Agoraphobia

What Is Agoraphobia? What Causes Agoraphobia?

A person with agoraphobia fears being in places where there is a chance of having a panic attack that people may witness, and getting away rapidly may be difficult. Because of these fears the sufferer will deliberately avoid such places - which may include crowded areas, special events, queues (standing in line), buses and trains, shops and shopping centers, and airplanes.

A person with agoraphobia may find it hard to feel safe in any type of public place, especially where large numbers of people gather. Some people may have it so severely that the only place they feel really safe in is their home, and rarely ever go outside.

Agoraphobia is not the opposite of claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces, such as elevators) - it is not simply a fear of open spaces. Agoraphobia may result in a fear of being outdoors, a kind of open space - but it is not a fear of there being too much openness and no walls, ceilings or boundaries, etc. The fear of going outdoors results from a dread of becoming embarrassed, trapped and helpless somewhere while having a panic attack - this never happens inside one's own home.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), USA, about 3.2 million American adults are living with agoraphobia. The median age of onset of agoraphobia is 20 years.

What are the symptoms of agoraphobia?

Physical symptoms of agoraphobia

Sufferers will usually only experience the symptoms when they find themselves in a situation or environment that causes them anxiety. Physical symptoms are rare because most people with agoraphobia avoid situations that they believe will trigger panic. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Accelerated heart beat.
• Rapid and shallow breathing (hyperventilating).
• Feeling hot, flushing.
• Stomach upset.
• Diarrhea.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Breaking out in a sweat.
• Nausea.
• Trembling.
• Dizziness.
• Feeling light headed, as if one were about to faint.
• Ringing in the ears.

Psychological symptoms of agoraphobia

These symptoms are sometimes related to the physical symptoms:

• Fear that people will notice a panic attack, causing humiliation and embarrassment.
• Fear that during a panic attack their heart might stop, or they won't be able to breathe, and may die.
• Fear that the sufferer himself/herself is going crazy.

The following psychological symptoms are also possible:

• Low self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Feeling a loss of control.
• Depression.
• General feeling of dread and anxiety.
• Thinking that without the help of others the sufferer himself/herself would never be able to function or survive.
• Dread of being left alone.

Behavioral symptoms of agoraphobia

• Avoidance - avoiding environments and situations that may trigger anxiety. In some cases this may be mild, where the sufferer avoids going in a crowded train. In extreme cases the person finds it very hard to leave the house.
• Reassurance - the sufferer needs to be reassured by another person. Going out to the shops may only be possible if a friend comes along too. In extreme cases the sufferer finds being alone unbearable.
• Safety behavior - needing to have or to take something in order to confront situations or places that trigger anxiety. Some sufferers have to have an alcoholic drink before going into a crowded place, while others cannot go outside unless they are sure they have their tablets with them.
• Escape - leaving a stressful place or situation straight away and going back home. Learn more