Agoraphobia
What is it?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that can cause an extreme fear of certain places and situations. In severe cases, sufferers can be afraid to even leave the familiarity of their own homes and as a result become housebound.
My Story
Agoraphobia can exist on its own, or it can be an off shoot of other anxiety disorders such as GAD, OCD, Phobias, etc. My personal experience with GAD (General anxiety Disorder) became so bad, that I actually developed elements of agoraphobia. Before this point I had never suffered with this condition before, and it was incredibly frightening. I didn’t understand what was happening to me.
I used to be so out going, but now I was afraid to even leave my own bedroom. I would wake up every morning with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and the thought of having to get through the day ahead made me feel nauseous and dizzy with panic and anxiety.
I was so consumed by the overwhelming self consciousness, self loathing, self criticism and the fear of what others would think… that the thought of leaving my room to even see my own family would feel me with dread and anxiety.
I would become so frustrated at myself, as I knew what I was feeling didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t seem to snap out of it or control it in any way. I loved my family and I hated what these feelings were doing to me. I could feel the once close relationships I had, being destroyed and ruined before my very eyes. I was also in shock at how powerful the feelings were and how they were able to reduce me from being a ‘normal’ person to transforming me into a hermit who practically lived in the bedroom. I spent most of my days sitting in the ‘safety’ of my room and avoiding everyone as much as I could. The only time I would venture out would be to get essentials like food or go to the bathroom.
Don’t get me wrong, sitting in my room, was not in the least bit enjoyable, I was lonely, bored and frustrated and even though I could get away from everyone else, I could never get away from the pain and misery I constantly felt inside.
However, this was still somehow preferable to having to going out and fight the anxiety attacks that came each time I tried to venture away from safety of the bedroom that I had made my 'safe place'. As you can imagine, if leaving my room was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety, then actually the leaving the house at all was an even more daunting and frightening task. At some points I became so bad that the only time I would attempt to leave the house and venture into the outside world would be - ironically to see my GP to beg for more help for my anxiety problems (and even then, the anxious thoughts and feelings would consume me and make what was once a simple trip - feel more like a traumatic challenge instead).
Suffering with agoraphobia has been a humbling and valuable experience, before this point I never really properly understood the condition, nor could I even begin to comprehend how a person could be too afraid to leave their house and become housebound. To be shamefully honest I used to think it was quite ridiculous and I used to feel sorry for people like that… I enjoyed my life and couldn’t imagine not going out and having fun. Little did I know how crippling agoraphobia could be and the power it has to destroy anybody’s life. Experiencing this condition has taught me to understand the effect agoraphobia can have on people's lives and to understand for myself how truly debilitating this condition can be
Please Understand
Many people can never understand agoraphobia unless they have being afflicted by it themselves. With many anxiety conditions, sufferers are mistakenly seen as ‘weak’ ‘pathetic’ ‘dramatic’ and ‘attention seeking’ even though nothing could be further than the truth! Agoraphobics don’t enjoy being stuck in the house whilst everyone else around them enjoys life. Trust me, sufferers want to be able to enjoy life as much as everyone else, but like being trapped in prison, they cannot break free from the chains of anxiety which so firmly hold them back.
Common Agoraphobic Triggers
- Crowds, and public places.
- Being far from your home.
- Travelling in trains, buses, or planes.
- Being in a cinema, restaurant, etc, where there is no easy exit
- Being on a bridge.
- Being in a lift
Avoidance
Many sufferers will avoid certain places which trigger their anxiety (avoidance) and this may lead to the quality of their lives being severely affected. Often sufferers may be afraid to even leave the safety of their own homes and a social life becomes almost non existent.
Agoraphobia can cause sufferers to feel overly self conscious about themselves. They are often aware that their fears and actions are irrational, but feel unable to control the anxiety they feel. Sufferers may feel like they are losing their sanity, which only then intensifies the anxious feelings.
Who Does It Affect?
Agoraphobia affects woman more commonly than it does men and typically begins in early adulthood. People who suffer from anxiety, depression and low self esteem may also be more prone to developing agoraphobia. The exact cause of agoraphobia is unknown. However, psychological factors, genes and traumatic experiences may be contributing factors
What Are The Syptoms?
Sufferers fear being unable to ‘escape’ to a place of safety and this can lead to intense anxiety and panic. The anxiety can causes physical symptoms such as:
· fast heart rate, palpitations and chest pain,
· feelings of having a heart attack
· shaking and tremors
· dry mouth, feeling sick,
· headaches, stomach pains and sweating
· panic attacks
Treatment Can Include
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Psychotherapy and Group Therapy
- Exposure Therapy - It involves being gradually exposed to the object or situation that is feared, and using relaxation techniques to help reduce anxiety.