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.
Is agoraphobia a diagnosis?
Agoraphobia is diagnosed based on:
Signs and symptoms
. In-depth interview with your doctor or a mental health professional. Physical exam to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
Is agoraphobia in the DSM 5?
What is agoraphobia? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classes agoraphobia as
an anxiety disorder
. A person with this type of disorder has persistent feelings of anxiety that affect their ability to function in daily life.
What is panic disorder DSM-5?
DSM-5 criteria for panic disorder include the
experiencing of recurrent panic attacks
, with 1 or more attacks followed by at least 1 month of fear of another panic attack or significant maladaptive behavior related to the attacks.
What is the root cause of agoraphobia?
Psychological factors that increase your risk of developing agoraphobia include:
a traumatic childhood experience
, such as the death of a parent or being sexually abused. experiencing a stressful event, such as bereavement, divorce, or losing your job.
What should you not say to agoraphobia?
It's easy to belittle or dismiss the person's feelings if you don't struggle with this disorder.
Don't say “get over it”
or “toughen up.” This can be frustrating for a person with agoraphobia and it can prevent them from reaching out for help in the future.
Which is the best example of agoraphobia?
For example, an agoraphobic
who fears having a panic attack while driving may
also begin avoiding other means of transportation, such as being a passenger on a bus, train, or plane.
The difference between social anxiety and agoraphobia is that
a person with agoraphobia fears having anxiety attacks or losing control in specific situations
, while a person with social anxiety worries about being judged or feeling embarrassed in social situations.
Do you have to have panic attacks to have agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia may be classified separately from panic disorder, because some people have the symptoms of agoraphobia without experiencing a panic attack. However,
some people will have panic attacks
along with their other symptoms of agoraphobia.
Who is most diagnosed with panic disorder?
Panic disorder is twice as common
in women
as it is in men. Symptoms often begin before age 25 but may occur in the mid-30s.
What are the three basic types of panic attacks?
Multidimensional scaling (MDS) of panic symptoms identified three types of panic which were consistent over time and for which reliable scales were constructed to measure
derealization, cardiac panic, and respiratory panic
.
- Low self-esteem.
- Trouble being assertive.
- Negative self-talk.
- Hypersensitivity to criticism.
- Poor social skills.
- Isolation and difficult social relationships.
- Low academic and employment achievement.
- Substance abuse, such as drinking too much alcohol.
Does agoraphobia ever go away?
The length of agoraphobia varies for each person. For some people, their agoraphobic feelings will dissipate in time. For others,
these fears can last their entire lives if left untreated
.
It relates to a common anxiety-related symptom – panic. Those struggling with agoraphobia may feel unable to leave home or another comfortable space because they anticipate a panic attack. Anxiety is a common symptom of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other trauma-related disorders.
Is agoraphobia a severe mental illness?
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave environments they know or consider to be safe. In severe cases, a
person with agoraphobia considers their home to be the only safe environment
. They may avoid leaving their home for days, months or even years.
What not to do with someone who has anxiety?
Instead, make them feel safe, distract them from their worries, and keep them in the present. You should never tell someone with anxiety to stop feeling worried or that they are irrational. Avoid calling someone with anxiety “
crazy”
or “insane” or that they're simple an “anxious person.”
