Agoraphobia Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

There are several aspects of life that contribute to an extreme nervousness associated with a certain space. Entering an elevator may be phobic for some individuals, while some may fear getting into a train. You might have encountered some cases, where some of your friends or acquaintances refuse to go to a garden or a cinema hall, for no particular reason. Most of the times, they will say, "I somehow feel uncomfortable going there." Going to a certain place makes some people vulnerable for no apparent reason. All these are cases of agoraphobia. People affected by this anxiety tend to avoid public places or crowds. Examples of such places are elevators, shopping malls, airplanes or parking lots.

Understanding Agoraphobia and its Causes

Sometimes, this fear can lead to complete shunning of oneself from external interactions and limiting movements within a house. Overcoming agoraphobia is a challenge, as it essentially involves facing your fears head on. Agoraphobic people believe that if they get into an uncomfortable situation like a sports stadium, it would be highly embarrassing to leave the place on their own. The moment a person suffering from this condition lands up in a phobic place, he experiences a panic attack and gets traumatized.

People affected by agoraphobia find it difficult to operate beyond their comfort zone. They fear getting panicky in certain places and it is this fear of panic that causes the disorder. It affects twice the number of women than men. It is more prevalent in reserved and troubled or unstable people and places like a tribal region or a war-affected zone. In America, less than 1% of the population is affected by agoraphobia. There is rarely a case, in which a person is not affected by panic or anxiety disorder and yet suffers from agoraphobia. The independent prevalence of the disease is still a matter of speculation and under study.

Symptoms of Agoraphobia and Vulnerability

It is found to severely impair a person's ability to socialize, get along with family or friends, work or even complete small errands. The following symptoms may be a sign of agoraphobia

• A sense of being lost or helpless
• Fear or inability to leave the house
• A greater dependency on others for many tasks
• Feeling 'unreal' or as if you don't exist
• Feeling lightheaded
• Dizziness accompanied by nausea
• Increased heart beat or chest pain
• Trouble while breathing and swallowing
• Feeling shaky or an upset stomach

Victims of physical or mental abuse,people affected by alcohol abuse or drug addiction, depression affected individuals especially women, are several categories likely to suffer from agoraphobia.

Treatments for Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia can be treated by certain medications or behavioral and cognitive therapy. Ideally, in most of the cases a combination of both these factors is found to be a very effective solution. 'Graduated exposure therapy' is one therapy, where a person is purposely kept away from the location feared. Once this phase of relaxation is over, he is slowly exposed to his fears. For example, if sitting in a stadium is one of your fears, you will be first shown videos of a stadium environment followed by a brisk tour to an empty stadium and gradually to a weekend game and so on. There are some medications which provide instant relief but their use can be limited because of their side-effects. Music therapy, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and calming religious practices are some techniques that work wonders in getting rid of agoraphobia.

Ultimately, a balanced and healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude and a confident approach will keep agoraphobia at bay.