Where do I find camps/seminars that help with self confidence and self esteem?

Question

I've seen and heard of people who do to these camps or seminars to learn to trust other people by doing certain activities that force you to relinquish control to the other person, or that make you have more confidence in yourself (maybe by walking a high wire or something like that).  I want to know what these are called, other than confidence camps, and how I can find some, especially in the Florida area.
I suffer from agoraphobia, which is a mental disorder that makes me have panic attacks when I am in situations that make me feel open or exposed.  It has gotten so bad, I haven't been able to even go grocery shopping in years.  I am seeing a psychiatrist, but it has only helped to a point.  I feel like I need to do something like this to force myself to drive these panic attacks out of me!!
Any advice on where and how to find these kinds of camps or classes would be so greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance!!

michele · Accepted Answer

Google "ropes courses".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropes_course

Also consider googling "outward bound" and "project adventure".

Best of luck,
~M~

Jemmie Vee · Answer

For all my 4 yrs of high school I was in JROTC and went to summer camp each year where I participated in the confidence courses.  I hated them because the males in the group were always dominant and cocky... and any suggestions myself or other females offered were outnumbered by guy-logic (no offense guys, but you know how you can be!).  Yet at the same time, I was constantly forced to interact with strangers... and yes, I had my share of panic attacks at those camps each year, but I constantly got better.  So if you really want to do a confidence course, I'd suggest going with a group of women and/or some close guy friends that you trust. 

What helped me the most was actually just taking a public speaking course in college.  I can't tell you how beneficial it was to learn that all 20 of my classmates who were "normal" (meaning not suffering from social anxiety) felt the same exact things as I did when it came to getting up & speaking in front of everyone!  Our professor was great, she made us give speeches and videotape ourselves each week so we could see the things we do unconsciously (I was mortified at how fumbly & nervous I was on camera! ugh!).  That alone was motivation in itself!  Each week we all progressively got better at speaking in the front of a group.

I'm a teacher myself now, so there are some days when I feel like "Dear God, please can't I just hide in the corner today..." but knowing that my students are even more terrified of talking to their classmates than me is also a confidence boost.  Even the rowdiest teenagers are like putty when they feel everyone's watching/judging them (which is why I require skits/oral presentations about once a week).  It is especially helpful, I think, because I can totally relate to how they're feeling & only wish more of my teachers throughout my life had made me constantly interact more with the whole group!!!

Okay sorry about all the wordiness, but my suggestion is to either check out your local YMCA or Military base to see if they ever offer confidence courses or to check out your local colleges/universities and see if you can enroll in a public speaking course.  I still have my days where I want to hide, and still freak out once in a while (especially if a stranger touches or bumps into me), but it's no where near as awful as it used to be :)

I've been doing something else lately that's helped out tremendously as well... but you'll have to msg me if you want to know more about that one... lol.

Anonymous · Answer

check out Albert Ellis. Rational Emotive Therapy is great!

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Where do I find camps/seminars that help with self confidence and self esteem?

3 Answers