Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia – Anxiety Disorder

Agoraphobia is a kind of an anxiety disorder wherein the victim begins to have fear and avoids places or situations which could cause them to panic or make them feel trapped, helpless or even embarrassed. With this disorder, the person feels afraid on actual or anticipated situation which could be a feeling of anxiety related to a place or situation.

Several people are of the notion that agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces though it is more complex than this, wherein a person could be afraid of travelling on public transport, or leaving home or visiting a shopping centre. Person with this disorder may find themselves in stressful situation and may experience symptoms of a panic attack which may include rapid breathing/heartbeat, feeling hot and tends to sweat, feeling sick.

They may also have a tendency of avoiding situations which could give cause to anxiety and would only leave their home with a companion or order stuff, online for fear of going out. This form of change in behaviour is called `avoidance’. Often people begin to develop agoraphobia after experiencing one or more panic attacks which leads them to fear another attack and thus they avoid the place where it could have occurred.

Complication of Panic Disorder

Agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic disorder or an anxiety disorder which could involve moments of intense fear and panic attacks that could be related to past instances in their life. Few cases of agoraphobia have no history of panic attacks and in these cases their fear could be connected to some issues like fear of crime, illness, terrorism or being involved in an accident.

Certain traumatic incidents like bereavement could also contribute towards agoraphobia together with some genes which are inherited from their parents. This disorder could severely limit their ability to work, socialize, attend important functions and even in handling their daily functions.

Agoraphobia usually starts before 35 years of age though older people also start to develop this disorder and women suffer from agoraphobia more than the men. Besides the panic disorder or other phobias, the risk factors also includes the tendency of being nervous or anxious, experience stressful life episodes like abuse, death of a parent or being attacked, having a blood relative suffering from agoraphobia.

Three Step Approach 

People with this disorder find it difficult to feel safe in any public place especially when crowded and hence always have the need of a companion like a relative or a friend whom they can trust. Treating an agoraphobia person could be very challenging since it means facing the fears though with psychotherapy together with medications one could be free from agoraphobia and live a life without fear.

Diagnosis is done depending on the signs and symptoms together with a detailed interview with the physician. A physical examination could also be carried out to check for any other conditions which could cause the symptoms. For treating agoraphobia, a three stepwise approach is recommended which may include in educating the person about the condition, possible changes in lifestyle and self-help techniques that could help to reduce the symptoms.

The second step would be to enrol the person on a guided self-help program and step three would be a more intensive treatment like cognitive behavioural therapy – CBT or medication.