Agorophobia Mental Health

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Agoraphobia is a form of anxiety disorder primarily consisting of the fear of experiencing a difficult or embarrassing situation from which the sufferer feels they can’t escape. The term agoraphobia has been widely misunderstood in that its’ literal definition suggests a fear of "open spaces". However, this is an incomplete and misleading view given that Agoraphobics are not necessarily afraid of open spaces rather they fear having panicky feelings irrespective of where these feelings occur. Such ‘attack’s may happen in the home, workplace, crowded shopping centres or even in church.

Agoraphobics may experience quite severe panic attacks in situations where they feel trapped, not in full control, insecure or far removed from their personal comfort zone. In more severe cases, an agoraphobic may be confined not only to their home, but to one or two rooms and may even become bed bound or totally reclusive.
Agoraphobics are often extremely sensitive to their own bodily sensations which can subconsciously turn into an over reaction to normal every day events. For example, the exertion involved in running to catch a bus or train may turn into a panic attack, because it increases the heartbeat and breathing rate, which the agoraphobic interprets as the start of a panic attack instead of a normal fluctuation.

The 1 year prevalence of agoraphobia is app. 5 percent of the adult population with Agoraphobia occurring about twice as commonly among women than men. The gender difference may be attributable to social/cultural factors that encourage, or permit, the greater expression of avoidant coping strategies by women although other explanations have been suggested.

With early diagnosis of anxiety disorders and the application of early intervention strategies such as education and basic cognitive skills, the development of more sever forms of Agoraphobia can be prevented. Agoraphobia avoidance behaviour is a secondary condition to anxiety disorders. Agoraphobia can also be successfully treated in many cases through a very gradual process of graduated exposure therapy combined with cognitive therapy and sometimes anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications.

Anti-anxiety medications include benzodiazepines such as alprazolam. Anti-depressant medications which are used to treat anxiety disorders are mainly in the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class such as sertraline, paroxetine and fluoxetine.

Treatment options for agoraphobia and panic disorder are similar.

Do you or someone you know suffer from Agorophobia or a related anxiety disorder? Help is at hand, click here for more information.

Click here for resources for Mental Health Professionals

Links

• Agoraphobia Australia
• Brain Net