Top 7 Agoraphobia Tests, Symptoms, Cause, Treatment You can Try at Home

What is Agoraphobia

 

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder. That can trigger intense fear in situations where escape may be difficult or help hard to access. Agora is an ancient Greek word that refers to a place of assembly or marketplace.

 

 

Agoraphobia Definition

Agoraphobia in simple words means fear of certain places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that often develops after one or more panic attacks.

 

The situation that may trigger fear in people with agoraphobia include

• Crowded spaces
• Being far from home
• Open and remove spaces

 

Some people with agoraphobia also may develop panic attacks or panic disorders. When the symptoms are severe, they can keep a person from leaving their home.

 

A person with this type of disorder has persistent feelings of anxiety. That affects their ability to function in daily life.

 

 

Agoraphobia Pronunciation

Agoraphobia Pronounciation Breaked into sounds: [AG] + [RUH] + [FOH] + [BEE] + [UH]

 

 

Causes

Most cases of agoraphobia develop as a complication of panic disorder.

 

People with this agoraphobia worry so much about having another panic attack that they feel the symptom of panic attacks returning when they are in a similar situation or environment.

 

However, most experts think a combination of biological and psychological factors may be involved.

 

1. Biological Factors

There are number of theories about biological factors that include

 

Fight or Flight Reflex

One theory is that panic disorder is closely associated with our body's natural fight or reflex its way of protecting you from stress full and dangerous situations.

 

Anxiety and fear cause your body to release hormones, such as ADRENALINE and CORTISOL. Your breathing and heart rate are increased. This is your body's natural way of preparing itself for a dangerous or stressful situation.

 

Neurotransmitters

A neurotransmitter is a term by which the brain can affect mood or behavior. This can lead to heightened stress response in certain situations, triggering the feeling of panic.

 

The Fear Networks

The fear of network theory suggests the brains of people with panic disorder may be wired differently from most people. In this the brain is known to generate both the emotion of fear and the corresponding physical effect fear can bring. They may be generating strong emotions of fear that trigger a panic attack.

 

Spatial awareness

Spatial means the ability to get judge where you are in relation to other objects and people. In this, there is a fear of being judged.

 

2. Psychological Factors

 

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, suggest bereavement for my divorce or losing your job.
• A previous history of mental illness, such as depression
• Alcohol misuse or drug misuse
• Being in an unhappy relationship, or in a relationship where your partner is very controlling.

 

 

Symptoms

Typical agoraphobia symptoms include fear of

• Leaving home alone
• Crowds are waiting in line
• Enclosed spaces such as movie theaters, or small stores
• Open spaces for massage chairs, parking lots, bridges, or malls.
• Using public transportation, such as bus plane, or trains.

 

In addition, this situation can cause anxiety because you fear won’t be able to escape or find help if you start to feel panicked or have the disabling or embarrassing symptoms

 

• Your fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation.
• You avoid the situation, you need a companion to go with you, or you endure the situation but are extremely distressed.
• You experience significant distress or difficulty with social situations, work, or other areas in your life because of fear, anxiety, or avoidance.

 

The signs of agoraphobia are similar to a panic attack. You may experience

• Chest pain or rapid heart rate
• Fear or shaky feeling
• Feeling the loss of control
• Trouble in breathing
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Sudden chills or flashing (hot& cold faces)
• Excessive sweating
• Upset stomach

 

 

Treatment

 

Agoraphobia is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms. Agoraphobia treatment usually includes both psychotherapy and medication. It may take some time, but treatment can help you get better.

 

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to set goals and learn practical skills to reduce anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders including acrophobia

 

You can learn

• How to cope when tolerating symptoms of anxiety
• Ways to directly challenge your worries, such as the likely hood of bad things happening in social situations
• How to manage unwanted or unhealthy behavior through desensitization, also called exposure therapy, to safely place the places and situations that got fear and anxiety.

 

Medications

Certain types of antidepressants are often used to treat Agoraphobia.

 

Antidepressants

Certain antidepressants called selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine and sertraline are used for the treatment of panic disorder with Agoraphobia.

 

Anti-Anxiety Medication

Anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines are sedatives that, in limited circumstances, your dr may prescribe to temporarily relieve anxiety symptoms.

 

Making some lifestyle changes can also help for example

• Taking regular exercise can help relieve stress and tension to improve your mood
• Having a healthy diet or a poor diet can make symptoms of panic and anxiety worse
• Avoid using drugs and alcohol they may provide short-term relief, but in long term, they can make your symptoms worse
• Avoid drinking containing caffeine, suggest tea coffee or cola caffeine has a stimulant effect and can make your symptom worse.
• Breathe slowly and deeply feeling panic and anxiety is worse if you’ve breathed too quickly try to focus on slow, deep breathing while counting slowly to 3 or each breath in and out.
• Challenge your fear to try to work out what it is you fear and challenge it you can achieve this by constantly reminding yourself that what you fear is not real and will pass.

 

 

Top 7 Agoraphobia Tests

 

Here is a small test, You can answer True or False and provide information to your family doctor.

 

1. Have you previously experienced one or several panic attacks (see symptoms above)?
2. Have you avoided situations or places that remind me of where I have experienced panic attacks in the past?
3. Have you previously experienced a panic attack or severe anxiety in a public situation or place?
4. Have you avoided going by public transportation (such as by bus, train, boat, or airplane) because you are afraid you will panic?
5. Have you been afraid of losing control in public places and situations?
6. Have you felt there may not be immediate help available if I go into a public place?
7. Have you avoided fearful public places and situations and isolated yourself at home?

 

If you experience anxiety polling places due to agoraphobia and are having panic attacks, that treatment as soon as possible. Get help early to keep symptoms from getting worse. Agoraphobia Anxiety like many other mental health conditions can harden to treat if you wait.