Meditation techniques to help with agoraphobia?

[eljapoppo56]

I realize i could just google this, but i want some personal experiences of people from the nexus community.

I have a friend that has really bad agoraphobia. She can't travel more than about 20 minutes away from her house and can only make it about 10 minutes when driving in the direction of the city (20 minutes away).

This friend knows that i'm interested in meditation so she recently asked me for some advice on how to meditate. loving-kindness meditation has helped me personally with social anxiety/self-esteem issues and jealousy, but i feel there may be better techniques for someone with agoraphobia.

Anybody have any ideas or experiences? Any advice is appreciated

 

[Global]

I would suggest trying to learn to cultivate energy with some form of Qi Gong. Perhaps the feeling of connection to the energy around her will enhance her sense of connectivity with the world, which I imagine would be a good thing when you won't leave your house.

 

[SpartanII]

I second the QiGong recommendation. Cultivating an awareness of energy can really open up different facets of perception when dealing with people, especially practicing push-hands with a partner. The potential benefits for mind/body/spirit balancing are numerous.

There are many supplements/herbs out there that people find useful for social anxiety and phobias, but these may only treat the symptoms.

Systematically exposing oneself to the phobia in question is really the best way to overcome it and will eventually lift the fear. Lucid dreaming comes to mind as a tool since one is accessing the subconscious source of the fear and dealing with it face to face in a safe dream environment.

Hypnosis works for some people.

 

[Hyver]

I can't speak to agoraphobia, but I can say that zen style meditation (focusing on breath, empty the mind, be present) has helped me with generalized anxiety. I honestly suspect that any meditation practice, regardless of the focus, will be helpful for your friend. I'd focus more on finding out what will help her start and maintain a practice, and then worry about the specific styles afterwords.

 

[eljapoppo56]

^Hyver, thank you for saying that any type of meditation can help- i don't know why I didn't think of that lol.

Thanks to you other 2 for mentioning qi gong as well, i'm definitely going to read about/try it.

Spartan II- her psychiatrist once told her that if she faces her fear and has a panic attack i think 3 times, the anxiety will be completely gone. The panic is so unbearable that she cannot do it though. The only way she has ever been able to travel out of her comfort zone is when she is pretty close to black-out drunk which is not healthy at all. Thank you for sharing the lucid dream thing, I'm sure she would be willing to try that. I've always thought that mdma could help her face her fear but she is also scared of drugs including prescription drugs like benzos. she's not scared of alcohol though for some reason

 

[Hyver]

Anytime ;-p

 

[Infectedstyle]

Hemi-sync might be useful software to assist in meditation, There are retreats all over the world. And CDs are sold on the website of Robert Monroe.

You could in a sense regard these softwares as psychedelics without the drugs. But they are quite pricey for some. (like me lol!)

I second focusing on breathing. This anchor of focus-meditation Always works for everyone. As long as you actually sit down and try.

 

[Cognitive Heart]

All of the above comments are very useful for your friends situation. I'd like to respond with balancing the mind-heart activity as a specific technique.

Mindfulness meditation has aided in my well-being and growth for the past few years now. Fear-based thinking really is not what it seems to be. As already mentioned, it can be said that current fears are actually what you need to face to overcome that fear. That is somewhat of an external experience by facing it directly. It is wiser and much more approachable to reside within your own self firstly and simply before continuing. Once you are able to face your own self, your fear will not seem as powerful. Sit with your self within silence. Many mind games are occurring but it is the inquiry within the heart that must be recognized so you can calm your self.

You will do well with all this information. Develop and cultivate your own ability to overcome what it is you are struggling with.