Know the causes, symptoms and treatments

Agoraphobia has as its main characteristic strong anxiety that erupts when the individual is in places or situations where escape is difficult, thus initiating a crisis similar to a panic attack. It can happen in public environments or places with large crowds of people, such as public squares, shopping malls, inside banks, open or closed musical concerts, elevators, etc.

Difference between agoraphobia and panic disorder

Lay people often confuse agoraphobia with panic disorder proximity to the symptoms. It is good that we know that panic disorder can occur without agoraphobia, however, agoraphobia without panic is uncommon, although there are rare cases reported in the psychiatric area. Agoraphobia is a unique condition in which people seem to be afraid of going into open or closed places unaccompanied.

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is one of the most common anxiety disorders among anxiety disorders, and it sometimes strikes like a flash of light after incidents of panic attacks. The disorder reaches more than 150,000 people per year in Brazil. It is a persistent illness that can last for years or even a lifetime.

disease symptoms

Fear and confinement are always present among the most common evidences and symptoms. The individual with this disorder does his best not to expose himself to certain locations or circumstances that may manifest other episodes of panic attacks, or else, perceptions of seclusion or difficulty in leaving the place.

Impact of the disorder on lifestyle

Panic disorder crises are too uncomfortable when they occur, however, they do not compromise theLifestyle how it compromises agoraphobia, in which sufferers are directly dependent on third parties, in the sense of performing essential tasks, such as leaving home to go to the supermarket or to the doctor.

This disorder also makes it difficult for the individual to accept invitations to parties, leave the house to work or attend events involving crowds of people, even if these events are to comply with protocols or formalities.

types of agoraphobia

Agoraphobia usually manifests itself in two ways, depending on the occurrences linked to the disorder:

• Simple: when the threatening situation is overcome and everything returns to normal after psychotherapy;
• Pathological: when the threatening situation is not overcome and the individual needs medication to ease the symptoms.

Factors that trigger the disease

Facts considered natural for a normal person can be disturbing for a person with agoraphobia. Examples:

• Flying in planes;
• Crossing bridges, tunnels and walkways;
• Enter elevators;
• Traveling on buses, trains, subways and crowded music events.

The most interesting thing about all of this is that these types of blocks become mild and overcome if the agoraphobic is accompanied. Even the company of a child can bring comfort to your worries.

Influence of self-sabotage

The behavior of avoiding places and situations is a determining factor for the realization of the diagnosis. In most cases, the places coincide because they are mental records fixed in the unconscious of the affected person and, for the same reason, the agoraphobic triggers discomfort linked to the fear of going through such paths, thus manifesting panic attacks or sensations of recurrent symptoms. Sometimes your imagination becomes so fertile that you have seizures, even if nothing concrete has happened.

Relationship of the disease with traumatic events

Panic attacks in agoraphobia, even if intense and prolonged, should not be confused with traumatic events (in the case of PTSD – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder), so that not every panic attack should be labeled as agoraphobia.

An individual can present the same symptoms just by imagining that in the future he will have to cross a bridge or walkway, making the possibility of the outbreak of symptoms come to light, even without leaving home.

Agoraphobia Predictions:

• Fear or anxiety almost always results from exposure to the situation and is out of proportion to the real danger of the situation;
• The subject avoids the situation, needs a partner to accompany him or copes with the situation, but is extremely distressed;
• The person experiences significant difficulties with social situations, work or other areas in their life because of fear and anxiety.

Phobia and withdrawal from panic situations usually last for six months or longer.

Causes of the disease

One of the main drivers of agoraphobia is biological – comprising health and genetic traits: temperament, temperament, environmental stress and learning experiences can all play a role in the development of agoraphobia.

It awakens when the subject who has had repeated anxiety attacks acquires a terrible fear that this will trigger real circumstances. This uncontrollable fear is based on the thought that this crisis may be repeated more often and that it will be more difficult to get help from someone.

ways to treat

Practical treatment for agoraphobia generally involves psychotherapy and medication. Psychoanalysis, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy (psychotherapy with the aid of virtual reality) are among the procedures that produce more effects on the disorder.

preventive techniques

There is still no safe way to prevent agoraphobia. If the sufferer of agoraphobia begins to experience petty fears about untrustworthy places, it would be wise to frequent those places once in a while before that fear becomes unmanageable. It is evident that this task is not easy, but if it is not possible to solve it on your own, go in search of a qualified professional, requesting that a family member or friend can be present at that time.

But, if you (a bearer of agoraphobia) notice any anxious symptoms in places that may trigger panic attacks, seek medical treatment and psychotherapeutic quickly. Prevent the symptomatic picture from getting worse. Anxiety in agoraphobia, as in many other categories of anxiety disorders, can be more difficult to manage if you prolong this help.

Alternative methods to calm down

breathe deeply

If you’re in the midst of a panic attack, chances are you’ll start to hyperventilate. Even if there is no hyperventilation, deep breathing can help reduce stress and facilitate the delivery of more oxygen to the brain to compensate for neuronal balance.

focus on relaxation

In a panic attack, brain reflexes can become disordered. You are likely to notice several symptoms right now, which contribute to nervous tension. Relax for a moment to slow your heart and lung rate, to gain harmony with your sensory experiences.

list the symptoms

Soon after, strengthen the idea in your mind that these manifestations are the result of anxiety and transient symptoms. Avoid supervising these sensations, as this can activate the anxiety trigger. Stay still while you list the symptoms. This posture, over time, manipulates the brain, helping it to recognize that the circumstance is not as harmful as it seems.

By Paulo Velasco

Clinical Psychoanalyst. Expert Psychoanalytic Studies by the Center for Mind Control and Parapsychology. Author of the book “The Secrets of the Healthy Mind”.