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If you walked out of your house or apartment this morning without a second thought, chances are you do not have agoraphobia. Agoraphobia literally means "fear of the marketplace." Now the term has come to refer to a special type of anxiety. People with agoraphobia are terrified about being in places from which escape might be difficult.
Why are these people so concerned about escaping? Most people with agoraphobia have another disorder along with it, known as panic disorder. In brief, panic attacks can make people feel like they are dying, losing control, or going crazy. To avoid these attacks, people with agoraphobia generally begin to avoid being alone outside the home or to avoid being home alone. They may avoid crowds, cars, buses, or planes. They may avoid bridges or elevators. Many times people with agoraphobia avoid the situations that frighten them altogether. Sometimes they are able to force themselves into the situation, even though they remain very uncomfortable. Some people with agoraphobia will use alcohol or other drugs to try to control the anxiety. People usually develop agoraphobia sometime between their teen years and their mid-thirties. Agoraphobia seems to run in families to some extent. Women are more likely than men to develop this disorder. It is a very distressing condition that can affect a person's life to the extent that the person may become homebound. Treatments are available to help most agoraphobics. These include: - behaviour modification
- support groups and
- medications
For more information about agoraphobia, contact your doctor. Article #6702 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
