Situations that may trigger fear in people with agoraphobia include:. Some people with agoraphobia also have panic attacks or panic disorder.
When the symptoms are severe, they can keep a person from leaving their home. Agoraphobia can develop at any age, but the symptoms usually appear at around 25—35 years of age, and they affect females more often than males.
A person with this type of disorder has persistent feelings of anxiety that affect their ability to function in daily life. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves a fear of being in places from which it is hard to escape or receive help.
Feelings of embarrassment, helplessness, or being trapped can trigger agoraphobia. A person may have one or more of these feelings in crowded or remote areas or on bridges or public transport, for example. Agoraphobia can develop after a person has had a panic attack. A fear of further attacks, for example, may cause the person to avoid the kinds of situation in which the first attack took place.
Though agoraphobia may follow panic disorder, the DSM-5 considers them separate diagnoses. People with agoraphobia may need help from a companion to visit public places. They may feel unable to leave home on their own or at all.
Doctors usually treat agoraphobia with a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy CBT , a type of psychotherapy. It is important to note that antidepressants sometimes have unwanted effects at the beginning, which may make symptoms of the disorder seem worse. In a psychotherapy appointment, a person works with a therapist to address the causes and symptoms of their anxiety.
In the process, the person can find new ways of facing their fears. CBT focuses on changing the way that a person thinks about and reacts to certain circumstances. The person may learn:. To help a person overcome their fear, a therapist may start by walking a short way from home with them and gradually increase the distance over time.
This can provide a safe way to confront unwanted feelings. Initial treatment may take place online or by telephone, making it unnecessary for the person to leave their home. Friends and loved ones can also help by learning about agoraphobia, showing understanding, and encouraging the person to take new steps as they feel ready.
Some helpful strategies for people with agoraphobia include:. Agoraphobia can involve a combination of fears, other feelings, and physical symptoms. You may not be able to visit with family and friends, go to school or work, run errands, or take part in other normal daily activities. You may become dependent on others for help. There's no sure way to prevent agoraphobia. However, anxiety tends to increase the more you avoid situations that you fear. If you start to have mild fears about going places that are safe, try to practice going to those places over and over again before your fear becomes overwhelming.
If this is too hard to do on your own, ask a family member or friend to go with you, or seek professional help. If you experience anxiety going places or have panic attacks, get treatment as soon as possible. Get help early to keep symptoms from getting worse. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, can be harder to treat if you wait.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Agoraphobia ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Anxiety disorders. Arlington, Va. Accessed Dec. Anxiety disorders. Read more about diagnosing agoraphobia. Lifestyle changes may help, including taking regular exercise , eating more healthily , and avoiding alcohol, drugs and drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee and cola.
Self-help techniques that can help during a panic attack include staying where you are, focusing on something that's non-threatening and visible, and slow, deep breathing.
You can also refer yourself directly for psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , without seeing your GP. Read more about psychological therapies on the NHS. Medication may be recommended if self-help techniques and lifestyle changes aren't effective in controlling your symptoms. You'll usually be prescribed a course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , which are also used to treat anxiety and depression.
In severe cases of agoraphobia, medication can be used in combination with other types of treatment, such as CBT and relaxation therapy. Read more about treating agoraphobia. Around a third of people with agoraphobia eventually achieve a complete cure and remain free from symptoms. Around half experience an improvement in symptoms, but they may have periods when their symptoms become more troublesome — for example, if they feel stressed.
Despite treatment, about 1 in 5 people with agoraphobia continue to experience troublesome symptoms. In the UK, up to 2 people in have panic disorder. It's thought around a third will go on to develop agoraphobia. Page last reviewed: 18 December Next review due: 18 December Overview - Agoraphobia.
0コメント