Agoraphobia is the fear of having a panic attack in public with no means of finding relief. This especially happens in wide open spaces when no help may be available.
Going camping while agoraphobic can be very difficult. But there are situations in which one would want to go camping anyhow. For example, you may have friends and family who go camping and you want to accompany them. In fact, you feel that you can have a lot of fun doing so yourself.
There are ways to prevent from having a panic attack while camping. Granted, this is not always easy if you do not get to decide on the campsite…
Below are some tips to help you through a camping excursion if you suffer from agoraphobia.
Related: How to Remain Calm During A Camping Crisis
Camping with Agoraphobia: How to come Prepared
- Choosing the campsite: If possible, choose a camp site that has a groundskeeper. These are usually campsites where you pay for every night that you stay. These are usually pretty affordable foremost and a lot cheaper than renting a hotel. By choosing a campsite that has staff working to make you feel comfortable, you can feel a bit safer.
- Let them know: If you don’t mind sharing, tell the others that you are going camping with that you have this issue. Help them understand that there may be times when you will get anxious or have a panic attack. This way, there are no surprises and they will know how to help you.
- Satellite phone: If you are going camping off the grid, you may feel more comfortable with a satellite phone. With a satellite phone, you can contact the Coast Guard from anywhere you are. This may help ease the anxiety when it comes to the possibility of getting lost in the woods or having an emergency.
- Don’t forget your medication: If you take anti-anxiety on a regular basis, plan ahead and don’t forget to bring some extra capsules in case you and your party stay longer.
- Prepare the vehicle: There is nothing worse than going camping without preparing your vehicle. You should bring along a spare tire, and a jug of gasoline. On your way to a campsite, there is always the possibility of getting lost or having to take a detour. In this case, you don’t want to be stuck with very little gas.
- Know your gear: Carefully plan out what gear you will need to bring to be comfortable. When you are packing, make sure to remember where each item is in the backpack. This will save you from panicking when you don’t feel like you can find something. Also consider having some of the best shelter for camping before going on your trip.
- Have an exit strategy: In case you need to go home early, you should have a plan for what you will need to do to get back. This can include walking back to street level and hailing a taxi. Or you can have someone that is designated to drive you back if need be.
What to do in case of a panic attack
If you find yourself in a situation where you have a panic attack, you need to remember some simple rule to help it go away faster. The worst thing that you could do is to try to force it to go away.
In case of a panic attack, you need to acknowledge the fact that you are having one. If possible, let somebody know that this is happening so that you can have someone guide you through the calming process.
Just stand there and observe how you feel. Don’t try to do anything else, as this may remind you of the things that make you anxious and make it worse.
Once you have decided to stand still, do some deep diaphragmatic breathing. Rinse and repeat!
Just remember that healthy people don’t die from panic attacks.
Camping with Agoraphobia: Summary
We hope that the above has made you feel little bit more comfortable with the prospect of going camping. You can use these guidelines to help someone else who has agoraphobia at your campsite. If you’re planning to go on a trip soon, here are more camping tips you might want to read too: Best Camping Tips
Remember that the more you go camping, the more familiar it will seem. You may eventually get to the point where you no longer need to fear the worst.
Happy camping!
