Table of Contents
What are the root causes of agoraphobia?
Psychological factors experiencing a stressful event, such as bereavement, divorce, or losing your job. a previous history of mental illnesses, such as depression, anorexia nervosa or bulimia. alcohol misuse or drug misuse. being in an unhappy relationship, or in a relationship where your partner is very controlling.
What is the best treatment for agoraphobia?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) An SSRI called sertraline is usually recommended for people with agoraphobia.
What happens to people with agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave environments they know or consider to be safe. In severe cases, a person with agoraphobia considers their home to be the only safe environment. They may avoid leaving their home for days, months or even years.
What is the difference between anxiety and agoraphobia?
A person with agoraphobia fears or avoids situations out of worry that they may experience anxiety or panic that they cannot escape or control. A person with social anxiety disorder fears or avoids social situations out of fear that they may embarrass themselves or be judged negatively by others.
What are the 2 types of agoraphobia?
In the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the diagnostic manual used by psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, two types of agoraphobia include panic disorder with agoraphobia and agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder.
Who suffers from agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia can begin in childhood, but usually starts in the late teen or early adult years — usually before age 35. But older adults also can develop it. Females are diagnosed with agoraphobia more often than males are.
What is the first line treatment for agoraphobia?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Serotonin is thought to regulate your mood. SSRIs are typically considered first-choice treatments for agoraphobia.
Can agoraphobia be treated at home?
In addition to seeking help from a mental health professional, there are also lifestyle changes that can help you to better manage the symptoms of agoraphobia. These include: Practicing stress management techniques, such as deep breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation to help reduce anxiety.
Can anxiety damage your heart?
The Effect of Anxiety on the Heart Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) – In serious cases, can interfere with normal heart function and increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Increased blood pressure – If chronic, can lead to coronary disease, weakening of the heart muscle, and heart failure.
Can you fully recover from agoraphobia?
If you suffer from agoraphobia, then at times it may feel that it is impossible to fully recover. This is not true. You may feel that you are alive but you are not living. However, there are methods and tools that you can use which will allow you to recover.
How long does agoraphobia last?
How long does agoraphobia last? Many people with agoraphobia make a full recovery after seeking help. But for some people who don’t get treatment, agoraphobia can last years. The panic attacks caused by the condition usually last between 10 and 30 minutes, although some people experience shorter or longer incidents.
When does agoraphobia go away?
The length of agoraphobia varies for each person. For some people, their agoraphobic feelings will dissipate in time. For others, these fears can last their entire lives if left untreated.
What part of the brain does agoraphobia affect?
In the panic disorder/agoraphobia spectrum, several studies appear to converge on effects in the amygdala, ACC, insula, and lateral prefrontal cortex, but also for occipital brain areas.
What is the psychology of agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is the anxiety that occurs when one is in a public or crowded place, from which a potential escape is difficult, or help may not be readily available. It is characterized by the fear that a panic attack or panic-like symptoms may occur in these situations.
How does agoraphobia affect the brain?
Functional brain imaging studies using SPECT technology show that people with phobias, such as agoraphobia, tend to have excessive activity in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. Other biological changes in the brain have also been noted.
Is agoraphobia abnormal?
Epidemiology. Despite not being an official diagnosis in DSM-IV, best estimates are that AG has a lifetime prevalence of 1.3% in the general population. Rates of 12 month prevalence were only slightly lower at 0.9%. Other studies have found a point prevalence rate of 0.8% for panic attacks occurring with AG.