Warning Signs Of Agoraphobia

Phobias are a category of anxiety disorder characterized by experiencing irrational fear when exposed to certain stimuli or circumstances. A person with agoraphobia experiences an irrational fear of any situation or place that might cause them to feel embarrassed, helpless, or trapped. Most individuals believe agoraphobia is a fear of going outside. Although this is one way the phobia can manifest, it's just one of many ways this underlying fear of being trapped can show up. The fear tends to be projected into anticipated or actual situations like using public transit, being in enclosed spaces, being in open spaces, being in crowds, or standing in line. Some researchers believe the root of agoraphobia is a fear of losing control.

Out Of Proportion Anxiety Or Fear

One of the biggest warning signs of agoraphobia is experiencing out of proportion anxiety or fear. The fear patients experience is not rational or conducive to the actual situation. A difficult aspect of agoraphobia is that oftentimes the fear is of fear itself. When a person is aware they're prone to panic in certain situations, they may be terrified of becoming trapped or being unable to get help when the panic intensifies. That feeling of helplessness leads to more fear, resulting in a vicious cycle.

Someone with agoraphobia may become so afraid of being trapped or helpless that they begin avoiding public places and other situations. Going out in public can lead to feelings of intense panic, which can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. An individual with agoraphobia might struggle to feel safe when they're alone in an unfamiliar situation. They may feel like they need to be accompanied by another person to help mitigate their fear of being trapped or isolated.

Avoiding Triggering Situations

Patients with agoraphobia will often avoid triggering situations, even when this has a definite impact on their day-to-day life and ability to function. They might avoid social situations they'd otherwise enjoy, or they might avoid public transportation so staunchly that it invokes great time or monetary costs. In severe cases, individuals with agoraphobia might experience fear so severe that it interferes with their ability to keep a job or leave the house at all. It can be difficult to treat agoraphobia because treatment requires a person to face triggering situations.

However, effective treatment allows a patient to face their fears in a controlled environment, which in turn allows them to create positive associations with the normally triggering circumstances. A sign of agoraphobia is individuals having specific situations or circumstances they avoid because of the fears of being trapped or helpless when they panic. If individuals brave the triggering situation, they may be extremely distressed during the experience in a way that is disproportionate to normal levels of fear.