There are numerous anxiety disorders somebody may develop. What they all have in common is that the subject can feel extremely panicky, stressed and worried in certain situations. Within the same main group of anxiety disorders are phobias, which similarly cause intense fear, worry and anxiety in reaction to certain circumstances. Agoraphobia is one such fear somebody could have, and it is one of the most frequently treated phobias in the world. Its symptoms are serious enough that therapy is almost always required.
THE IRRATIONAL FEAR OF PLACES
Far more than simply a case of feeling shy or reserved, agoraphobia is an overwhelming anxiety of leaving the safety of home and going into the world outside. It can sometimes found in combination with other phobias, such as social anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. Its symptoms include feeling out of control, trapped and outside of the zone in which people feel safe and comfortable. Sometimes, the feelings of agoraphobia can be so intense that people suffering from it feel incapable of leaving their home due to the fear of anxiety and panic they can experience when leaving their home.
THE TRIGGER FOR AGORAPHOBIA ISNT A FEAR OF PEOPLE
There are many misunderstandings regarding people suffering from agoraphobia. Firstly, agoraphobia is not a fear of open spaces, nor is it a fear of being in a crowd of people. But agoraphobia is actually about feeling that you are too far away from your safety zone, which for afflicted individuals is their home. It is not to do with fearing people. Many people with agoraphobia welcome guests into their house, even if they themselves do not leave. They just dont want to leave and be in a place where they feel they can't handle the situation.
THERE ISN'T A GENETIC CODE FOR AGORAPHOBIA
There are no social or genetic features that can suggest whether somebody will develop agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is about twice as widespread among women than among men, however. The oncoming of agoraphobia can be foreseen, however, if someone is affected with a more generalised form of anxiety disorder, panic attack or phobia, such as social phobia . The good thing is, treatment is available. The best treatment is a combination of gradual exposure and medication so that the subject can become more used to being outside their home and rewire themselves not to worry about it.
As part of the treatment, people suffering from agoraphobia can be counselled at home by therapists. Hypnosis is another form of treatment that has been effective for many former agoraphobics. A lot of people have also found cognitive behavioural therapy to be useful in replacing the uncomfortable thought processes that can cause anxiety or panic when not in their comfort zone.
PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME BOTH ANXIETY DISORDERS
Even celebrities have dealt with agoraphobia in the past, including celebrity chef Paula Dean, actress Kim Basinger, director Woody Allen, and Nobel laureate for literature Elfriede Jelinek. The key is to understand that there is hope. If you suffer from agoraphobia, the first step is to ask for help from your family, friends or doctor to begin the recovery process.
Social anxiety may be developed in conjunction with agoraphobia. Like agoraphobia, it is also not unusual for a person with social anxiety disorder to try to self medicate it using illegal drugs or alcohol. This is not a sensible way to take care of agoraphobia or social phobia. The best and healthiest way is to go to your doctor for a diagnosis and professional advice. Therapy and medication can help you work through either disorder so that you may live a social and fulfilling life.
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