Agoraphobia Management: Effective Treatment Options

Introduction

According to past studies, anxiety disorders affect 33.7% of the world’s population in their life time. In the United States alone, 40 million adults suffer from some form of anxiety disorders every year. This translates to 18.1% of the total population. These statistics are alarming just to say the least. Suffice it to say that if you are not a victim, someone in your circles probably is.

Anxiety in itself is a normal human emotion. Healthy people feel nervous from time to time. For example, you may feel nervous just before you walk into the exam room or prior to making a life-changing decision. However, when you notice you have extreme feelings of panic and anxiety over simple things like going to the grocery store or the mall, chances are you suffer from some type of anxiety disorder.

This mental condition can stop you from carrying on with your social life. It can consume with your mind with constant thoughts of worry and fear round the clock. Anxiety disorders are varied including panic disorders, social anxiety disorder (aka social phobia), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

Agoraphobia, the irrational fear of crowds, is a type of panic and anxiety disorder that is both rare and severe in equal measure. Addiction Hope puts the number of American adults suffering from this deadly condition as 1.8 million. From this figure, it is safe to say that this problem is not a reserve for America only; the entire world needs to share in this pie as well.

Follow through as we shed more light into the symptoms, causes and treatment of agoraphobia.

Table of Contents

What is Agoraphobia? Causes of Agoraphobia. Symptoms. Treatment Options. Additional Information. Self-help Techniques During an Attack.

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a form of anxiety disorder that causes an individual to fear crowds. People with this condition often shudder at the thought of leaving their own homes, going to crowded places and generally entering spaces with no escape routes. They fear the risk of having a panic attack in a public place.

Agoraphobics avoid elevators, large open spaces, huge music concerts, travelling, and crossing bridges. The avoidance behaviours differ for different agoraphobics. Some fear having a panic attack on the wheel. Because of this, they will not only avoid driving but using any means of transportation whatsoever including a train, bus, bike, and plane.

These queer behaviours have a tendency to pick up pace over time. If not checked, they can certainly impair a person’s quality of life considerably. For instance, an agoraphobic may have a hard time travelling for work or business appointments or showing up for social gatherings. In short, everyday life becomes utterly affected.

Causes of Agoraphobia Doctors haven’t yet made a conclusive report on what really causes agoraphobia. However, certain factors increase your risk of developing this mental condition. These include: Substance abuse A second type of anxiety disorder such as obsessive compulsive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Feelings if depression Genetics Suffering from another type of phobia such as claustrophobia or social phobia. Sexual or physical abuse history.

According to Healthline, agoraphobia is more prevalent in women than in men. Typically, the condition comes around when you are a young adult of around 20 years of age. If not treated, the symptoms intensify over time until it takes full control of your entire life.

Symptoms If an agoraphobic is forced into an uncomfortable situation, he or she will most likely experience intense anxiety feelings evidenced by the following symptoms: Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea An increased heart rate Chest pain Fainting Dizziness Light headedness Sweating Shaking Trembling

Shortness of breath Problems with swallowing Feeling too hot or too cold Fear of dying

Treatment options Treatment of agoraphobia should occur as early as possible. National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM) estimates that 40% agoraphobic cases are actually severe. If left untreated, the condition can be quite disabling. It can affect the quality of life in more ways than one.

When you visit the doctor, they will first make a proper diagnosis to know which treatment option is right for you. Heck, it may even be that the stomach bug got to you or you had a heart attack. You’ll be asked questions in the lines of when you first noticed you were agoraphobic, the medical history of both you and your family and all the symptoms you have been experiencing. You may also need to give out your blood for testing as this will reveal any physical cause for the disorder.

There are certain standards outlined by the American Psychiatric Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). If your diagnosis doesn’t meet the standards, you will not be declared agoraphobic.

According to the DSM, being a person with agoraphobia means having extreme feelings of anxiety in two or more of the symptoms below.

Leaving home on your own Using public means of transport such as a bus or train Being in crowded open places like the parking lot or the grocery store Being in the middle of a crowd Being in enclosed places like a car or an elevator

DSM has a few more other conditions that need to be fulfilled before a person is declared agoraphobic. If the symptoms are caused by something else such as substance abuse or any other type of disorder, they will be declared free from agoraphobia.

There are three treatment options for this mental condition. Let’s delve deeper into each of them below.

1. Therapy Therapy is often the most effective agoraphobia management option for most medical experts. When combined with medication, the outcome is even more fruitful. There are three main therapies employed in managing this condition.  Psychotherapy Commonly referred to as “talk therapy”, psychotherapy involves visiting a therapist or any other mental health expert on a regular basis just to talk. It is a fantastic method of treatment because it allows you to express your fears to a stranger whom you can trust.

During the appointment, you can talk about all the issues you face with regards to the panic disorder. Psychotherapy is often a short-term solution that is stopped once you are able to counter your anxiety and fears.

 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Almost all agoraphobics undergo this type of therapy at some point in their lifetime. CBT is almost similar to psychotherapy only that it is thorough and thought-provoking. Here, your negative thoughts and feelings towards agoraphobia will be challenged to the core.

The therapist will help you know how to handle stressful situations right from the mind. It is highly successful method in trying to help you gain control over your anxiety and fears.  Exposure therapy As the name suggests, exposure therapy focuses on helping you cope with anxiety by releasing you into environments you had initially termed as “unsafe” At first, this will seem overwhelming and downright frustrating but once the process is done, you won’t believe the far you would have come by then.

2. Medicine Both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used in combination with therapy for optimal results. Antidepressants are commonly referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and they include fluoxetin (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). These have been known to bring down any feelings of depression that often accompany anxiety.

Anti-anxiety medication or simply benzodiazepines, on the other hand, are sedatives that can be used by your doctor to help relieve symptoms of anxiety. They are often utilized on a short-term basis, mainly for acute cases. These drugs can be rather addictive. Doctors have therefore put out strong cautions especially for people who have suffered from anxiety problems for a relatively long period of time.

Please note that medication may take up-to 2 weeks to relieve anxiety symptoms. Also, you may have to try different medications before you arrive at your perfect fit.

3. Lifestyle changes Lifestyle changes will not treat agoraphobia directly but will help the course of treatment in more ways than one. Here are proven habits you can embrace that will ensure this. Regular exercise: Physical fitness helps alleviate any feeling of tension and stress within your body. It also helps improve your overall mood. Healthy eating: An unhealthy diet may worsen anxiety feelings. Stop using drugs and alcohol: Even if you get temporary relief, these will have adverse effects in the long term. Avoid caffeinated drinks: These include coffee, tea and cola. Like poor diet, caffeinated drinks worsen anxiety symptoms. Practice meditation and breathing: Daily meditation and deep breathing exercises also help fight anxiety and frequent panic attacks

Additional Information If you notice any symptom of agoraphobia, there are certain actions you need to undertake to get help. These should come from your willingness to combat the mental condition once and for all. These include the following; ď ąKnow the condition: This should be on top of your list of priority. Don’t just sit back and do nothing about the disorder, acquire as much information about it as you can. Learn how to react to stressful situations. Correct your negative thinking towards crowded and enclosed spaces. This will not happen overnight so take one day at a time. When you fail, try again.

Find support: There are a ton of support groups for agoraphobics and other people suffering from anxiety disorders out there. Look around your community for an available self-help group you can be a part of. Join both online and physical ones to take full advantage of the benefits of these groups in managing anxiety disorders. You will most likely meet other people who have triumphed. People who don’t stress over leaving their homes or hoping on the train. Apart from support groups, you should be open to your friends and family. Let them know what you are going through and how you would like them to help you.

Talk to a mental health professional: It is prudent to seek professional help the second agoraphobia symptoms kick in. Ignore all the feelings of embarrassment that will overwhelm you at this point. Look for a genuine mental care professional and let them assess your condition. Remember if you don’t nip it in the bud, it might develop and become almost irreversible.

Self-help Techniques During an Attack When a panic attack strikes, the first thing at the top of your head would be to make a run for it. However, this will only worsen the condition. Instead, take the bull by its horns and use these self-help techniques to combat it. ďƒ˜Divert your thoughts: When panic gets the best of you, the best thing you can do is to try and focus on a totally different thing such as the beautiful ring at the store or the beautiful baby playing at the park. Constantly remind yourself that if you shifted your focus long enough, the feelings of anxiety will soon pass.

ďƒ˜Stay put: Even if your whole body tells you to look for the closest escape route, do all you can to stay put. If you are driving, stay calm until it is safe for you to park the vehicle.

Think good thoughts: In a moment of anxiety and panic, you want to create a mental picture of a place, person or situation that brings you peace. This will help shift the focus from anxiety to feelings of calmness. Resist the urge to fight a panic attack: This will only make the situation worse.

Instead, accept embarrassment for the moment; it won’t kill you anyway.

Agoraphobia is a real problem affecting people all over the world. Thankfully, it is a condition that can be managed and treated. For best results, treatment of agoraphobia should consist of a subset of the different treatment options i.e. therapy, medication, lifestyle change, and self-help techniques.

Holistic Healthcare Centre offers long-lasting solutions to agoraphobia as well as physical and mental health concerns. Their practitioners work together as a team to help you accomplish optimal health. They are not only approachable, but also cares about helping their clients lead full and happy lives.

The End Find out more, Please Visit- : http://www.hhccentre.com/agoraphobia/