Q: Hi! I was researching agoraphobia treatments and specialists when I stumbled upon your blog and thought “This man seems to really understand what’s going on in my body and mind.” Let me tell you, it’s not everyday that I feel that way.I’m not from the U.S. but from Uruguay, in South America, and I keep wishing there was a center here specialized in what ails me. What would you do if you felt that there were no specialists around? Is there such a thing as online help for agoraphobia? (That seems a bit silly, since I would be terribly comfortable skyping from my own home.)I’m taking escitalopram (have been for over 6 years) and alprazolam and go to a CB therapist every 15 days. Whoever, I can only go places with a select few (3) people, and fell nervous anyway. The CBT feels like talking about how my week was and her trying to get me off the meds, when by now, all I want to be is a 31-year-old independent woman; meds or no meds.Help?
– Flavia S
A: CBT treatment is more than reciting the week’s events. It usually involves, among other things, scripted exposure to the the phobic situation in graduated doses. If a trained person is available to enter the phobic situation, that would be helpful. I describe some of the details in my book “Fighting Fear.” Our clinic here in White Plains Hospital has a web site and also a program for people out of state and out of the country who come here for an intensive program. Some people who are very determined can get better on their own. Good luck
– Dr. Neuman