All About Agoraphobia
There are many different anxiety
disorders a person could develop. These disorders are usually
characterized by intense anxiety leading to panic attacks. Under the
umbrella of anxiety disorders fall the category of phobias, which as
intense and irrational fears that lead to panic.
Agoraphobia is one such fear a person
could have, and it is the most commonly treated phobia in the mental
health world. It may not be the most common, but its symptoms are
severe enough that treatment is almost always necessary.
Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving
one’s home or safe area and venturing into the outside world. It
is also found in combination with other phobias or obsessive-compulsive
disorder. People suffering from agoraphobia usually have panic attacks
when they feel unsafe, and these unsafe feelings include when the
person is trapped, out of control, or too far from a personal comfort
zone.
Many people suffering from agoraphobia
are confined to their homes or even to a specific room in their home.
There are many misconceptions surrounding people with agoraphobia.
First of all, agoraphobia is not a
fear of open spaces, nor is it a fear of crowded spaces. While these
conditions may exist within a person as well, agoraphobia is
specifically a fear of being too far from a normal area, regardless of
the crowd. Many people welcome visitors into their home, even if they
themselves do not leave. Agoraphobics usually simply need to be in complete control of a situation.
Agoraphobia can affect any person, regardless of gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, or economic status.
The disorder is about twice as common among women than among men, however. The conditions usually begins with generalized panic attacks or slight phobias, and develops into a more and more serious condition. Thankfully, treatment is available.
A gradual process of exposure is
usually recommended, along with anti-anxiety medication including
benzodiazepines like alprazolam. Anti-depressants can also be used.
Some therapists will make house calls to help patients with
agoraphobia, and alternative treatments like hypnosis are becoming more
and more popular in the medical world as a treatment for agoraphobia
and other anxiety conditions.
A number of famous people have
suffered from agoraphobia in the past, including celebrity chef Paula
Dean, actress Kim Basinger, director Woody Allen, and Nobel laureate
for literature Elfriede Jelinek. The key here, however, is to realize
that there is hope. If you suffer from agoraphobia, ask for help and
you can begin the healing process.