How to recognize the symptoms of agoraphobia?

These are the key ideas to understand what agoraphobia is and how it expresses itself.

Agoraphobia is a disorder that has not always been well understood. It is an anxiety disorder that affects 5-7% of people worldwide.

It is usually understood as a fear of being in open spaces or in crowds, but this poorly defines what this disorder really is.

Next we are going to know what exactly is the agoraphobia, how it is manifested and what symptoms it provokes in the affected persons.

What really is agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a kind of phobia that generates anxiety and panic. People affected by agoraphobia feel an incapacitating fear and anxiety when they are in public places from which it is complicated to escape.or where it is difficult to find help. Generally, this anxiety disorder is related to public places (hence the term agorawhich means square in Latin), but it does not necessarily occur in these open places, but can also occur in private contexts, at home or even alone.

Although it can appear in any age range, agoraphobia usually emerges in late adolescence or young adulthood, before the age of 34. It is more common in females than in males, as are most anxiety-related disorders.

Symptoms of agoraphobia that should put you on alert

Among the most common symptoms of agoraphobia are fear and panic.. If you know someone who shows these symptoms in the situations described below, it is possible that he or she suffers from this anxiety disorder:

• Going out alone, much more common in women.
• Fear and panic of crowds.
• Closed spaces, such as elevators, museums, bars or restaurants.
• Open spaces such as bridges, train stations, plazas or airports.
• Social situations such as parties, dances, birthdays or meetings.

The vast majority of people suffering from agoraphobia have no more than symptoms associated with intense fear or panic of the above situations. However, there are certain situations that combine both physical and psychological symptoms.among which we can find:

On most occasions when some of the symptoms of agoraphobia are present, there will be no other serious symptoms, simply the fear of performing that action. But sometimes there are a series of symptoms, both physical and psychological.where we can find the following:

• Pressure in the chest
• Diarrhea
• Accelerated breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Feeling of loss of control
• Insecurity and low self-esteem
• Dependence on others
• Feeling of loneliness and unreality
• Fear of death
• Fear of losing control
• Tachycardia, palpitations

People suffering from this anxiety disorder feel overwhelmed when they experience one of these situations, and have the unpleasant feeling of not being able to control this irrational and disproportionate fear and anxiety, compared to the low level of real danger involved in these situations. For this reason, in moderate and severe cases it is necessary to see a specialist in psychology and anxiety so that the root of the problem can be diagnosed and treated effectively.

This disorder is also related to panic disorders. This type of disorder is defined by experiencing attacks of irrational terror that trigger a series of very intense and unpleasant physical symptoms.

Causes of agoraphobia

As with most psychological disorders, the reason why agoraphobia arises is not known for certain. The causes can be very varied and will depend on a multitude of factors in each individual. These causes may be characterized by a high dependence, low self-esteem or assertiveness, anxiety, or by a compulsive search for approval.

Through different variables of the individual and his/her environment, the subject will develop agoraphobia or not. Sometimes agoraphobia can arise after experiencing a traumatic situation.

How to overcome agoraphobia?

Although it is a disorder that tends to worsen if we do nothing, the truth is that if we notice that we have these symptoms, we can remedy it by going to a specialist. Psychological therapy will provide you with tools and knowledge that will help you to gradually get rid of the bad feelings.

One of the most effective strategies if we suffer from agoraphobia is not to avoid or avoid situations in which we feel fear. The more we face these situations, the more we will 'train' our mind and become aware that we are not in real danger. If it is too difficult, put yourself in expert hands and, with the help of a family member or friend, go to a psychologist who can help you, go to a psychologist who can work with you..

If you do suffer from unpleasant panic attacks, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.. The sooner you get professional help, the sooner you will prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Anxiety, like many other mental disorders, can be more difficult to treat if we let time pass and allow the problem to become chronic.