> > > > > Of course, my experience was almost ruined because I am agoraphobic, and can't handle being in large crouds of people. I mean, people were litteraly on every side of me. But, I digress....
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> > > > > famous
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> > > > I always thought agoraphobia was fear of open spaces. Is it the crowding that you can't handle (like claustrophobia, being closed-in) or the idea of all those people? No offence intended if this is too personal. I'm just interested to know. It must make life difficult.
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> > > It's not too personal. Most people do believe that agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces but it's really the fear of being in a crowded space where you can't escape if you start to have a panic attack. I think a reason I'm so scared in this situation is because I have had panic attacks in large crowds before. And yes, it's the crowding that gets me. If I am surrounded on every side I get terribly scared, which is what causes the attack. So I am almost afraid to put myself in those situations.
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> > > It's also a fear of going somewhere alone. Agoraphobics tend to need to have a 'safe person' with them wherever they go. Someone that they trust. It took me until just about a few years ago to conquer going to the store alone. I am lucky because my fear is not as bad as other's fear, and I have been able to work out a lot of it. There are still someplaces and situations though that I avoid altogether.
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> > > famous
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> > I know I shouldn't put this into a serious discussion, but I am familar with phobias and even have a few myself. However, if you fear crowds, the solution is simple. Onions. If you fear high places... well, that's my phobia and I don't have a simple solution.
> > Howard
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> Actually I am afraid of heights too. But I will be conquering that fear next summer. I plan on jumping out of an airplane. I like to push my fear to the limits.
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> fam 'making onion necklaces as we speak' ous

I might jump out of an airplane, too, if it was upside down, on fire from one end to the other, falling fast with the wings broken off and I had a least two parachutes. Strangely, I dislike looking off a porch that is three meters high, but I fly in commercial jets all time without giving it a thought. Rooftops, tall building (2 stories),silos, bridges, ladders, cliffs and cable cars scare me to death, but mountains and enclosed airplanes are okay. Am I nutz?
Howard