Agoraphobia: What the Heck Is It???
Before we delve into the workings of agoraphobia, it might
be a good idea to differentiate between the types of anxiety disorders. In a
nutshell, they are:
- Panic Disorder:
Unexpected panic attacks for no apparent reason. People with panic disorder do
not avoid people or places associated with anxiety or panic.
- Agoraphobia: Panic disorder combined
with avoidance of people or places associated with anxiety or panic.
- Social Phobia:
Fear of embarrassment or humiliation in social situation.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Chronic
anxiety not resulting in panic attacks, phobias or obsessions.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Becoming
obsessed with an idea, thought, image or impulse, causing repeated actions in a
ritualistic manner.
- Simple Phobia: Fear of a specific
thing, such as heights, snakes, elevators, etc.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Severe
stress resulting from a traumatic event, such as rape, assault, combat or
natural disasters.
As I said, these definitions are very simplistic. We'll
explore only the symptoms, causes and ramifications of agoraphobia in this
section.
Agoraphobia
The word agoraphobia means fear of open spaces;
however, the essence of agoraphobia is a fear of panic attacks. If you suffer
from agoraphobia, you're afraid of being in situations which might be difficult
to escape from; or, in which help might be unavailable if you suddenly had a
panic attack.
You may avoid grocery stores or freeways, for example, not
so much because of their inherent characteristics, says Dr. Edmund Bourne,
author of The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, but because these are
situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing in the event of
panic. Fear of embarrassment plays a key role. Most agoraphobics fear not only
having panic attacks, but what other people will think should they be seen
having a panic attack. With the embarrassment angle in mind, you can understand
why some people with panic disorder slip into agoraphobia.
While the types of places or situations avoided vary greatly
from person-to-person and sometimes even from time-to-time, a definite pattern
is usually present. A person with this condition may need a companion, called a
support person, when traveling away from home or into new or frightening
areas. A support person ensures the availability of help. The agoraphobic
avoidance can range from mild to severe.
Okay, now the English translation: Phobics are masters at avoidance!
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