Agoraphobia, translated from Greek, literally means 'fear of the marketplace.' It was originally believed
to be the debilitating fear of open spaces and public places. As further research has shown,
it is now thought to be a result of continued episodes of panic attacks.
Agoraphobia is displayed when a person becomes extremely fearful of being trapped in a place or situation
from which he cannot escape. He might believe that escaping from that situation would be difficult
or even impossible.
As a result, an affected person begins to shun public places where there are large numbers of people. He might
find it too constricting to ride buses, airplanes, cars and trains. In extreme cases, agoraphobia may
also keep a person from stepping out of his home, the only place where he feels safe.
Agoraphobia and panic disorder
Agoraphobia is the result of a panic disorder that has remained untreated, ignored or misdiagnosed.
A panic disorder is the result of continued episodes of panic attacks, where a person suffers from intense discomfort
and feelings of extreme fear.
Panic attacks can occur without warning and affect about one-third of the adult population annually. They may
either occur in isolation or as a result of another disorder such as depression, anxiety or social phobia.
Unlike anxiety, panic attacks only last for a short while, usually 20-30 minutes.
Agoraphobia, like panic disorder, is usually a chronic condition.
Symptoms of agoraphobia
Agoraphobia sufferers experience several symptoms all at once, including chest pain, trembling, sweating,
extreme hot or cold,heart palpitations or increased heart rate, shortness of breath, numbness, dizziness,
feelings of losing control, going crazy or dying.
Although some episodes of agoraphobia can occur without warning, being in certain situations can trigger an attack.
If they are stuck in a situation where escape or help may prove difficult or awkward such as parties, crowded
shopping malls or subways, they become more agitated and their feeling of panic swells.
To avoid the feeling of being 'trapped', people with agoraphobia stay away from public places. This is not
because they are afraid of public places per se, but because they do not want to suffer from a panic attack
while in those locations. To feel safe, they remain in familiar places, such as their homes or
insist in having the constant company of a trusted person.
Agoraphobia Treatments
The most common treatments for agoraphobia are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication or both used
in conjunction. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that is also used to treat other mental disorders.
As a treatment, CBT involves altering a patient's thinking patterns so he can manage and handle his fears.
Patients are taught to understand the condition and to accept that the feelings of panic are normal,
albeit amplified. Certain behavioral patterns during an episode of agoraphobia may
also be altered to help the patient cope should one occur.
To help patients handle their reactions, they are also taught to control their breathing.
CBT also involves exposing a patient to situations or incidents that usually trigger agoraphobia and helps close to
85% of panic attack patients recover after approximately 10 sessions.
Medication usually consists of either anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. Anti-depressants serve to
reduce or totally prevent episodes of panic attacks. They usually take effect after several weeks.
Anti-anxiety drugs, on the other hand, are fast acting and can produce a calming effect in less than an hour.
Additional Therapies
Other treatments and therapies to address agoraphobia include family therapy, group therapy using CBT
and relaxation techniques using meditation. Depending on the severity of the patient's mental condition,
a combination of several treatments may be used to produce the desired effect.
NEXT: Claustrophobia
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