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Living with Agoraphobia

"GAD" or General Anxiety Disorder…

This next story is a wonderful way of explaining what it feels like to suffer from anxiety challenges, or "GAD" (General Anxiety Disorder). My friend "DSB" tells it so nicely below:

A friend asked me today exactly what it means to have a "General Anxiety Disorder?" I thought I would share with you my definitions by examples:

First, I asked her, "Now that it's Springtime, what do you think about?"

She said, "flowers, warm breezes, fresh scents, soothing rainshowers, and sunshine."

I said, "Those of us with G.A.D., think of Spring a different way. We think about severe weather and tornadoes."

Next, I asked her what comes to her mind when I mention "travel."

She answered, "sunbathing on the beach, great restaurants, and the excitement of flying."

I told her that those of us with G.A.D. think about fears associated with flying, including delays, on-board claustrophobia, and air turbulence, and we might think of crowds, traffic, bridges, and being so far away from the comfort of home, and making sure we have plenty of Xanax with us!

Next, I asked her what she thinks about when I mention, going to a sports event?

She said, "Oh, the smell of popcorn; the excitement of the crowds, and the fun and the noise!" I explained that those of us with G.A.D., (and by the way - I am a huge sports fan and go to lots of games...) think about getting trapped in the crowds, bumper to bumper traffic coming and going; chaos, crowd-control, and being too hot or too cold.

Finally, I asked her what she thinks about when I mention "Elevators."

She said, "Nothing. I don't think anything' about elevators. I said those of us who have G.A.D. start thinking about elevators the minute we leave the house to go to an office building.

Then I stopped my discussion for a moment, and I said to her, "You know something, the more I hear myself talk, the less fearful I am becoming about these things. If I just 'pretend' to be like yourself, I will have no fears at all!"

She said, "But actually, as I listen to you, I realize that I have some of the same fears. Hmm. Maybe I have an anxiety disorder, after all!"

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I think what I learned from this was that we do become "what we think." This is easier said than done. This is not to say that starting tomorrow I won't feel claustrophobic about elevators. But if I can "think" non-anxiety than maybe I will have a lot less of it. After all, what's really the difference between my friend and myself? She doesn't "think about" anxiety and she doesn't have it. But when she does "think about" it, she realizes that she does have it. I can do exactly the same in reverse, I suppose, if I practice, practice, practice!

Even if I can "think" my way into reducing my fears and anxiety by 50%, I will feel 100% better. I will give it a try.

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