From Pauline McKinnon
By Pauline McKinnon, June 2007
- author, psychotherapist and long recovered agoraphobic.
A goraphobia ruled my life for 8 years a long time ago. My recovery took place through the introduction and practice of something essentially simple. When someone has known each day to be filled with apprehension, distressing symptoms and the compelling need to cling to home, losing all those disharmonies is rather like being re-born. The experience is something I have never forgotten and when, for example, last year I found myself in a somewhat decrepit bus in the remote mountains of Laos in South East Asia, I still marveled at the miracle of personal freedom. All those years earlier, when it was difficult for me to walk from the front door of my house to my own letter box, agoraphobia was dreadful. Conquering it was so wonderful, that since then I have regarded it as an obligation and a privilege to help others similarly. The fact that I am also able to ‘stand in their shoes’ has also provided confidence and trust for people so they can accept new skills more readily, master their fear and commence a calm approach to life.
In this edition of the ADAVIC Newsletter you will find an extract from my book In Stillness Conquer Fear, (1999 edition) offering ideas to help the agoraphobic – but also offering assistance for any form of anxiety. Considering how individual we each are, it’s amazing just how similar the experiences and thoughts of each one of us can be! So I’m sure readers will find some recommendations in that extract that will be of benefit – and I hope you will get yourself a copy of the entire book to unlock some of the anxiety issues you face.
Anxiety and its reactions occur in varying levels of severity. Agoraphobia is regarded as the most severe reaction to anxiety – though even agoraphobia makes its presence felt in different degrees. Whether people are severely or moderately affected, the condition greatly spoils life. The whole thing can be baffling to say the least and causes immense distress to sufferers and their helpers as they try to find relief. In my view, there is a lot of confusion around treatment and various ways of dealing with the problem. This confusion can create even more insecurity for the sufferer. Sometimes, it’s just not necessary to know the reason for that level of anxiety. Sometimes, taking the tablets just makes no difference at all. Sometimes, trying to change our way of thinking is just too hard. Ultimately, though, inner healing is very necessary – with reassurance, clear understanding and less effort being of prime importance. And that is what the four stories that follow will tell you about in their own way.
Over the years I have seen hundreds of success stories but for this purpose these four people – from very different backgrounds and lifestyles – stand out for me. I clearly remember each at our first meeting and the high level of anxiety they displayed. I remember their need for comfort, their desire for hope and their longing to enjoy life again. I remember their progress and their occasional setbacks. As in my own story, I remember each as he or she falteringly took courage, gained confidence and felt secure and strong again. With lasting results.
It gives me great joy to see people’s lives change and I am very appreciative of those whose stories appear here and for their generous comments. I am especially happy that they have found their way in life again. I am grateful to the wisdom and insight of the remarkable Dr Ainslie Meares who created Stillness Meditation Therapy and from whom I learned to find peace of mind – and how to assist others similarly. It is just over 20 years since his death and my sincere hope is that his perceptions, knowledge and talents will eventually be studied, researched and fully recognized in the treatment of anxiety and related illnesses.
Thank you Elizabeth, Theodore, Gillian and Steve for sharing both the pain and the immense success of your stories: they are stories of courage and commitment and they will certainly give hope and inspiration to those who read them. I’m sure all readers will find motivation from knowing that agoraphobia does not have to be a way of life forever – and that dreams of freedom from fear really do come true.
