Liz developed a fear of abandonment due to her mother's serious accident when she was two years old, which led to her mother being in a coma for months and her parents eventually divorcing. This early trauma made her feel the world was unsafe and set up protective barriers.
Liz's early life experiences, particularly her mother's accident and subsequent absence, led her to become avoidantly attached. This means she doesn't trust that people will be there for her in stressful moments and tends to retreat into herself.
The tipping point for Liz's agoraphobia was moving to England with her now-husband for his graduate school program. She struggled to build community and her world became increasingly isolated, making the outside world seem scarier.
Today, Liz has a robust toolkit for managing her anxiety and agoraphobia. She recognizes triggers, knows what helps, and has developed a travel wellness routine and a home wellness routine to maintain her mental health.
Liz suggests that partners reflect on what has been most helpful during past anxiety episodes and provide that support. This can range from leaving the person alone to holding them or guiding them through breathing exercises.
Liz recommends thinking about death as a way to gain perspective on life decisions and to appreciate the preciousness of each moment. It helps in making choices that align with what one truly values and wants their life to be.
Liz incorporates micro-moments of joy such as morning Cirque walks, looking for moments of awe, micro-movements throughout the day, and micro-connections with friends and family. She also schedules these activities into her calendar to ensure they happen.
Liz suggests focusing on the 'why' behind the habit rather than just the logistics. She also recommends using commitment devices, like making a wager with a friend, and tying disliked habits to loved activities to make them more palatable.
Liz advises that people often enjoy small talk more than they think, but fear rejection. She suggests arming oneself with conversation topics by listening to podcasts or reading articles before social events to make small talk easier and more enjoyable.
Liz's last 'I choose me' moment was her decision to become an intentional drinker, giving up alcohol almost completely. This choice has significantly improved her life by increasing her vibrancy, energy, and the quality of her social interactions.
Podcaster and author, Liz Moody), opens up about how she overcame agoraphobia and learned to manage her anxiety. She also explains why it's important to practice resilience and how to plan micro-moments of joy throughout your day. Should we be thinking of our death? Liz explains why!
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