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Feb-2025And while many still cannot understand that agoraphobia is not just a fear of open spaces but rather a complex anxiety disorder, people who live with agoraphobia face numerous difficulties on a daily basis.
It's the fact that agoraphobia can profoundly impact a person’s life. The main issue is that people most of the time misunderstood or misrepresented agoraphobia - this is exactly what we wanted to change with this blog post.
Let's explain what agoraphobia can really look like...
Feeling an intense fear is always linked with different anxious states, as well as with trauma. Losing a child can represent one of the biggest traumas in your life. Such an event can trigger other mental health issues.
Agoraphobia is an extreme fear of situations or places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable. This leads us to the conclusion that the person with agoraphobia may feel not only trapped but also some sort of embarrassment.
Panic is also common with agoraphobia, especially in crowded places or open spaces.
Yet, agoraphobia can manifest in literally any place or even a situation that is perceived as unsafe or where help might not be readily accessible.
Although they can vary from person to person, and depending on how strong agoraphobia is, some of the most common symptoms and manifestations always include:
Panic Attacks. Open spaces, crowded places, or very small places can trigger panic attacks.
Avoidance Behaviors. As said, people with agoraphobia usually have a very low quality of life due to avoidance of many places. The most common ones are public transportation, crowded places, or even leaving home altogether, which makes their life a lot more difficult. Usually, family members are the ones who have to complete the obligations people with agoraphobia may have, which brings even more burden. After that, people with agoraphobia feel shame and that there is something very wrong with them - like they are different from others, or even not capable of living a simple, daily life.
Physical Symptoms. Physical symptoms are most of the time linked to anxiety and panic attacks, which include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, and gastrointestinal distress.
Stigma. I have already explained why people with agoraphobia experience stigma in our society. They may feel completely worthless. The situation gets worse if no one understands what they are going through.
Now that we have covered the most common symptoms of agoraphobia and explained what these people go through on a daily basis, let's take a look at the list of the most common causes and triggers of agoraphobia.
Genetics: Genetics plays a huge role in most anxious states, including agoraphobia.
Environment: Traumatic life events, stressful situations, or a history of abuse can increase the likelihood of developing agoraphobia. One such traumatizing event can be losing a loved one, especially if the person has witnessed the tragedy somewhere outside.
Hormones: Imbalances in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and anxiety, may play a role.
Some personality factors can also be included. People who have a history of anxiety, panic attacks, or avoidance behavior may be more prone to developing agoraphobia.
The good news is that agoraphobia is actually treatable. If you have agoraphobia or know someone who has, know that there is a solution. Most of the time, agoraphobia is treated with a combination of therapies and medications:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their anxiety.
Exposure Therapy: Gradual exposure to feared situations in a controlled environment can help desensitize individuals to their triggers.
Medications: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms, as well as to balance serotonin and dopamine.
Some lifestyle changes can also help a lot, including a healthy lifestyle, spending time with the people you love, enjoying a hobby, finding a job you enjoy, and more.