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Education > Psychology

What is Agoraphobia?

Most individuals have heard of most phobias. Mention claustrophobia, social phobia, or arachnophobia and everyone pretty much knows what you are talking about. Mention agoraphobia, and most individuals will just shake their heads.

Because of this, many individuals who get agoraphobia often take a year, and in some cases, many years, just finding out what is incorrect with them. Since the panic and anxiety symptoms that come with agoraphobia are so physical, individuals who get agoraphobia commonly visit a succession of doctors trying in search of a diagnosis. Since medical doctors are not usually trained to diagnose agoraphobia, let alone anxiety disorders, agoraphobia has had time to become deeply rooted in most individuals before they know enough about the disorder to seek the proper treatment and being recovery.

In light of this, here are some basics about agoraphobia:

Agoraphobia is "anxiety about, or avoidance of, places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which assist may not be available in the event of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms. (DSM-IV)

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. The term agoraphobia comes from the Greek words agora (αγορά), meaning marketplace, and phobia (φόβος), meaning fear. Literally translated as fear of the marketplace, individuals with agoraphobia are afraid of open or public spaces.

In reality, most individuals with agoraphobia are not so much afraid of open and public places as they are afraid of having a panic attack in these settings, especially settings in which there may be no one to assist in the case of a panic attack or actual emergency. The most common symptoms of agoraphobia are:

1) Panic Attacks: Periods of intense fear, usually lasting about ten minutes or so (but sometimes longer).

2) Avoidance Behavior: Avoiding places and situations that are hard to escape from or that might be embarrassing to have to suddenly leave. Most commonly, this is because they fear having a panic attack or unexpected catastrophe and not being able to get assist or get away.

3) Developing "Safe" People: People with whom the agoraphobic is highly familiar with and feels emotionally close to. Safe? individuals are usually parents, spouses, children, or close friends and relatives.

4) Developing "Safe" Places: Places in which the agoraphobic feels psychologically comfortable. The most common safe place for somebody with agoraphobia is his or her own home.

5) Scanning: Obsessive monitoring of one's own body for hold or unusual symptoms.

6) Fear of being alone: This is related to the fear of having no one to assist in the case of a panic attack or real emergency.

If you suspect that you or somebody you know might have agoraphobia, don't waste any time in learning about the disorder. Research has shown that the sooner you start the recovery process the more likely your chances of a successful recovery are.

You can learn more about agoraphobia online at the Agoraphobia Resource Center website. The site was started by a recovered agoraphobic with the intention of helping others learn about and recover from agoraphobia. You can find it on the web at:

www.agoraphobia.ws

Stephen Price is a recovered agoraphobic who has has devoted himself to the study of agoraphobia and to helping others overcome the disorder. Since his recovery, Stephen has earned masters degrees in psychology and counseling and has published original research on anxiety. View Stephen's website at: www.agoraphobia.ws Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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Keywords:

agoraphobia people most panic fear anxiety attack places safe disorder

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