Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia comes from a Greek word which means “fear of the marketplace” or “fear of open spaces.” It is essentially the fear of being in a situation which may cause anxiety or feelings of panic, and being unable to escape without feeling embarrassed.

People who suffer from this phobia fear such things as losing bladder or bowel control, or even choking on food in front of others. They also experience anxiety over being at home alone, being in crowds, leaving their homes, or being stuck in crowded elevators or on public transportation where they can’t get out. To these people, the solution is quite simple. They just never go anywhere that these situations might arise.

The symptoms of agoraphobia affect sufferers to different degrees. Some people can live normal lives for the most part. They simply find ways to avoid situations that may cause them anxiety. More severe cases turn its victims into homebound hermits who are never able to leave their comfort zones without becoming panicky.

People usually develop this disorder when they are in their mid to late 20’s. It affects twice as many women as men. Many of these people develop the illness after a traumatic event occurs in their lives. It is believed that less than 1 percent of people in the United States suffer from this debilitating disorder.

Since most people who start to develop symptoms are afraid that they are losing their minds due to being afraid and anxious all the time, they usually visit their doctors. These doctor visits may result in appointments with mental health care professional who will be able to diagnose the problem.

There are certain instances where a friend or family member may notice odd symptoms in someone who is suddenly refusing to leave home alone or at all. The person who is showing signs of agoraphobia can then be urged to seek help. The mental health professional will be able to diagnose the illness after taking careful personal histories, and making sure that there are no physical conditions that could be causing the symptoms.

There are 3 main treatments for this disorder. These are through therapy, medications, or a combination of both. Behavior and cognitive therapy have been used with much success. If panic is also present with the agoraphobia, these patients are usually prescribed a short term anti anxiety medication to help with those symptoms.

The prognosis for sufferers with this disorder seems to be varied and totally dependent on the severity of the symptoms. It also depends on how well the treatment works. There are some cases which are so acute that they are next to impossible to treat and can last for years. The only way to find out if you can be helped or not, though, is to seek treatment immediately.