Agoraphobia Definition – Signs, Symptoms, How To Treat

This article discusses Agoraphobia Definition – Signs, Symptoms, How To Treat and is filed under Anxiety Panic Disorders


What it is – Agoraphobia Definition:

Agoraphobia is defined as an anxiety disorder characterized by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting in which there is little or no means of escape or little perceived control. Sufferers of agoraphobia often experience flashes of extreme anxiety in public and/or unfamiliar places such as crowds, airports and shopping malls. In extreme cases, sufferers can be confined to their own home because of the overwhelming fear of having a panic attack.

The causes of agoraphobia are currently unknown, but it does occur approximately twice as often in women it does as men. It is thought to be linked to stressful environments, substance abuse, and other anxiety disorders.

People who live with agoraphobia suffer from repeated panic attacks and therefore are often preoccupied with the thought of having another panic attack, which leads them to avoid any situations where a panic attack could occur.

According to DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria, people with agoraphobia experience:

A) Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situationally predisposed panic attack or panic-like symptoms.

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Tags: Anxiety Panic Disorders, Agoraphobia


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