Experiencing stressful life events, such as abuse, the death of a parent or being attacked.Responding to panic attacks with too much fear and avoidance.Having panic disorder or other excessive fear reactions, called phobias.Females are diagnosed with agoraphobia more often than males are. Risk factorsĪgoraphobia can begin in childhood, but usually starts in the late teen or early adult years - usually before age 35. Call your health care provider or a mental health professional if you have symptoms of agoraphobia or panic attacks.īiology - including health conditions and genetics - personality, stress and learning experiences may all play a role in the development of agoraphobia. Trouble breathing or a feeling of choking.Īgoraphobia can severely limit your ability to socialize, work, attend important events and even manage the details of daily life, such as running errands.ĭon't let agoraphobia make your world smaller.You might think that you're totally losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.įear of another panic attack can lead to avoiding similar situations or the place where it happened in an attempt to prevent future panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of extreme fear that reaches a peak within a few minutes and triggers a variety of intense physical symptoms. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that includes panic attacks. Some people have panic disorder in addition to agoraphobia. Your fear and avoidance usually lasts six months or longer.You have major distress or problems with social situations, work or other areas in your life because of the fear, anxiety or avoidance.You avoid the situation, you need a companion to go with you, or you endure the situation but are extremely upset.Your fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation. Or you may fear having other disabling or embarrassing symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, falling or diarrhea. These situations cause anxiety because you fear you won't be able to escape or find help if you start to feel panicked. Using public transportation, such as a bus, plane or train.Open spaces, such as parking lots, bridges or malls.Enclosed spaces, such as movie theaters, elevators or small stores.Typical agoraphobia symptoms include fear of: But with proper treatment - usually a form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy and medicines - you can escape the trap of agoraphobia and live a more enjoyable life. The fear can be so overwhelming that you may feel you can't leave your home.Īgoraphobia treatment can be challenging because it means confronting your fears. You may feel that you need a companion, such as a family member or friend, to go with you to public places. They then avoid the places where it may happen again.Īgoraphobia often results in having a hard time feeling safe in any public place, especially where crowds gather and in locations that are not familiar. Most people who have agoraphobia develop it after having one or more panic attacks, causing them to worry about having another attack. You may avoid situations because of fears such as getting lost, falling, or having diarrhea and not being able to get to a bathroom. The anxiety is caused by fear that there's no easy way to escape or get help if the anxiety gets overwhelming.
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