, transparent organization, here are the frequencies utilized in the production of the Digital Drug CD:
0.5 - 1.5 Hz - Endorphin release
0.9 Hz - Euphoric feeling
2.5 Hz - Production of endogenous opiates (pain killers, reduce anxiety)
4.0 Hz - Enkephalin release for reduced stress
10 Hz - Enhanced serotonin release. Mood elevation, arousal, stimulant
14 Hz - Awakeness, alert. Concentration on tasks
20.215 Hz - Brings about safe LSD-25 effects
30 Hz - Used for safe marijuana effects
33 Hz - Hypersensitivity, C. consciousness
38 Hz - Endorphin release
46.98 Hz - Visualization effects, when used with 62.64 & 70.47 Hz
Carriers: 90 - 110 Hz - Pleasure-producing beta-endorphin rise 111 Hz - Constant beta endorphin release
Special effects Light panning phaser effect on the 10 Hz chord
E.F.T Emotional Free Techniques
Hi. Heres a program I tried that I wish I didnt. E.F.T doesnt just help treat anxiety or depression. According to there website it also treats:
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I had a discussion with someone who is a practitioner of E.F.T and he gave me a lot of talk about how its all in my head and all that and I went to his website which looks like it was done in 1997 and I swear I cant make this up at the bottom it said something about what experience does he have and it says he is a vitamin store owner. So, of course I was happy to know a vitamin salesman would do private sessions with me for ahefty fee of course. This is a fluke if you ask me. Its nothing more than aplacebo effect. They tell you by tapping youre doing something good and you get it in your head that this is working and guess what the anxiety lets up. Check it out for yourself http://www.emofree.com/
The program costs $180.00 and you get a DVD that was shot on VHS sometime in the 90s and its really bad video quality. He says that the videos were never remade because they were just fine as-is. We all know he just didnt want to remake them. He does pop in on the video from time to time to let you in on things theyve learned since making the original video (probably in 93' or 94') In my opinion. DONT BUY THIS JUNK