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Agoraphobia definiiton, symptoms, causes. risk factors, prevntion

  

What is Agoraphobia?

The name comes from the ancient Greek word “agora,” which refers to a place of assembly or a marketplace. Agoraphobia is a rare kind of anxiety disorder which makes you avoid some particular places. The places are where you might be helpless, embarrassed, trapped. This places might be public transport, crowded or enclosed spaces, open and remote spaces, being far from home, standing in a line. People with this phobia hardly feel safe in a crowded places. When they’re in this situation, they feel that they need a companion that can be a friend or relative. Even they may feel inability to leave home.

 

Symptoms

People with agoraphobia are typically:

  • afraid of leaving their home for extended periods of time
  • afraid of being alone in the social situation
  • afraid of losing control in a public place
  • afraid of being in places where it would be difficult to escape, such as a car or elevator
  • detached or estranged from others
  • anxious or agitated
  • fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation

Some physical symptoms are:

  • chest pain
  • a racing heart
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • trembling
  • choking
  • sweating
  • hot flashes
  • chills
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • numbness
  • tingling sensations

 

Causes

The causes of agoraphobias are known. Some are given below:

  • Environmental stress
  • Learning experience
  • Temperament
  •  History of family agoraphobia
  • Depression
  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Problem of substance abuse
  • Other phobias like claustrophobia and social phobia
  •  An additional anxiety condition, such as generalized anxiety disorder or  obsessive-compulsive disorder

A small percentage of agoraphobics have never experienced a panic episode. These people may be afraid of things like crime, terrorism, becoming sick, or getting into an accident.

 

Risk factors

This agoraphobia may start at childhood. But its’ usual starting time is late teenage or early adult years such as 35 age. But old people can also have this. Women have this more often than men.

Risk factors for agoraphobia are: 

  • Having phobias or panic disorder
  • Extreme avoidance and dread in the face of panic attacks
  • Difficult life situations, such as being abused, losing a parent or being assaulted
  • Having a tense or anxious disposition 
  • Having an agoraphobic blood relative

 

Prevention

There are no sure way to prevent agoraphobia. Agoraphobia can be prevented through therapy, medication or treating using two. Some therapy treatments are given below:

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy, usually referred to as psychotherapy, is routine consultations with a therapist or other mental health specialist. This provides you the chance to discuss your anxieties and any problems that could be fueling them. For maximum success, psychotherapy and medicines are frequently combined. It's often a temporary solution that you may stop using once you're able to manage your anxieties and anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common psychotherapy used to treat people with agoraphobia. CBT can help you understand the distorted emotions and beliefs associated with agoraphobia. It also teaches us how to deal with stressful situations by replacing distorted thoughts with healthy ones. This allows you to regain a sense of control over your life.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy can also help overcome fear. In this type of therapy, you are gently and slowly exposed to the feared situation or place. This may reduce anxiety over time.

Medication

Particular medications may help you. These are:

  • Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) or nortriptyline (Pamelor),  
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like venlafaxine (Effexor) or duloxetine (Cymbalta),  
  • Anti-anxiety drugs like alpra (Klonopin)

 

If you have moderate angst to go to those places which are safe, practice going there again and again. If can’t do so, take a friend or a relative with you. It is better to consult a doctor. 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.

Changing lifestyle is helpful in this case. It includes exercising regularly, healthy eating and avoiding drugs, alcohol and caffeine containing items such as tea, coffee.

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