How agoraphobia can affect your health

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in a difficult situation to escape or not getting help in case of a problem.

Many people think that it is just a fear of open space, but in reality, it is a more complicated condition. People with agoraphobia may be afraid of:

• Traveling by public transport
• Visit the mall

When people with agoraphobia get into a stressful situation, they usually experience symptoms of a panic attack.

Symptoms of Agoraphobia

The symptoms of agoraphobia  can be extensively categorized into 3 types:

1. Physical
2. Cognitive
3. Behavioral

Physical symptoms: The physical symptoms of this disease can be similar to the symptoms of a panic attack, including:

• Accelerated heartbeat
• Shortness of breath (hyperventilation)
• Feeling hot and sweaty
• Chest pain
• Dysphagia (dysphagia)

Cognitive symptoms: This type of symptoms  may include the following fears:

• Panic attacks make you look stupid and embarrassed in front of others
• Panic attacks can be a life-threatening-for examples, you may feel that your heart is stopped or you cannot breathe.

Behavioral symptoms: Symptoms of behavioral agoraphobia include:

• Avoid situations that could lead to panic attacks such as crowded places
• Not being able to leave the house for a long time.
• They need to be with someone you trust when you go anywhere
• Avoiding being away from home

• Some people may force themselves to face awkward situations, but at the same time, they experience significant fear and anxiety.

  Treatment of Agoraphobia

  Doctors usually treat agoraphobia with a combination of drugs and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy.

  1-  Medication:

  One or both of the following types of prescription drugs may help.

  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: These antidepressants, known as SSRIs, can help with agoraphobia, but can take 2-4 weeks to begin.

  Benzodiazepines: These are sedatives that can relieve anxiety symptoms in the short term. However, there is a high risk of developing an addiction to these drugs.

  2- Psychotherapy

  When you receive psychotherapy, you work with the therapist to eliminate the causes and symptoms of anxiety.

  CBT is focused on changing the way people think and responding to specific situations. One can learn:

  • A new way to overcome the situation that causes the symptoms
  • A new way to deal with the stress and symptoms of agoraphobia
  • Fear management techniques such as deep breathing exercise

  To help a person overcome their fears, the therapist can start a little further away from home and gradually increase the distance over time. This can provide a safe way to counteract unwanted emotions.

  Agoraphobia is an intense fear and anxiety of being in places where it’s hard to escape, or where help might not be available. Read more about it on health.com

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