Agoraphobia definition

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What Is The Definition Of Agoraphobia

The agoraphobia definition until some time back was considered to be a fear of open spaces and public places. But after a considerable amount of research and in depth studies it was revealed that agoraphobia is a fear that develops because of the fear of a panic attack.

People suffering from this disorder have an innate fear of being in situations that they cannot get out of or situations that are embarrassing.

These people also have an intense fear of undergoing a panic attack in a place where they cannot get help or are not with a person who, they think, are safe.

Some of the situations that people suffering from agoraphobia try to avoid are being alone at home, being far away from home unassisted or with someone they don’t consider “safe”, fear of any exercise that causes exertion for the fear of a potential panic attack.

Going to theaters, restaurants, malls or to places where they feel they might not be able to escape easily, fear of eating or drinking anything that could cause a panic attack, attending public or social gatherings for the fear of a possible panic attack and subsequent embarrassment etc. 

As these fears increase, people suffering from this begin to avoid these situations more and more. For example a simple fear of cars could lead to avoiding all modes of transport such as buses, trains, or airplanes and could prevent a person from traveling alone.

Similarly, being afraid to go to a shopping mall because it’s crowded could prevent a person from going to movie theaters, sports arenas, subways or any other crowded place.

As the fear and anxiety begins to increase control over the afflicted person’s life, he or she slowly relegates himself or herself to the confines of his/her house as that is the only place where they feel safe. 

With proper treatment agoraphobia can be cured and the person suffering from this disorder can lead a normal healthy life. Though there are a number of drugs that can be prescribed for patients, these provide short term relief and do not necessarily provide a cure.

Also, almost all of these drugs have potential side effects that affect people in mild to severe degrees. From the simpler things such as stomach disorders to not being able to sleep, sometimes these drugs can trigger suicidal feelings in a person.

Psychotherapy at this time emerges as the right treatment for agoraphobia as it eliminates the root cause of the problem. With the help of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy the person is made to understand and realize that his or her fears do not have those catastrophic effects as he or she is expecting.

They are taught to align their fear with reality and replace negative thoughts that trigger an anxiety attack with positive and more rational thoughts.

They are also taught relaxation techniques and breathing exercises which help alleviate fear when caught in a situation that they fear. Through these therapies the person is eventually able to conquer his or her fears and finally lead a normal life.

Charles Linden is a former agoraphobia sufferer and he has put together a helpful guide to help agoraphobia sufferers turn the corner and gain some normality in their lives. He has helped thousands of people end their agoraphobia journey and he has some excellent advice on the definition of agoraphobia.

If you would like to see more helpful information on agoraphobia then see what Charles has to say on the matter. If you head over to Charles Lindens site you will understand all about agoraphobia. To see the videos and fully understand this problem, Simply Click Here.

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