A person suffering from agoraphobia is a person who avoids situations that may cause him or her to panic. Anything can set the feeling off, being home alone or leaving the home and finding yourself in a situation where you feel trapped and helpless.
People with agoraphobia have an extremely hard time dealing with places where there are crowds. The fear can be so overwhelming, that some sufferers will not leave the sanctity of their own home.
The problem with treatment is, the sufferer has to face their fears. With therapy and medication, the person with agoraphobia can learn to live a more normal and balanced life.
The symptoms of agoraphobia:
The mental disorder known as agoraphobia is a type of phobia, which is a fear of an explicit object or set of circumstances. Agoraphobia is the fear of having an attack in public. The most feared places to be are on elevators, sporting events, public transportation and shopping malls.
The typical symptoms include:
* Fear of being alone
* Fear of crowds and crowded places
* Fear of losing control in a public place
* Fear of being in a place hard to leave, such as a plane
* Being housebound
* Overdependence on others
There may also be physical maladies, which accompany the phobia; lightheadedness, dizziness, flushing, chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
When to seek help:
Agoraphobia is a mental disorder that can have a significant effect on your ability to work, socialize, attend important events or even go to the corner store.
There are “safe zones” for some who suffer; these are places they can retreat to without worry, often accompanied by a trusted friend or family member.
The phobia has the tendency to make the sufferer feel as if they are trapped, a prisoner if you like, in their own home. Even thinking about having a panic attack may set one off, it becomes a vicious cycle as the places you go become fewer and fewer.
Call a doctor if you feel you have agoraphobia, there is no other solution.
The causes:
Agoraphobia is an impediment of panic disorder, panic disorder itself is a form of anxiety in which the person feels attacks of great fear, that for no reason, cause intense physical symptoms. The phobia can be very frightening, when they occur, you feel as if you have totally lost control, or even having a heart attack.
Developing agoraphobia may be caused when a connection is made between the panic attack and situations in which the attacks have occurred. In an attempt to deny further attacks, you avoid the situations. Many of the situations that are avoided are those where a great deal of embarrassment may be in store if an attack occurred.
Fear may reach a point so great that you will not be able to tolerate literally any outside activity unless you are accompanied by a companion.
Agoraphobia is a mental disorder that can be solved with psychiatric care and medication. The professionals at University Behavioral Health, Denton have the skills to identify the disorder and suggest treatment.
