Answers to 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Treatment Agoraphobia?

The most effective treatment for agoraphobia is the combination of cognitive and behavioral therapy.

Research tells us that 90% of people with agoraphobia who practice cognitive-behavioral techniques can expect to see marked improvement within 12-16 weeks.

What are cognitive-behavioral techniques?

Cognitive self-help techniques focus on changing the way you think by replacing the thoughts that feed panic and fear.

Behavioral techniques focus on learning to relax your body on command and then gradually facing your fears, step by step, until you desensitize
yourself, or get comfortable in situations that used to trigger panic attacks.

A complete recovery program for agoraphobia will include much more. But it's best to base your recovery on these techniques.

Can anyone practice cognitive-behavioral techniques successfully?

Yes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be practiced successfully as a self-help program by anyone willing to learn and follow the steps. You don't
need a degree in psychology or any special training to learn and apply it successfully. I can tell you this from personal experience.

I was successful with a cognitive behavioral self- help program. And when I started having panic attacks, I was a regular guy with no background in psychology. I was not familiar with terms like "agoraphobia" or "cognitive-behavioral." In fact, I hadn't the slightest clue what was wrong with me or what to do about it.

Recovery from agoraphobia does not depend on your prior knowledge or background. It depends on your ability to faithfully follow a process and commit to daily action.

If I could do it, then so can you.