Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a disorder of the psyche that causes unconscious fear of a person of large concentrations of people or open spaces. At the same time, a person experiences fear if he moves alone on a square, a deserted street, with a large crowd of people - the crowd. The phobia acts as a protective mechanism, received in real life because of the fear associated with emotional trauma received from people.

The literal translation of agoraphobia from Ancient Greek means fear of markets and crowds. To date, this phobia unites, both the fear of open spaces, and the congestion of people.

Agoraphobia is a type of pathological anxiety, expressed in fear of open spaces, crowds, public places, crowded streets, shopping centers, public transportation. It is very difficult to treat and is accompanied by nervous disorders, as well as mental illnesses.

How to get rid of agoraphobia? First, we will understand how it arises. A person is crocheted by an unconscious unconscious fear of the open space, embraces fear, both in deserted places, and among the crowd( a large crowd of people).Staying in fear, a person can not go out on the street for everyday problems or working moments.

Agoraphobia causes fear not only being in these situations, but also from the possibility of getting into this situation. Illness is characterized by uncontrolled fear, severe anxiety, panic. Attacks panic attacks that follow one after another. They can not stand the journey alone, the field, the park, the rallies, the clothing and food markets;Places that can not be quickly left( cinemas, hairdresser's chair, etc.)

Agoraphobia - causes of

The basis of the cause of agoraphobia may be psychological trauma( drunken brawl, car crash, terrorist act).Often a phobia is formed due to a panic disorder. Stresses provoke a panic attack and are for the first time able to overtake a person on the street, in public transport, while shopping in a busy place or at work. Agoraphobia in humans begins in 20-25 years. The combination of agoraphobia with panic attacks leads to a severe course of the disease and worsens the prognosis. Doctors have discovered the relationship between agoraphobia and the human vestibular apparatus. People with a weak vestibular apparatus can not maintain balance for a long time, and they rely on visual or tactile contacts.

Agoraphobia - symptoms of

. The patient has uncontrolled fear, severe anxiety, panic. He is attacked by attacks of panic attack, which follow one after another. Symptoms of agoraphobia are as follows: trembling, loud breathing, sweating, tachycardia, lack of air, increased blood pressure, adrenaline rush, desire to run away, hide, dryness in the mouth, a feeling of suffocation, unexplained anxiety, fear of death and loss of control over behavior. The attack begins suddenly and lasts up to half an hour. To avoid these symptoms, a person decides to stay where he feels safe. So gradually a person falls out of life, staying constantly at home, his communication is limited only to Skype and ICQ.

Such anxiety can be caused by fear of social disgrace when helpless behavior or a panic attack. The fear that the attack will begin in front of people, even more provokes a phobia. People with agoraphobia experience attacks of fear when they experience a trap or being away from the comfort zone. The safe zone includes a broad concept. For example, a person can not stand the sight of another person and if this happens - he is panicking. Other agoraphobes are able to live happily for years without leaving the comfort zone - their homes

Agoraphobia - treatment

How to cure agoraphobia and overcome the fear of open spaces, as well as people? The human brain quickly records that the street carries a danger and is dangerous there. Going on about this setup, a person avoids going out on the street, because he feels that he can lose consciousness, fall into a faint with a congestion of people or with him anything can happen. The acquired protective reflex is fixed to the patient, and he recruits courage when taking tranquilizers and goes only accompanied by close people. Suffering from agoraphobia is afraid of attracting unnecessary attention, and in the future does not leave the house at all. During an exacerbation, a person becomes a prisoner of his own home.

People with agoraphobia do not like close attention from others. The combination of agoraphobia with panic attacks leads to a severe course of the disease and worsens the prognosis.

The most effective method of treating agoraphobia is the gradual adaptation of the patient to open space.

The therapist offers his help, using logical arguments, as well as beliefs, praise encouraging the patient to make longer walks. Improvement occurs in 80% of cases, but it is usually partial with relapses that occur.

Treatment of agoraphobia includes tranquilizers: Diazepam( Sibazon, Relanium, Seduxen), Phenazepam, Xanax( Alprozalam), Clonazepam, etc.

Serotonin antidepressants are widely used: Paroxetine( Paxil), Zoloft( Sertraline), Cipralex( Escitalopram), Fluoxetine( Prozac).Their effect on the body occurs not immediately, but after a two-week period and more.

Used in the treatment of drugs of antineurosis nature, which include benzodiazepines, for example, Alprazolam.

In behavioral therapy, the flood method is widely applicable, when a doctor with a patient fixes a list of situations that most cause fear, in order of increasing. Then the doctor gradually introduces the sick to these imaginary situations, starting with the least fear. The patient gradually acquires experience in these situations, and fear and anxiety gradually recede into the background, which weakens the symptoms of agoraphobia. Behavioral therapy is often combined with meditation and muscle relaxation techniques. An alternative method of treatment is hypnosis.

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