Agoraphobia
In today’s post we will learn about
types of phobia which is actually found in many of us. This phobia is called
Agoraphobia. It comes from Greek word agora means place of assembly or market
place and phobia means fear.
In Greece there was a place named Delos
and it is one of the public space after which the condition is named. In this
post we will try to cover the basic information about Agoraphobia. We will see
· 1 1. Introduction
· 2.Causes
· 3.Symptoms
· 4.Diagnosis
and
· 5.Treatment
of Agoraphobia.
So, here we start.
Introduction
Agoraphobia is mainly a type of
behavioral and mental disorder which is also an anxiety disorder. A person who
is suffering from this is characterized by the symptoms of anxiety in
environment where they think they can’t escape the situation or they can’t
afford help.
People who have agoraphobia often feel
that they need a companion to go with them to the public places. Because they
find it quite hard feeling to go to public places where crowds gather.
They feel trapped, embarrassed or
helpless in situations like public transports, in market places, standing in
line or being in open or enclosed places. And sometimes because of the fear
they can’t go out of home.
Agoraphobia commonly starts between the
ages of 18 to 35 and it is twice as common in female as male. And it is rare in
children.
Causes
Actual causes of agoraphobia are not known. But there are some factors which are believed to be the reasons of the fear. These are given below
1.Brain chemistry.
2.Sometimes some others anxiety disorders can cause agoraphobia.
3.If there is a history of agoraphobia in the family, then it can also create a risk for developing this.
4.Depression can also be a reason for this.
5.If the person is suffering from some other phobias then it will create a risk.
6.Sometimes because of excessive use of alcohol and other substances.
7.If someone is experiencing stressful life events like death of someone, any kind of abuse or anything like this, so there is a great chance of developing agoraphobia.
Symptoms
There are some signs and symptoms of agoraphobia which helps a professional to understand the disorder. Some common symptoms are share here.
1. They have a fear of public transportations.
2. They also fear of leaving home alone or being alone in any social situations.
3.Afraid of shopping centers, bridges, market places etc.
4.They are also fear of enclosed buildings or any spaces.
5.Fear of being in places where escape would be difficult like elevator or car.
6.Sometimes afraid of losing control in a public places.
7.They are afraid of standing in a line.
Sometime a person who has agoraphobia also has panic attacks. So panic attacks means a sudden attack of some extreme fear of something that reaches its peak and trigger some physical reactions. These are
1. chest pains
2. sweating excessively
3. feeling of chocking or trouble in breathing
4.rapid heartbeat
5.trembling, dizziness
6. feeling of nausea or vomiting
7.hot flashes, diarrhea etc.
Diagnosis
If you think that you have agoraphobia
then you must go for a professional help. According to DSM 5, there are some
symptoms that you must have for diagnosed with agoraphobia. These are
1. 1. The
fear of the situation should be out of proportion to threat.
2. 2. The
avoidance behavior should disrupt your normal life routines, school, work and
relationships.
3. 3.The
agoraphobic fear should be marked at least two situations.
4. 4. The
fear situation should always provoke anxiety response when you are in these
situations.
5. 5. And
the duration should be six months.
Treatment
If someone is developing agoraphobia
and panic symptoms, then he needs to try to take the treatment as soon as
possible. It can get worse if it left untreated. Treatment of agoraphobia
includes both psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy
Systematic desensitization can provide
help in treating agoraphobia. In this therapy, you will be gradually exposed to
the situation or places you fear with some relaxation techniques. In this
process you can overcome your fear.
Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) is
actually the most famous therapy to treat agoraphobia. It helps people to
understand the distorted views and feelings and also teach them how to work through
these situations by replacing the thoughts with healthy thought.
Sometimes psychologists use relaxation
techniques to the treatment of agoraphobia also.
Medication
Sometimes some medications are used to
help people suffering from agoraphobia. But it should be prescribed by the
professional people.
Last but not the least we should
maintain some techniques to help you if you are suffering from this to manage
the symptoms. These are
1. 1.try to avoid drug or alcohol
2. 2. follow
a healthy and nutritious diet
3. 3. try
to do some exercise everyday and
4.4.
Lastly
follow some stress management techniques to reduce anxiety.
Now we know the basic information of
agoraphobia. We know that there is difference between simple fear and the fear
of agoraphobia. And if anyone is suffering from this, he can manage his life
with the help of professional treatment and support of family and friends. So
don’t worry.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.
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