5- Agoraphobia
?What Is Agoraphobia
donate to continue
https://www.paypal.me/balhattab
Agoraphobia is a rare type of anxiety disorder. If you have it, your fears keep you from getting out into the world. You avoid certain places and situations because you think you’ll feel trapped and not be able to get help
For example, you might worry or panic when you are in
Public transportation (buses, trains, ships, or planes)
Large, open spaces (parking lots, bridges)
Closed-in spaces (stores, movie theaters)
Crowds or standing in line
Being outside your home alone
You may be willing to go just a handful of places, or you may even dread leaving your house
Agoraphobia Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors aren’t sure what causes agoraphobia. They think it runs in families. You may get it if you have a lot of panic attacks. That’s when you have bursts of fear that come out of the blue and last for a few minutes. These happen when there’s no real danger
Less than 1% of people in the U.S. have agoraphobia. Women are two to three times more likely to have it than men, and it’s more common in teenagers and young adults
A few other things that can raise your chances of it include having
Panic disorder, especially if it’s not treated
Other phobias
A family member who has agoraphobia
A history of very stressful or traumatic events
Agoraphobia Symptoms
If you have agoraphobia and end up in a place that scares you, you can become very anxious or panic. Physical symptoms of this can include
Fast, pounding heart
Sweating, trembling, shaking
Breathing problems
Feeling hot or cold
Nausea or diarrhea
Chest pain
Problems swallowing
Dizziness or feeling faint
You may feel like
You might not survive a panic attack
You’re not in control
You’ll look bad in front of others or that they’ll stare at you
You need to be with someone you trust when you go anywhere
You also might have
A fear of being alone in your house
A general feeling of dread
Agoraphobia Diagnosis
A lot of the symptoms caused by agoraphobia are the same as those of other medical conditions like heart disease, stomach issues, and breathing problems. So you may make several trips to the doctor or emergency room before you and your doctor figure out what’s really going on
Your doctor may ask
?Do you find it scary or stressful to leave your house
?Do you have to avoid some places or situations
/What happens if you end up in one of the
They’ll do a physical exam and maybe some tests to rule out any other medical problems. If they don’t find a physical reason for your symptoms, they’ll probably recommend that you see a psychiatrist or therapist
At your session, you’ll answer questions about your feelings and your behavior. According to standards created by the American Psychiatric Association, you could be diagnosed with agoraphobia if you feel extreme fear or panic in at least two of these situations
Outside your house by yourself
In an open space, like a parking lot or mall
In an enclosed space, like a theatre or small office
In a line or in a crowd
On public transportation, including planes
Agoraphobia Treatments
Your doctor will usually treat agoraphobia with therapy, medication, or a combination of the two
Therapy. Cognitive therapy can teach you new ways to think about or face situations that cause panic and help you be less afraid. You may also learn relaxation and breathing exercises. Sometimes your therapist may suggest exposure therapy, in which you gradually start to do some of the things that make you anxious
Medicine. There are many drugs that your doctor might suggest for agoraphobia, but the most common are antidepressants. Doctors often start with a low dose of one of these medicines that raises the level of a “feel-good” chemical in your brain called serotonin. Some medications that help balance serotonin are citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor)
You’ll probably take medicine for at least 6 months to a year. If you feel better and no longer are stressed when you’re in places that used to scare you, your doctor may begin tapering off your medicine
For short-term relief, your doctor may recommend anti-anxiety medications, called benzodiazepines, in addition to antidepressants. These are sedatives that can help with your symptoms. You can start to depend on them, so you shouldn’t take them for long. And be sure to tell your doctor if you’ve had any issues with alcohol or drug abuse
