Common Causes And Risk Factors For Agoraphobia

Stressful Events

Stressful events and trauma can often contribute to the development of agoraphobia. Sometimes the situations individuals are afraid of will relate to a trauma or stressful experience they had. In addition, prolonged and chronic stress is more likely to result in mental illness. Many patients report they developed agoraphobia after experiencing a life situation in which they felt helpless. For some, this occurred when they had a panic attack in public. Others might have experienced traumatic events like a car crash or a shooting. If they aren't processing their feelings about the trauma, their body and mind may try to avoid any situation that might cause a repeat of the situation. Loss and grief can also contribute to the development of agoraphobia, particularly if individuals feel as though their emotions and lives are outside their control. Some patients develop agoraphobia after experiencing ongoing trauma and stress from living in an abusive environment. Treating the underlying cause of the trauma response is integral to treating the agoraphobia in these cases.

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Genetics

Genetics seem to play a role in the development of agoraphobia. Individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with agoraphobia if they have a blood relative who also has the condition. If they have a family history of anxiety disorders, even if it doesn't include agoraphobia, they might be at an increased risk of developing agoraphobia despite having no prior anxiety disorder history of their own. According to statistical analysis published in the DSM-5, agoraphobia has a heritability rate of sixty-one percent. Even though the disorder can be genetic, most don't develop symptoms until their late adolescence or early adulthood. They're most likely to see symptoms start between thirteen and thirty-five years old, with seventeen being the average age of onset. If patients have a prior history of anxiety disorders or panic attacks, they're more likely to develop agoraphobia later in life rather than during adolescence. This is because agoraphobia is a very specific fear of specific situations. Before developing agoraphobia symptoms, they might have other anxiety disorder symptoms instead.

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