All About Agoraphobia

by Lisa Monroe

There are many different anxiety disorders a person could develop. These disorders are usually characterized by intense anxiety leading to panic attacks or anxiety 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 or anxiety 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. A friend of mine developed this disorder after falling and cutting her eye. She cannot face the outside world because of the damage done to her beautiful face. Her disorder causes pain for her husband, her children and her grandchildren.

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. My friend can visit with you as long as she is in control of the situation but she cannot go out into an open area where her lack of control disappears.

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 and anxiety 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. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/ldhs82 for more information on how to get control of your anxiety.

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. http://tinyurl.com/ldhs82


“Lisa Monroe is a Prolific Writer, Forensic Editor & respected Instructor in Social Sciences & Humanities. She enthusiastically studies past and current behavior & interaction, is a dedicated teacher & married mother of three children living in Sugar Land, Texas.” More of Lisa’s articles can be found here http://www.txrus.com © Lisa Monroe – TXRUS 2009.