Agoraphobia: Behavioral Modification Procedures – Assessing the targeted behaviors

In this article, we will walk you through some behavioral modification steps to overcome Agoraphobia. One of the main cognitive behavioral therapy steps includes successive approximation, which may ask you to behave in a way in which you have never behaved in the past. Don’t be frightened of this. Embrace it, because if you continue to behave in the way that you always have, you will always have your Agoraphobia.

You will use a continuous reinforcement process in which you will learn to develop new behaviors in which you have never used before by rewarding yourself for the progress you make. Offer yourself a reward if you successfully complete the step.

You will also use negative reinforcement to help boost your performance in a way that you can relate to: we may ask you to engage in exposure therapy as part of the behavioral modification practice or a procedure where you will be asked to escape or avoid a placid aversive situation by improving the way you react to your Agoraphobia. You may allow yourself to avoid unpleasant situations by taking positive cognitive behavioral therapy steps. You will also be asked to engage in modeling, which requires of you to learn new behaviors through observing a positive role model.

Recall a specific time in your past where you reacted irrationally. Consider your behaviors closely. Make a note of them because now we are going to help you learn new, more positive ways to react when faced with your fear.

You are going to create a new behavior that you can use to overcome your Agoraphobia, e.g. perhaps instead of worrying about having a panic attack in public, try to stay focused and reform your mindset to believe that you will be fine when you are out in public.

The goal of using cognitive behavioral therapy is to help you develop new behaviors to replace behaviors that hinder you from succeeding and help you overcome your Agoraphobia.

Your goal is to consider a new behavior that you have never used or else have used rarely in your past. Take time to reward yourself once you succeed by using the new behavior. For example, you might control your stress level by practicing breathing techniques, or else resetting your mind to build confidence when you experience anxiety symptoms with your Agoraphobia.

Practice using your new behavior for one week and reward yourself upon your success. Write the details down in your diary.

You have now observed another person and how they react in situations which cause you stress. You have seen how they behave. Now you are going to put yourself in a mildly stressful situation and instead of avoiding it, you are going to stick it out for a time period that you plan in advance. You are going to do this successfully by implementing strategies and behaviors that you observed the other person using. Record how you felt, what strategies you used, and how they were successful for you? Did you feel more relaxed than you expected? Were you able to stay longer than you planned?

Once you have practiced your new behaviors for coping with stressful situations which create your Agoraphobia, you are going to learn to do this on cue, acting in a particular way at a set time. The idea is that you will then be able to help you turn on these behaviors any time you need to.

By becoming aware of how you feel in social situations, you can identify what triggers your anxiety disorder. When this happens to you and you recognize the signs that you are becoming anxious, acknowledge those feels and take practical steps to overcome the anxiety. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to calm down without leaving the situation. Set your mind to put an end to an old and inappropriate behavior, e.g. if you stayed at home because you feared panicking in public, reform your mind to believe that you are responsible and ready to face the world and overcome Agoraphobia.