Agoraphobia
2-minute read
What is agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is often thought to mean that people are afraid of 'open spaces', but this is only half the story. Many people with panic disorder avoid situations because of their fears. This avoidance is known as agoraphobia.
Signs and symptoms of agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is linked to panic disorder and also belongs to a group of conditions called specific phobias.
People with specific phobias might also practise avoidance in less noticeable ways like avoiding exercise or sex. Panic and related phobias like agoraphobia can seriously impede an individual's ability to go to work or socialise with friends and family.
Signs of agoraphobia include:
- avoiding situations because of concern you’ll have a panic attack, or only going with someone who you think can help you if you do have a panic attack
- experiencing anxiety or fear about being in places where escape might be difficult, such as public transport or in large crowds at a concert
- feeling anxious or panic when you can’t avoid certain situations.
More information
- Find out more about specific phobias.
- Check out a personal story on recovering from agoraphobia.
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Last reviewed: July 2017
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Agoraphobia - Better Health Channel
A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave familiar environments, because they are afraid of having a panic attack.
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Agoraphobia | Understanding Anxiety
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Agoraphobia can be defined as significant fear of situations such as using public transport (e.g buses, trains, planes), being in open spaces such as car parks and bridges, being in enclosed spaces such as movie cinemas and shops, standing in line or being in a crowd, and being outside of the home alone. The fear is
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What is agoraphobia? | Anxiety | ReachOut Australia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterised by a fear of having a panic attack in a situation that is difficult to escape from or where help may not be available.
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This Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course from This Way Up will help you learn to combat panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.
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What is panic disorder and agoraphobia?
The exact causes of panic disorder are still unclear but there is some evidence of a family tendency to nervousness and a link with major life events and stresses. What this means is that if a member of the family has suffered from panic, there is an increased risk of you suffering from it, especially when you are stressed. Often people with panic disorder have always thought of themselves as 'worry worts' or sensitive but this may not always be the case.
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Agoraphobia | CRUfAD
CONTACT US URGENT CARE About Us Our Research For Patients For Clinicians Select Page Agoraphobia Panic disorder and Agoraphobia Pages 246-257 from the Management of Mental Disorders, published by World Health Organization, Sydney
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Psychological therapies for the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | Cochrane
Many people suffer from panic disorder. Panic disorder can occur on its own or with agoraphobia. People with panic disorder experience recurring panic attacks. During a panic attack people feel the sudden onset of intense fear alongside a series of bodily symptoms such as a racing heart, chest pain, sweating, shaking, dizziness, flushing, stomach churning, faintness and breathlessness. People with agoraphobia feel an intense fear of developing a panic attack in situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing. This fear often leads to the avoidance of such situations.
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AT Ease Professional-GP summary panic disorder with or without agoraphobiaAt Ease Professional
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Psychotherapy combined with antidepressants for panic disorder | Cochrane
Psychotherapy plus antidepressant treatment were compared with each of the two individual treatments alone for panic disorder. At the end of the acute phase treatment, the combined therapy was superior to psychotherapy or antidepressant treatment alone. After termination of active treatment, the combined therapy was superior to antidepressants alone and was as effective as psychotherapy alone. Either combined therapy or psychotherapy alone may be chosen as first line treatment for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, depending on patient preference.
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Psychotherapy and a benzodiazepine combined for treating panic disorder | Cochrane
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