Anxiety and Agoraphobia

@passionatewriter6122

(I hope this helps, some mini-paragraphs need to be taken by your own pace, some by a grain of salt)

Don't compare yourself to others. We often compare our greatest weaknesses with others' greatest strengths. Be fair to yourself, only focus on how you've improved from one day to the next. It's okay to not know what to do, baby steps are very important so just being able to do something like walk around/do exercise (inside or wherever you feel most comfortable) is courageous.

-I like to think of it as the saying "Don't compare apples to oranges"

Comparisons create stress, social comparisons come in many forms. Comparisons can be harmful to your psychological well-being. Perhaps you compare your appearance to others, or maybe you think everyone around you is happier than you are.

I recommend taking a tune into: verywellmind | 84-Friday Fix: Why It's Harmful to Compare Yourself with Others

https://www.verywellmind.com/why-it-s-harmful-to-compare-yourself-to-others-the-verywell-mind-podcast-episode-84-5190286

______________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise: I find that exercise works really well, you can start with five minutes a day and work your way up. Even thirty minutes, three times a week should act as an anti-depressant and can make you see the world in a happier, less stressful way.

Making a schedule is quite grounding (in my opinion), writing a list of eight or nine things to do today such as cleaning, reading, starting a new hobby or continuing an old one. Of course don't feel pressured to make a list, as long as you feel comfortable and are in your own comfort zone and trying some sort of activity is fine too!

You are more valuable out in the world, I understand that it is very difficult (I have agoraphobia as well) so please take time to let the guilt go. Whether it is directed at yourself or others. Keep the past in the past. [I hope this tiny paragraph wasn't interpreted in a hurtful way]

It's okay to have a safe place to lash out at the world and cry. But allow yourself only an hour a day to do this. The rest of the time is better spent trying to experience the world or learn that it's not such a scary place.

Judge less, love more. Judging yourself or others keeps you from seeing the good in yourself and everyone around you. Judging is just an opinion, and doesn't make it fact or truth. To understand someone, you have to get to know them.

Laugh. Set time everyday to laugh, whenever you find something that makes you laugh, do it for as long as you can. You can never laugh too much.

Music. Carry headphones or other electronic devices with you to surround yourself with the calming presence of music to release tension and stress.

Remember. You had a life before being an agoraphobic, and you can have a life while in recovery. Think back to all the times you had in the past when you weren't sick or struggling with anxiety. If you were happy then, you can be happy again. [I understand that this may or may not be the situation for everyone]

[This is not a sponsor kind of thing or anything, just my own opinion] Sometimes I tune in to verywellmind podcast when I'm feeling anxious or down. Amy Morin breaks down topics about mental health and simplifies them into clear terms that make it easy to understand. Also while talking with other mental health professionals and how they deal with it.

Please take care of yourself and go at your own pace! Know that it's okay to not know what to do in certain situations, and treat yourself how you would treat others.

Peace out :D