Anu Krishna |1754 Answers |Ask -Follow
Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jan 19, 2022

Dear Anuji,
My aunt lost her husband to Covid and is 42 years of age. She is extremely afraid of going to another city, station, elevators.
She panics. This condition was known to her and family after she had a fracture and was taken for CT scan where she panicked and begged for a place by the window.
She was claustrophobic we learned and later she was afraid of going to any place other then just remaining home.
Kindly please help us step by step with your valuable guidance.
Thanking you,
With respects,
BG
Dear BG,
I am truly sorry for the loss in the family.
Take your aunt to open spaces like parks, beaches…the fear of closed spaces and gasping for air could be triggered from any past experiences.
It’s the way in which she has perceived the experience in the first place that has become her truth and reality.
This needs to be substituted with the experience of open spaces into closed spaces.
Ask her to imagine a beach while she is in an elevator; but make sure someone accompanies her on these trips till she is ready to make trips by herself.
Work with a mental health therapist if she doesn’t want or refuses to make this change.
All said, do make sure that she is not forced with this and it is a slow process as she is still in the process of grieving.
Please help her heal from the loss before suggesting any changes. She needs the love, care and support of the family.
Be well and happy always!
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