What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a rare form of anxiety disorder. When you have it, your fear prevents you from going out into the world. You avoid certain places and situations because you feel trapped and unable to get help. For example, experiencing any of the following can cause anxiety or panic.

• Public transport (bus, train, ship or plane)
• Spacious and open space (parking lot, bridge)
• Closed places (shops, cinemas)
• congestion or queue
• being alone outside

You may be willing to go a few places or afraid to leave the house.

Causes and risk factors for agoraphobia

Doctors aren't sure what causes agoraphobia. They think it runs in the family. You can get a lot of panic attacks. This is when you have panic attacks that appear suddenly and last for several minutes. This happens when there is no real threat. Less than 1% of the American population has agoraphobia. Women are affected 2-3 times more often than men and are more common in adolescents and young adults. A few other things that will increase your chances:

• Panic disorder, especially if left untreated
• other phobias
• Family with agoraphobia
• A history of very stressful or traumatic events

Symptoms of agoraphobia

If you have agoraphobia and are in a place you fear, you may experience extreme anxiety or panic attacks. Physical signs of this include:

• heart beating fast
• sweats, tremors, tremors
• breathing difficulties
• feeling hot or cold
• nausea or diarrhea
• chest pain
• difficulty swallowing
• feeling dizzy or weak

You can experience:

• You can survive panic attacks. You are not in control. You feel bad in front of others or they look at you. When you go somewhere, you need to be with someone you can trust.
• You may also have:
• fear of being alone at home

general fear

Diagnosis of agoraphobia

Many of the symptoms of agoraphobia are the same as other medical conditions, such as heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, and breathing problems. That's why you and your doctor may go to the doctor or the emergency room several times before they figure out what's going on.

Your doctor may ask you:

• Are you afraid or stressed about leaving the house?
• Do you need to avoid certain places or situations?
• If you meet someone?
• They do a physical exam and run some tests to rule out other medical problems. If you can't find a physical cause for your symptoms, we recommend seeing a psychiatrist or therapist. During the session, you will answer questions about your feelings and behavior. According to criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association, agoraphobia can be diagnosed when you experience extreme fear or panic in at least two of the following situations:
• even away from home
• In open areas such as parking lots or shopping malls
• In confined spaces such as theaters or small offices
• in a row or group
• When using public transport, including airplanes