Related articles: Agoraphobia
Definition
"Agoraphobia" is a term that derives from the Greek and means "fear of the square".
From the clinical point of view, this identifies a feeling of serious discomfort that a person feels when he finds himself in unfamiliar environments, large open spaces or in the crowd.
Therefore, the subject suffering from agoraphobia has difficulty leaving home if not accompanied, feeling uneasy traveling alone on public transport (such as the bus or airplane) and trying to avoid busy public places (eg restaurants, markets, concerts, cinemas and shopping centers).
In most cases, agoraphobia is a problem that emerges secondarily to the onset of panic attacks, minor anxiety attacks and situations of post-traumatic stress.
In addition, the disorder can be associated with social phobia, depressive and obsessive symptoms, breathing disorders, tachycardia, dizziness, sweating, a feeling of faintness, tremors and fear of dying.
This anxious manifestation can be very debilitating, as it can trigger panic attacks at the thought of not receiving relief in public, in the event of a crisis, or the thought of being in a place without an immediate emergency exit, available at sight, which makes it possible to head towards a reputedly safer place (the latter is considered one of the key features of agoraphobic situations).
Agoraphobia requires a pharmacological treatment (based on tranquilizers and antidepressants) and psychotherapeutic (behavioral therapy).
Possible Causes * of Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Panic attack
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
