Agoraphobia is a word that is seldom understood outwith those who suffer from it. In fact, ask a random perosn what it means and they'll tell you it's "The Fear Of Leaving Home"

Whilst that is true in many cases, it can also be used to describe the fear of certain situations where the sufferer feels anxious and a wish to return home.

Agoraphobia victims become this way because they suffer from panic attacks and anxiety. Certain situations bring on the following symptoms...

- Rapid heartbeat
- Chest pains
- Dizziness
- Trembling
- Numbness
- Fear of going crazy
- Fear of embarrssment
- Hot flushes
- Sudden urge to use the restroom.

These symptoms are extremely uncomfortable for sufferers and can occur at any time in their lives. People who suffer from panic and anxiety actually feel they are going to die because the symptoms are so lifelike.

As the condition of panic and anxiety takes hold in a person, they start to experience these symptoms more and more regularly.

As a result, their world becomes inherintely smaller and they soon become refined to their homes and other places they deem to be safe for them.

It's a very complicated and technical condition that in order to overcome it, a person has to take a systematic approach.

I overcame it by simply pushing my boundaries. I aknowledged the condition and I put myself in situations where I knew it would affect me. I thought I would die, I thought my world was ending.

It didn't!

As I kept pushing myself, my brain became tuned into thinking that nothing was causing me danger... nothing was going to happen and that I was just fine in whatever situation I found myself in.

As time went past, my panic and anxiety symptoms went away slowly to the point where I can now do anything I like. Sure, I still get symptoms now and then but I am much better equipped to deal with them and not let them affect my life.