Agoraphobia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Agoraphobia is a fear in which a person is afraid of open space. He can not stay long in spacious rooms and it is difficult for him to get rid of a sense of fear, as well as panic.


Description of the phobia

People who suffer from such a disease can not survive a long queue, and they do not inherently travel by train or plane. Being in such situations they begin to panic, and if the feeling of panic is not possible to overcome independently, this phenomenon is already called agoraphobia.

This disease can acquire such a strong character that a person can not cope on his own with a sense of panic, and he simply begins to fear everything, and can spend most of his time at home.

Causes of the disease

Causes of the disease can be varied. But it is commonly believed that at first there simply appears a panic attack, and then agoraphobia. This disease is associated with problems of orientation of a person in space. When a person can not independently navigate in space, can not accept a large crowd of people, then he starts seizures.

instagram viewer

Often this disease develops against the backdrop of any other abnormalities, or it happens that this disorder is the consequence of the disease.

A person who is often stressed, is constantly on his nerves, may notice that he develops such an aggravation as agoraphobia. At the same time, at first he can not pay attention to this deviation, and then, when seizures begin, a person can no longer independently eliminate this phobia.

This deviation may be a consequence of any psychological trauma, and it can be obtained long ago, sometimes in childhood, and manifestation can be through time.

Symptoms of the disease

This disease manifests itself as panic attacks, as well as a constant panic state in which a person can not control himself. Seizures can occur suddenly, but can gradually, while their duration is also different. It can be a five-minute attack, and sometimes it can last about half an hour.

The so-called panic attacks adversely affect the body, as well as its activities.

A person can not independently cope with problems, the solution of which, in principle, is not difficult.

Diagnosis of the disease

When such a disease is present, the person is immediately sent to a psychologist. With the help of which he must try to cope with his problem.

The psychologist should learn from the person the cause of his such conditions, and also ask him to tell about his feelings at such moments.

The psychologist will also receive a task in which he can determine whether this disorder is caused by some other psychological or mental deviation.

Diagnosis of this disease by such criteria as

  • a person restlessly behaves in situations where it is not entirely safe, and also where there can be panic. At the same time, he immediately feels uncomfortable and does not want to be here.
  • people try to avoid the place of congestion.
  • when in an unfavorable place for him, he starts to panic and get nervous.
  • if you do not avoid being in such a place, then a person suffering from agoraphobia will try to go there not alone, but taking with him a friend, relative, close person.
  • or, if a person does not have a disease, the symptoms of which are similar to this psychological deviation.

Also the diagnosis of such a disease can be prescribed to the patient, even if panic attacks are very rare, or there is none at all.

Treatment of disease

How to treat such a disease? After diagnosing a person, a course of psychotherapy is prescribed. He performs all the tasks that are assigned to him, and if required, he can take medications.

In most cases, in treatment, a person gets rid of this disease, or gets rid of seizures.

Patients who suffer from this disease are prescribed sedatives, as well as antidepressants and tranquilizers.

From antidepressants you can drink such medications as Prozac, soothing ones such as Persen are solved. But taking these drugs, a person may have a side reaction, which causes nausea, a headache, and also a person may have drowsiness, there will be vomiting.

Agoraphobia can be cured with the help of psychotherapy, but how exactly is it done?

Psychotherapeutic methods of treatment use such forms of work with a patient as:

  • belief, in this case it is necessary to convince the patient of anything that will help him get rid of fear.
  • suggestion. This method is very popular in the treatment of such a disease, with the help of his person is inspired by the rule that he should not be afraid of anything and panic attacks for him should be insignificant, with which he will soon say goodbye.

Also, in the treatment will be used various instructions, with which a person will try to move away from seizures, they will occur less often, and eventually disappear altogether. But this will happen only when he himself wants to get rid of the disease.

Also get rid of agoraphobia with the help of cognitive psychotherapy. It allows a person to learn more about their disease, and also try to understand what exactly needs to be done to get rid of it. A person suffering from this disease is afraid of solving complex problems, so first you need to eliminate his fear.

With this disease, you can also fight with hypnosis. With the help of hypnosis you can reach the subconscious of a person. He can hypnotize a story about his fears, and perhaps the reason for their appearance.

Hypnosis is also used to treat mild types of psychological disorder. It is under hypnosis that it is easiest for a person to instill the right point of view, and also that his fear is completely unfounded, and it is necessary to get rid of it.

Also as a result of this, a complete elimination of fear should occur.

Treatment of agoraphobia with folk remedies

Agoraphobia is very often affected by people who are also sick with asthma.

Under this condition, they can be advised:

  • walk in a coniferous forest and spend a long time in nature.
  • drink infusion of nettle leaves, you can even take instead of tea.
  • at night it is recommended to drink turnip juice.
  • will also work well with taking hawthorn infusion, which is taken when breathing is difficult, or simply for sedation.

It's no secret that it calms the root of valerian, therefore it is recommended to take a valerian infusion under stressful conditions, and it can also be taken for the prevention of stressful conditions.

Prevention of disease

For prevention, when the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to visit a psychotherapist who can identify a person's predisposition to this disease. And if the disease is already present, then the degree of its neglect is determined.

Many patients who at the time get rid of the disease, lead a full-fledged lifestyle, and can also work and communicate with people normally.