Facing Fear Out There

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the process of continuing to face one’s fear of physical symptoms, and learning to face fear of activities that produce physical symptoms as well as feared agoraphobia situations. Avoidance (both direct and indirect) is to be prevented. Usually, avoidance happens because of the continued mistaken belief that the symptoms are harmful. It is thus important to remember that the symptoms are not harmful. As with the symptom exercises, the use of medication has to be considered, particularly medications that either block all of one’s feelings or that one relies on to reduce one’s fear at the moment. In the end, it will be essential for one to face the symptoms and the anxiety directly, even at very intense levels, or when alone, or at times when already feeling anxious, or without the influence of benzodiazepines, because these are the conditions in which symptoms happen in normal day-to-day life, now or in the future.