Have you ever felt so physically confined that it gave you an extremely uncomfortable feeling? I have felt that way when I have been in very tight spaces. When I have been in those spaces, I must make a conscious effort to relax so I do not become overly emotional in feeling trapped. My wife Laura is claustrophobic to a degree. If I am in the closet looking for something with her or if we are in the area of our vanity getting ready for work, I know when I get up in her space, she could feel trapped. Claustrophobia is a real thing and is defined as an irrational or disproportionate fear of being in a small or confined space and being unable to escape. This is a very real psychiatric condition, and some people need treatment as a result of it.

One of the biggest challenges for anyone entering recovery Is the emotional hijacking that has occurred. We have been medicating with behaviors and substance for so long that we shut down so much of what we are feeling. We become afraid of sharing those feelings because of how we may be perceived or received. Having said that, keeping those emotions pent up inside us creates a real dilemma. We know that holding on to those things makes us feel extremely uncomfortable and it prevents us from taking an emotional breath. We become trapped through what I call emotional claustrophobia and even though it is irrational and dissproportionate it is very real. And can keep us in that Confined space we believe we are unable to escape.

We end up being trapped on both sides of the equation. We are trapped through fear of sharing our emotions with someone else. We are so tired of being judged in ways that we have been afraid to look at. Yet, holding on to that emotion is becoming even more unbearable. The only way we can hold on is to sink deeper into our addiction. We are constantly juggling as to holding on and sing deeper or do we let go and run the risk I’ve been found out as to who we think we are. The most sad thing about emotional claustrophobia is we are the captive as well as the captor. We are the problem on both sides of the coin. It is not until we break free from the claustrophobia and the emotional stranglehold it has on us that we can find some relief. If we do not break free of this emotional claustrophobia we will die in its grip. The most sad thing I’ve noticed from people suffering with emotional claustrophobia is they physically live but emotionally parish. There is a way out. If I can be of assistance with you in finding your way out of this emotional claustrophobia and introduce you into a life of freedom please let me know.

Robert Pardon

Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.

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