Going Back To Work After Agoraphobia

This isn't so much about overcoming panic, as it is about how awesome life is after. You feel bulletproof! Hope and a positive attitude are critically important to curing panic attacks and agoraphobia once and for all. Sometimes people really focus too much on the day to day struggle and forget to put a little attention on where they'd like to be, so I thought I'd remind you. Once again, in case this is the first time you're reading one of my posts, I'm someone who suffered from years of crippling agoraphobia and panic attacks till on day, I just got sick of it and did something about it, but that's a whole other post.

People that completely overcome chronic panic attacks often say that you really look at life differently than most. I think this also comes across in your interaction with others, both personally and professionally. About a year ago I interviewed for a job at a software company that I was nowhere near qualified for, not even a little bit, but the company is based out of Spain and if I got it, I'd get to go back for a few months for training and the idea of a paid extended stay in Europe just sounded to awesome to not shoot for.

After going through the initial interviews, when I finally sat with the boss, the one who was going to decide, things got a little more interesting. He found it strange despite my complete lack of knowledge on the subject matter that I made it this far in the hiring process. So we talked, but not like your typical interview. Unlike most candidates, he later told me that my extremely casual demeanor suggested a confidence you don't see a lot. Even when I didn't know answers, I didn't panic, or look flustered. The reason why I was so calm was that nothing that can happen in this interview can possibly be worse than the four years I spent battling fear and panic. If I got the job, great, if not, I'd get the next one, no worries. Anyone who's truly overcome panic, knows that to do so, there comes a point where you just have to let go, and allow what will be, to be. I know I say that a lot but it's true. Somethings are just out of our hands and if that happens then you've got no choice but to roll with the punches.

I guess anyone that has never felt such hopeless despair, the kind that comes with chronic panic attacks, doesn't know how to appreciate all the awesome experiences that make up life. The simple things, like walking outside alone, driving a car without constan worry, not freaking out just because some stupid panic inducing thought has entered your head! Lol, any way..., I got the job, and I got to go back to Spain for several weeks and had an awesome experience. Even though I'd lived there for several years after my panic attacks, it was kind of cool to go back with “corporate sponsorship”. Since then, the job has been going great, I'm doing it well, have made some great friends, learned so much about this kinda of software that I had no idea even existed not too long ago, and I can honestly that my panic attacks played some part in getting me this gig. If not for them, and the experience of overcoming them, I may never have had the confidence to shoot for something like this. To push myself beyond my comfort zone, something essential to overcoming panic attacks. So if you're suffering with chronic panic, know that it's a terrible thing to deal with. But as hopeless as things may seem at times, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And a whole lot of it at that. So hang in there, and in your day to day struggle, don't for got to stop every now and then and think about how awesome it'll be when you've finally put this whole episode behind you and can live a more complete, enriching life.

I hope that little bit of info helps. I also have a blog that I keep to chronicle how I overcame my panic attacks and agoraphobia in case anyone one would like to check it out. Not sure if I can post links on this forum but it’s (Live-Panic-Free) followed by “Dot” and the usual 3 characters you find at the end of a site.