AGYROPHOBIA

Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a form of anxiety disorder where you fear and avoid places or circumstances that may cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, powerless or humiliated. You fear a real or expected scenario, such as using public transport, being in open or enclosed spaces, waiting in line, or being in a crowd.

Anxiety is triggered by concern that there is no easy way to escape or get treatment if anxiety is heightened. Often people who have agoraphobia develop it after experiencing one or more panic attacks, leading them to worry about another attack and avoiding places where it may happen again.

People with agoraphobia sometimes have a hard time feeling safe in any public place, particularly where crowds are gathering. You can feel like you need a companion, such as a relative or a friend, to go to public places with you. Fear may be so crippling that you may feel unable to leave your house.

Treatment for agoraphobia can be difficult because it typically involves facing your fears. But with psychotherapy and medicine, you can break the agoraphobia pit and live a more fulfilling life.

Symptoms

Typical signs of agoraphobia include fear of:

⦁Leaving your house alone

⦁Crowds or in line waiting

⦁Enclosed spaces, such as movie theatres, elevators or small shops.

⦁Open areas, such as parking lots, bridges and malls.

⦁Usage of public transport, such as a bus, a plane or a train

These situations trigger anxiety because you fear that you won’t be able to escape or find help if you start to feel panicked or have other debilitating or humiliating symptoms.

Additionally:

⦁Fear or anxiety is almost often the product of exposure to the situation.

⦁Your fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the true danger of the situation.

⦁You’re avoiding the situation, you need a friend to go with you, or you’re going through the situation, but you’re highly distressed.

⦁You are experiencing severe depression or issues with social interactions, work or other aspects of your life due to fear, anxiety or avoidance.

⦁Your phobia and prevention normally lasts six months or longer

Risk factors

Agoraphobia can begin in infancy, but typically begins in late teens or early twenties—usually before age 35—but it can also occur in older adults. Women are diagnosed with agoraphobia more often than men do.

⦁Risk factors for agoraphobia include the following:

⦁Disorder of fear or other phobias

⦁Responding to panic attacks with exaggerated anxiety and prevention

⦁Experience traumatic life events, such as rape, death of a parent or assault.

⦁To have an anxious or nervous disposition

⦁To have a blood relative with agoraphobia

WRITTEN BY : KOMAL GUPTA

FOUNDER OF NIROGYA BY KOMAL GUPTA