Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes you to fear and avoid places or situations that may cause you to feel panic, trapped, helpless, or ashamed. You are afraid of predictable events that really happen, such as using public transport, being outdoors or indoors, waiting in line, or staying in a crowd.
Anxiety arises from the fear that when it intensifies, there is no easy way to escape. Most people with agoraphobia have developed this phobia, which causes them to fear another possible attack after one or more panic attacks and try to avoid places where it may happen again.
Most agoraphobic people do not feel safe, especially in crowded public spaces. In public areas, you may need to have a relative or friend with you. Fear can be intense enough to make you feel like you can't leave the house.
Complications
Agoraphobia can greatly limit your life. If your agoraphobia is severe, you may not even be able to leave your home. Many people without treatment may not leave their homes for years. You may not be able to visit family and friends, go to school or work, do your daily work, or participate in activities. You can become dependent on the help of others.
Agoraphobia can cause or be associated with depression, alcohol or drug use, and other mental disorders.
Signs and symptoms
- Leaving the house alone,
- From waiting in line or crowds,
- From enclosed spaces such as elevators, small shops or cinemas,
- From open spaces such as car parks, bridges, promenade areas,
- From using public transport such as buses, planes and trains
induced anxieties are common symptoms of agoraphobia.
These situations cause anxiety because you are afraid of not being able to escape or find help if you panic or get into an embarrassing situation. In addition:
- Fear or anxiety is almost always caused by the condition being exposed.
- Your level of fear or anxiety is not proportional to the possible danger of the condition.
- It prevents a situation that causes anxiety, for example, you take a companion with you, or you continue the situation and experience extraordinary stress.
- Fear, anxiety, and avoidance caused by this experience cause stress and problems in your social life, at work, or in other parts of your life.
- This phobia or avoidance condition lasts up to 6 months or more.
Panic disorder and agoraphobia
In addition to agoraphobia, panic disorder is also seen in some individuals. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that peaks in a few minutes and causes sudden and extreme fear attacks (known as panic attacks) that trigger severe physical symptoms. At moments of an attack, you may think that you have completely lost control, had a heart attack, and even died.
Fear of having a panic attack can cause behavior to avoid situations and places that have previously been attacked in order to prevent another attack.
Symptoms of a panic attack may include:
- Accelerated heartbeat,
- Difficulty breathing or feeling of suffocation,
- Chest pain or feeling of pressure,
- Dizziness or loss of balance,
- Tremors, numbness and tingling,
- Excessive sweating,
- Sudden flushing and goose bumps,
- Stomach upset or diarrhea,
- Feeling of loss of control,
- Fear of death.
Genes, causative factors and Risk Factors associated with the disease
Causes
Biology, health status and genetics, temperament, environmental stress and pain experiences may play a role in the development of agoraphobia.
Risk Factors
Agoraphobia can begin in childhood, but usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood under the age of 35. It can also develop at a later age. Women are diagnosed with agoraphobia more often than men. Risk factors for agoraphobia include:
- Having panic disorder or other phobias,
- Excessive fear or avoidance response to panic attacks,
- Have had stressful experiences such as harassment, parental death, or being assaulted,
- A nervous or anxious temperament,
- Family history of agoraphobia.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of agoraphobia can be made based on:
- Signs and symptoms,
- Interviews with your doctor or mental health professionals,
- Physical examination to eliminate other factors that may cause symptoms,
- Agoraphobia criteria listed in "DSM-5"published by the American Psychiatric community.
Treatments or administration methods
In the treatment of agoraphobia, psychotherapy and meditation are usually used together. Although it takes time, the treatment can improve you.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a work with a therapist to gain practical skills by setting goals to reduce your anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective therapies for many anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, usually a short-term therapy, aims to give you skills that will allow you to tolerate your concerns, face your concerns, and gradually return to activities that you have avoided because of anxiety. During the process, the symptoms disappear, easing.You can learn in therapy:
- What can trigger a panic attack or make it more severe,
- How to deal with concerns,
- Ways to face your concerns directly,
- How anxiety elements decrease over time and manage them until they decrease.
You can learn how you can change unwanted or unhealthy behaviors through desensitization, known as "exposure therapy," to safely confront places or situations that cause anxiety.
If you are having trouble leaving your home, you can see a therapist who can suggest a solution other than going to your office.
Medication
Some certain antidepressants and anxiety inhibitors, including certain levels, are commonly used in the treatment of agoraphobia. Antidepressants are more effective in treatment than anxiety inhibitors.
- Antidepressants: fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), known as selective Seartonin recovery inhibitor (SSRI), are used to treat panic attacks and agoraphobia. Other types of antidepressants may also be effective in the treatment of agoraphobia.
- Anxiety medications: Medications called benzodiazepines are medications that your doctor may prescribe in certain cases to temporarily alleviate your symptoms of anxiety. They are often used to combat short-term anxiety attacks. They are not recommended for patients with long-term anxiety, alcohol or drug addiction problems because they can make a habit.
It may take several weeks for the drugs to take effect. You may need to try alternatives to find the medicine that works best for you.
Starting or quitting antidepressants can cause uncomfortable physical symptoms and even panic attack symptoms as a side effect. For this reason, your doctor will most likely increase the dose you are using level and reduce it level again when he decides that you are ready to quit.
Alternative Medicine
It is claimed that some dietary and herbal supplements have an anxiety-reducing effect. Consult your doctor before applying any of these methods. Just as these supplements are sold over the counter, they can also cause some health problems. A plant called kava pepper, for example, seemed promising in preventing anxiety, but even with short-term use, it was found to cause serious liver damage.
Coping and support with agoraphobia
Living with agoraphobia can make your life difficult. Getting professional help can help you overcome agoraphobia or live without being a prisoner of your fears. You can also do these things and help yourself:
- Stick to the treatment plan: use your medications as recommended. Continue your therapy appointments. Contact your therapist regularly. Continuity can make a big difference, especially when it comes to taking your medications regularly and developing some skills.
- Do not try to prevent situations that you are afraid of: it is difficult to go to places that cause you anxiety or discomfort. But continuing to go to these places can make them less scary, more bearable.
- Learn to soothe yourself: you can learn to soothe and soothe yourself while working with your therapist. Meditation, yoga, massage and visualization are also relaxation methods that can help.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs: also limit or discontinue caffeine use. These substances can worsen your anxiety or panic symptoms.
- Take care of yourself: Get Enough Sleep, be physically active every day, follow a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Join a support group: support groups for people with anxiety allow you to communicate with others who share similar experiences with you and face similar problems.
Incidence and distribution (Epidemiology)
Agoraphobia is about twice as common in women as in men. Gender difference can be attributed to several factors: avoidance coping strategies women (including dependent and helpless behaviors) promotes the expression of more, or that allow the socio-cultural traditions, women, maybe search for help, and therefore more likely to be diagnosed is higher, and anxiety as a response to men is more likely to be diagnosed as alcoholic and alcohol abuse; however, as for the gender differences in anxiety research, and yet one did not produce clear explanation..
Agoraphobia or agoraphobia-free panic disorder affects roughly 5.1% of Americans, and about 1/3 of this population with panic disorder has agoraphobia comorbidity. Agoraphobia without panic attacks is rare: only 0.17% of people with agoraphobia do not experience panic disorder.
Prevention Methods
There is no definitive way to prevent agoraphobia. But anxiety tends to increase as you block situations you fear. If you begin to feel a fear of going to places that are actually safe, try going to the mentioned places over and over again before that fear reaches a high level. If doing this alone is very challenging, ask your family or friends to come with you or get professional support.
If you are concerned about having a panic attack or going somewhere, seek treatment as soon as possible. As with many other mental disorders, the treatment of anxiety disorder becomes difficult as time passes.
Etymology
The name of the disease is derived from the Greek word ἀγορά (agorā), meaning "place of gathering", "Sunday Place", with the suffix-φοβία (-phobía), i.e. "fear".
Other Titles
Preparing For Your Appointment
If you have agoraphobia, you may be afraid to go see your doctor or feel shy about it. You may want to consider starting your treatment over the phone or going to your appointment with a relative or friend.
You can make a list of the following to prepare for your appointment.
- The symptoms you experience and how long they last.
- Things you stop doing or avoid doing because of stress.
- Important personal information, especially the obvious stress or changes you experience when your symptoms first appear.
- Medical information, your physical illnesses or other mental disorders.
- Your medications, vitamins you use, supplements and dosages.
- Questions to ask your doctor so you can make the most of your appointment.
Some Questions You Might Want To Ask Your Doctor
Feel free to ask what you're curious about during your appointment. The following questions may guide you:
- What do you think caused my symptoms?
- What are other possible causes?
- How do you put the definition?
- Is this long-term or temporary?
- How do you recommend treatment?
- How can I conduct treatment with other health problems?
- What are the possible side effects of the medications you recommend?
- Are there other options available than drug use?
- How soon do you anticipate improvement in my symptoms?
- Are there any materials I can use or websites you can recommend?
What Should You Expect From Your Doctor?
Your doctor will probably ask you a few questions. In order to devote time to The Points you want to focus on, you can consider your answers in advance to the following questions that are likely to be asked:
- What are the symptoms that worry you?
- When did you first notice these symptoms?
- When do your symptoms usually appear?
- Are there things you think make your symptoms better or worse?
- Do you avoid certain places or situations with the idea that it will trigger your symptoms?
- How do your symptoms affect you and the people closest to you?
- Do you have any medical diagnosis?
- Have you received treatment for other mental disorders in the past, which treatment has helped the most if you have?
- Have you considered hurting yourself?
- Do you use alcohol or drugs, how often do you use them?