Exposure treatment for Claustrophobia

If you're struggling with Claustrophobia, you can start Exposure Treatment for fear of confined spaces right now from wherever you are.
This video will start with some Claustrophobia-associated words then we’ll cover pictures and videos of confined spaces.
Rate how anxious you're feeling with each one and then you can watch these numbers improve as you rewatch the video each day until these are no longer a problem for you and you're ready for your next step.
Give the video a like if it’s been helpful and feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.
If you want to know where to go from here in treating your Claustrophobia - check out my Claustrophobia Breakthrough Blueprint: www.anxiety-specialists.net/c...
Or connect with us via our website
www.anxiety-specialists.com

[@Holoether]

❤❤❤Thank you thank you thank you❤❤❤ This exercise took me thru so many spaces. I figured out I had disruption of mobility linked up with suffocation and death in a specific way. The bullies who almost deprived me of air as a child, such that I was approaching passing out amidst extreme panic, lived on in my fear of elevators etc. I mapped the abuse across to all tight crowded places. It was the bullies intention I was mapping onto the stopped elevator. Once I got rid of the projected nefarious motive - the feeling the elevator, like my bullies, was trying to control and suffocate me - my anxieties lessened. Also I notice, as Andrea Perry did in her book, that if I am not taking care of myself and perhaps closer in self-esteem to my bullied days, I am more likely to complete the projections of the past upon the present. To re-enact the trauma.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Really glad for you Holoether ❤️

[@mzakula1]

I don't have classic claustrophobia, but I have cleitrophobia. How do I deal with it? I have issues with buses stuck in traffic jam, and elevators that might stop or being locked somewhere no matter how big the space is. I don't have issues with airplanes because they fly, and can't get stuck in a jam. On the other hand, I'm completely ok with driving a car or being in a passenger seat of a car (as long as I have a door next to me), and it doesn't bother me if I get stuck in a traffic jam while I'm in a car. So, I have fear of being trapped, and not having control over the exit. I could sit all day in a closet as long as I can open it and leave whenever I want. The consequence is that I only travel by car or an airplane. I can't ride a bus or train, I avoid elevators. How can I get rid of this phobia?

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Well, first you’ll want to figure out the core fear - yes, you fear being trapped or stuck, but what is the threat that your brain is afraid of? I find if you follow the thought-track along far enough, it’ll lead to death - but death by what? Squeezed to death? Starvation? Heart giving out from panic attack triggered by being trapped? Once you know that, you can properly target the anxiety and retrain your brain into seeing those as safe (there are anxiety regulation techniques that can help along the way as well) 🙂

[@mzakula1]

@@AnxietySpecialists Thank you so much for your reply! Wow, I've never thought of it in such a way. It's challenging to figure out what kind of underlying fear of death my brain perceives. And once I understand it, how can I address the anxiety, what are those techniques? Is there an exposure treatment? I have trouble imagining one in a controlled environment.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Yes, that can be challenging 😁 What I’d recommend is checking out our Anxiety Reducer Guide www.anxiety-specialists.com/anxiety-reducer It’ll give you the understanding of anxiety you need and get you started on what to do about it (which would be hard to do in the comments section here).

[@mzakula1]

@@AnxietySpecialists Thank you so much! It's really helpful for the beginning of understanding and overcoming anxiety.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

You’re very welcome. Glad you’ve started your anxiety journey 😁

[@richardstiltner2634]

Mine anxiety happened today at work. I drive a lot of different cars and I do love doing that. But today I got trapped in one for the second time. Not the same day but both times my anxiety was over the 100 and this last time I cried for about two minutes and told myself that I was done diving. But I don't want to stop driving because I still like doing that.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Sounds like being trapped might have kicked off a panic attack. Is that how you experienced it?

[@Maryam_113_]

hey.My mother has claustrophobia.Its a little serious like she cannot go in elevator and often get scared at night if the door is closed.She feels as she is going to get stuck in there.She is going to travel internationally next month so do you think that her phobia could get trigerred in the airplane.And the place where we live doesnt have good psychologists around so we can not get it treated.What should I do except for exposure therapy so her phobia could be cured over time?

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Yeah, it can jump from elevators to planes. I would organise Psyc treatment for her over video call. Or I’ve got a program that includes online videos and video calls to work through the anxiety.

[@seemasuradinia1120]

Hi again. I followed you from previous video. I am not sure if I found this video effective. The written words doesnt seem to trigger any form of panic nor did the closed pictures. But in reality, it is very different. I dont think this could equip someone for panic attack. Maybe you can focus on tips on calming someone down during an actual attack. I know I say a meditative phase/mantra throughout the entire attack which seems to ease a full blown attack. But I could use as many tips. Thank you.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Hi Seema, that’s great! If the words caused you no difficulty then you probably don’t have severe claustrophobia. This video only covers the beginnings of exposure, with some nice easy (depending on your severity level) virtual exposure. In terms of panic attacks, trying to calm down during an attack is only treating the symptoms and can maintain or worsen the presence of panic cycles. I’d recommend more comprehensively treating the underlying panic cycle so panic attacks can no longer be triggered and aren’t a problem for you anymore.

[@sanju0202able]

Trying thinking about a leaf

[@sensei6622]

Thank goodness someone is addressing the situation during a real attack. I feel disoriented and my only goal during that moment is to look for an exit and get out of the trap. If I'm not in control of the situation it starts getting worse. I want to change this thought process. 😭

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Anxiety often makes us want to escape. Unfortunately when we do we end up reinforcing it. That's why it's important to have a process to follow. When you do that you get to turn your anxiety from your biggest struggle into your super power.

[@seemasuradinia1120]

What is that process? We are happy to try anything. It's not just about losing control. One loses their sanity in that moment.

[@ashleytheseeker8480]

Ive been trying to work on this for about a year. I know its irrational. I get weird looks from people. I was abused almost my entire life, and i felt ao trapped, unablento leave, feeling like my life is threatened over and over and over again. Thats where i think my issue comes from. Ive been dreading having to take an elevator for the past 3 days. If i heal my ptsd do you think this will go away? I just want to feel normal again.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Fair enough to want to feel normal again. I think processing the ptsd would be a big help. It might resolve it. Typically people will need some behavioural therapy afterwards to get rid of the bad habits/negative associations that have formed with elevators and get that last bit of the anxiety problem sorted.

[@ashleytheseeker8480]

@AnxietySpecialists I ended up taking the stairs instead, again. 7 floors. I have less physically reactions when I saw the elevators but I still didn't get on it.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Hopefully it’s a bit easier once you’ve done your ptsd therapy 😊

[@buckdoxin8566]

Pls translate in Hindi / Bengali.

[@benhamlaouiibtissem4245]

You know you just make it worse 😂now I’m even more afraid about news I wouldn’t even think about… dude we don’t need ur explanation of the problem bcz you will make it even bigger in our heads solution orientations that we need tips stop talking about the problem itself !

[@AnxietySpecialists]

Hey Ben, I get what you’re saying. A lot of people believe that talking about the problem will make the anxiety worse, because when you talk about it, you feel the anxiety in that moment. But it’s like having a car that has smoke coming from the engine and you refuse to open the bonnet and see what the problem is because then you’ll get more smoke in your face. Understanding the problem and what’s causing it is generally a big part of solving it.

[@benhamlaouiibtissem4245]

@@AnxietySpecialists I’m sorry I was a bit rude Cz I was stuck in my home just trying to watch something that makes me feel calm and in control of the situation I wanted smthn quick and productive Cz I’m totally aware about the problem I was just in need for some tips! Sometimes your videos we watch in the same time of the désastres plz take it into consideration:))

[@AnxietySpecialists]

I get ya. Good you’re working on getting better.

[@shishirgupta9027]

Hello, When ever I sit on plane as soon as it shut the door , I feel like O cannot breathe, somw how i manage for 5 to 7 mins after that, my heartbeat start pumping ny hand arm start sweating , i start eating choclates n medicine n etc, after somw timw it make me normal. BUT when ever I have to travel everytime I started feeling the same , fell very less confident flying alone or with some one. Help me how to ovwe comw with this, I always give taught How I can travel in long flights wjen i m not able to manage 1 or 2 hous pf flight. N Before that I use to travel 7 houra 8 hours of flight alone. Thankyou.

[@AnxietySpecialists]

It’s probably anxiety about anxiety, rather than about the plane crashing. It sounds like your brain’s afraid of the anxiety causing you to not be able to breathe and then die of asphyxiation. Does that sound right?