Agoraphobia

Society & You - Psychology

Sunday, 25 July 2010 19:18

What is agoraphobia?, Symptoms of Agoraphobia

According to the DSM-IV Agoraphobia is the intense fear of open spaces, crowds and the difficulty to escape to safety. Agoraphobia is more common in women. You feel an intense fear that causes anxiety anticipatory. This leads to avoid feared situations. In Depsicología we will more than agoraphobia.

The term encompasses different phobias agoraphobia may be related to each other. From trains, to be in an elevator fear of being alone. Agoraphobia often are present in the depressive and obsessive symptoms and social phobias. In the absence of clinical treatment of agoraphobia often become chronic although its intensity may vary.

Common situations feared in Agoraphobia

Being away from home alone
Fear of leaving home
Being alone in places with many people
Department store
Bus
The plane
Mingling with the people on the street.
Found on a bridge

Agoraphobia disorder leads to a deterioration in the person's life, often unable to work, socialize, travel, conduct work, taking children to school or doctor. It is important to act quickly.

Agoraphobia can be accompanied or not of panic attacks or panic. The Crisis of anxiety according to DSM-IV is the temporal onset of intense fear and discomfort accompanied by four or more of the following symptoms that appear suddenly.

palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate
sweating
tremors or shaking
choking sensation or shortness of breath
choking sensation
fear of dying
nausea or abdominal discomfort
numbness or tingling
instability, dizziness or fainting
tightness in the chest.
Feelings of unreality

Depersonalization, being detached from oneself
Chills or hot flushes.

If you think you suffer from agoraphobia, or panic attacks or panic without agoraphobia see a doctor or a psychologist and discuss what happens to you. With proper treatment of agoraphobia can help you improve your quality of life.