What is Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving one’s home or safe area and going out into the world outside their safe haven. It is often found in combination with other phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Venturing too far from their comfort zone will usually bring on panic attacks. Sufferers feel unsafe, and out of control. This means that many people suffering from agoraphobia are confined to their homes or perhaps even to a specific room in their home.
While agoraphobia may not be the most common phobia it is the most commonly treated phobia in the world. This is because symptoms are usually severe enough to mean that treatment is almost always necessary.
There are some misunderstandings about agoraphobia: such as it is not a fear of open spaces and it is not a fear of crowded spaces. While these conditions may also be prevalent in the sufferer, agoraphobia is specifically a fear of being too far from a normal area considered safe –- this is regardless of the crowd. This means they are happy to welcome visitors into their home, even if they themselves will not leave. Agoraphobics need to be in complete control of a situation.
Agoraphobia can affect anyone but it has been found that women are twice as likely to be affected by the condition than men. This condition will usually start with a panic or anxiety attack or a mild phobia which then develops into the more serious condition of agoraphobia.
If you think you are alone it may comfort you to know that a number of famous people have suffered from agoraphobia in the past: actress Kim Basinger, director Woody Allen, and Nobel laureate Elfriede Jelinek are just some of the names.
Treatment is available for agoraphobics. A gradual process of exposure is usually recommended, along with anti-anxiety medication or anti-depressants. Some therapists will make house calls to help patients with agoraphobia. Alternative treatments such as hypnosis are becoming more popular in the medical world as a treatment for agoraphobia as well as other anxiety conditions.
If you suffer from agoraphobia, ask for help as there is hope and you can begin to experience a normal life again. Please help me!