Does your heart beat faster when you step inside a plane? Are you afraid of taking an elevator? Do your hands start freezing before an interview? Or do you avoid going shopping because you have a fear of the marketplace? If you have had these sensations or something similar, you might have agoraphobia. It is a phobic disorder characterized by intense fear and avoidance of public places. Also, situations where escape might be difficult or help not readily available in an emergency can cause this as well.
Individuals with a history of panic attacks are likely to develop this phobia. Other phobias or depression might also result in you developing this. The most common symptoms are the fear of leaving your home for an extended period or being alone in a social situation. Affected individuals also fear facing a crowd. Finding yourself in an enclosed space, like a movie theatre, may also cause you to feel helpless and lose control.
The side effects of a panic attack are intense anxiety and other mental health disorders. Other physical symptoms of a panic attack might include a fast heart rate, choking, sweating, trembling, numbness, and chest pain. These symptoms of anxiety can occur as you are about to confront a social situation. They can also constantly present in severe cases, leading to other mental health issues.
A Brief Overview
People tend to underplay this disorder. It is more complex than what people usually think. It is not simply a fear of open spaces. Someone with this disorder might get anxious at the idea of using public transport, visiting a shopping complex, going to the grocery store, or just leaving their house. The fear experienced is usually out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation. An individual might experience rapid heart rate and nausea before getting into a situation. They might even have a panic attack at the prospect of finding themselves in a dreaded situation.
Fear of finding yourself in an inescapable situation can be so overwhelming that you might have a panic attack. Such attacks can have certain physical complications. Symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, and chills will further draw the attention of the crowd toward you. This can make it worse as you are not only among a crowd but also the center of attention in that crowd. All this can affect your daily life and lead to low self-esteem.
In case you are alone, a panic attack can be dangerous as no help will be available around you. This may get in the way of your daily routine, work, and relationships. That is because patients try their best to avoid public places. They will not be able to develop any social skills and will end up losing touch with their loved ones. In severe cases, the irrational fears brought by it might make it disabling for the individual to pursue anything productive. Their performance at school, work, or anywhere requiring a social presence may be affected.
Getting over this phobia means confronting your fears. This can be a challenging task to do on your own. Hence, the support and advice of family members and friends are necessary. You should also seek professional help from a psychiatrist as soon as you see symptoms. They will be able to provide a detailed diagnosis of your condition. A mental health professional will be able to suggest lifestyle remedies, prescribe medicine, and provide psychotherapy based on the severity and signs.
What are the Signs?
Fearing any social situation, especially the ones that include you leaving your comfort zone and stepping out, is the biggest sign. Affected individuals will try their best to avoid any such situation. If there is no avoiding it, they will prefer having company from a friend or family member. They would instead order things online than go out and have social interactions. Avoidance will form the basis of their behavior.
Other anxiety-related issues like dizziness, hot flashes, nervousness, and feeling nauseous can be signs of agoraphobia. As these physical signs are not distinctive from other mental health conditions, connecting them with this particular disorder could be challenging.
So, being honest with yourself is the best way to figure it out. Ask yourself if you are avoiding a social situation for a genuine reason or because you fear it. Your family members and friends can help you figure out the answer. A healthcare professional can diagnose you and suggest an adequate treatment plan. Support groups can also help you get over your distress.
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Risk Factors
About 1% of the world’s population has this type of anxiety disorder. It is commonly seen in adults, but even young children can develop it. The exact cause of this mental health disorder is not known. But certain factors can increase your chance of developing this phobia. These include:
- Depression: You are more likely to avoid interaction and feel embarrassed in a public situation if you have depression. Any slight occurrence can tip you over and cause an anxiety attack.
- Other Specific Phobias: If you have claustrophobia or social anxiety disorder (social phobia), it can make you feel trapped and anxious. You will not be comfortable and want to escape the situation as soon as possible.
- Substance Abuse: Alcohol and other drugs can cause anxiety and other mental health disorders. Excessive consumption of such substances can affect your mental activity and cause extreme fear.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This disorder is when you repeat a behavior because of unwanted fears and thoughts. People with OCD have an unhealthy obsession with cleaning things and maintaining hygiene. They keep washing their hands because they constantly worry about germs and contamination. This uneasiness can force an individual to stay inside and not get involved in public spaces.
The other factors involved are:
Biological Factors
As per a Clinical Psychology Review, women are at a higher risk of developing this disorder. However, it is mostly seen in early adulthood. Though, you can develop similar symptoms in childhood as well.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), genetics can be the leading cause of this medical condition. On average, more than 50% of cases of agoraphobia are genetically inherited. If there is a family history of this mental health disorder, you are at increased risk of contracting it.
If you have parents suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, you are much more likely to have the same issues. These mental health issues form an ideal base for developing this condition.
Imbalance in Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate the coordination of brain and nerve cells. When these chemicals are produced in too much or too little quantity, there tends to be an imbalance. This imbalance hinders the normal functioning of the brain. There is a claim that this can lead to depression and other anxiety-related issues.
These neurotransmitters include serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, cortisol, and epinephrine. Serotonin, among them, is essential in regulating feelings and emotions. Varying levels of it may cause depression. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and its imbalance can shoot up your stress levels. Excessive stress is one of the main reasons for this illness.
Childhood Trauma
Agoraphobia is a trauma-related panic disorder. Certain traumatic events may overwhelm your nerves and affect your ability to cope with stress. In such cases, you can develop an aversion to events that can be stressful. You may become extremely sensitive toward things that might trigger trauma. Events like witnessing domestic violence, experiencing abuse, or sexual harassment can impact a child’s mind. Even after growing up, the person will want to avoid a person, situation, location, or touch that might bring back those traumatic memories.
Similarly, if you suffer from a panic attack in a crowded place, that might get etched in your memory. Seeing a crowd might trigger the trauma, or being in the same place might stress you out. It might have a chain reaction effect if you go through such experiences multiple times. Any place that might resemble where the incident occurred will arouse fear in you. It is similar when a person develops an aversion to a certain food item if they contract food poisoning from it. It is not voluntary. Your brain unconsciously initiates a defensive response to avoid further damage.
Stressful Events
The kind of environment you live in also dictates this medical condition. Having experienced scary and stressful situations can give you a hard time regaining control. Events like getting attacked or robbed in a parking lot, witnessing a death of a family member, a road accident, etc., can all force you into a defensive mindset. In this mindset, you might avoid large crowds, roads, marketplaces, and areas where the event can get repeated.
Another possible factor could be having lived in a bubble all your life. If you have overprotective parents and you have had no exposure to outdoor scenarios, then it is likely that you wouldn’t want to escape that warmth. You would like to stay inside that bubble, and getting out of that will induce stress and angst. This is down to separation anxiety as the child becomes overly reliant on their parents.
Seek Therapy from a Counsellor with Docvita Today
Treatment for all phobias is challenging. But with the help of a health care provider, it is likely to be successful. Effective treatment for this condition includes systematic desensitization or exposure therapy. A therapist might employ cognitive behavioral therapy to make the individual realize that their fears are irrational and unfounded.
At DocVita, our clinicians can provide expert guidance and design a treatment plan according to the severity. They will help you gain some social exposure and bring lifestyle changes accordingly. You can get all the help required by scheduling an appointment with one of our counselors. Not only can they provide you with treatment, but they also introduce you to some meditation, coping, and relaxation techniques.
Don’t hesitate if you have any symptoms of agoraphobia. This will not cure itself on its own. Anti-anxiety medication can help but seeking help from a specialist doctor will help you realize and understand your problem better. Left untreated, this can cause severe problems and lead to a heart attack.
Book a session now and take the first step in bringing a positive change in the quality of life. Don’t let this stop you from going to the movie theatre or your friend’s birthday party!