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Bernadette writes...
“I was diagnosed with Agoraphobia when I was in my early twenties and like many other sufferers life is very difficult. I never thought I would ever be able to have the courage and the confidence to leave the house, especially on my own. But when Laddie came into our lives he turned my life around. Being a sick dog, all my own personal troubles were put on the back burner and I gave him all the love and care that he needed to be as healthy as he could be. In return he became my constant companion who accompanied me along my journey into the outside world. I felt very safe when I was with him. He gave me confidence and courage and I think he was always looking out or me when we were outside the house. Like all things that are difficult, taking the first step is the hardest and that is when you need the most courage. It was made all the more easier with Laddie at my side.”
We hope that this area of our website will help and inspire anyone who suffers from agoraphobia. As time goes by we will add more information to this section, including hints and tips on how to handle the condition.
An anxiety attack is a very scary experience to live through and many people will feel that they are actually on the verge of dying as it takes its hold of your body. I’d very often give up the moment the anxiety attack began and because of this I never made any headway with my fight against agoraphobia. But I now know that to beat an anxiety attack is to meet it head on, is to stand there and face it off like you would a common bully. So as your heart races, your head starts to swim, you are sweating and shaking and feeling as if you are about to have a stroke my advice to you is to wait it out. Because you are not going to die and you are not going to pass out. And onee the anxiety attack reaches its peak the symptoms begin to decrease and you get control again. I was forced to face this one day when I had to take Laddie out for a wee. I had an anxiety attack but I couldn’t run away from it because my little boy needed to empty his bladder. So there I stood, sweaty and freaking out, while Laddie continued to do his business because his need was better than mine and there was no way I could run back into the house to hide. I had to face off the anxiety attack. And sure enough, the worst passed and I felt great afterwards to think that I didn’t run away from it.
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