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What is best medication for agoraphobia?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) SSRIs were originally developed to treat depression, but they’ve also proved effective for helping treat other mood disorders, such as anxiety, feelings of panic, and obsessional thoughts. An SSRI called sertraline is usually recommended for people with agoraphobia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs are typically considered first-choice treatments for agoraphobia. They’re also used to treat depression and anxiety disorders (including panic disorders). A few examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Unfortunately, panic and anxiety disorders like agoraphobia can trigger depression. Patients with a history of major depression are at high risk of developing panic disorder and agoraphobia. Agoraphobia Treatments Your doctor will usually treat agoraphobia with therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Therapy. Cognitive therapy can teach you new ways to think about or face situations that cause panic and help you be less afraid. You may also learn relaxation and breathing exercises. Yes, you can cure agoraphobia with either medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or a combination of both. Banyan Mental Health offers CBT for agoraphobia.
Can you get medication for agoraphobia?
You’ll usually be prescribed a course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are also used to treat anxiety and depression. In severe cases of agoraphobia, medication can be used in combination with other types of treatment, such as CBT and relaxation therapy. Agoraphobia treatment can be challenging because it means confronting your fears. But with proper treatment — usually a form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy and medicines — you can escape the trap of agoraphobia and live a more enjoyable life. Agoraphobia is related to a condition called schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health disorder primarily characterized by the presence of symptoms of schizophrenia — including hallucinations or delusions — and symptoms of a mood disorder such as mania and depression. Agoraphobia can involve a combination of fears, other feelings, and physical symptoms. These can all vary from mild to severe. Some people can manage agoraphobia symptoms by following a routine. For others, it can be severely debilitating.
What is the fastest way to cure agoraphobia?
The bulk of CBT treatment for agoraphobia involves exposure therapy, in which you systematically expose yourself to places and situations that you fear with guidance from your therapist. In doing so, you learn to tolerate the panic and anxiety until it lessens with repetition. 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. Agoraphobia in 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. 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. 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.
Can you beat agoraphobia without medication?
Some ways people successfully cope with agoraphobia include: Breathing exercises, which is a specific example in which you work on slowing your breathing when you’re in situations where you experience panic or anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation, which is a systemic way to physically release tension in your body. A diagnosis of agoraphobia can usually be made if: you’re anxious about being in a place or situation where escape or help may be difficult if you feel panicky or have a panic attack, such as in a crowd or on a bus. you avoid situations described above, or endure them with extreme anxiety or the help of a companion. In essence there is not a single cause of agoraphobia as it has been linked to chemical or hormonal imbalances in the brain and body, certain personality types particularly in people who need significant amounts of control or approval, it can be learned from role models who display excessive control or fear themselves. Abstract. Objective: Panic Disorder (PD) and agoraphobia (AG) are frequently comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but the correlates of these comorbidities in OCD are fairly unknown. 1 For example, a person with agoraphobia may avoid driving a car, leaving the comfort of home, shopping in a mall, traveling by airplane, or simply being in a crowded area.
How long does it take to treat agoraphobia?
You and your loved ones will need to have patience as you heal from agoraphobia. Many people need 12 to 20 weeks of CBT (talk therapy) if they also take medication. Without medication, therapy might take up to a year. Agoraphobia stems from anxiety and panic, so these conditions must be addressed in treatment. Often, the intense anxiety and panic associated with agoraphobia have their roots in past trauma. As such, treatment providers must identify, acknowledge, and address a client’s traumatic past. You’ll usually be prescribed a course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are also used to treat anxiety and depression. In severe cases of agoraphobia, medication can be used in combination with other types of treatment, such as CBT and relaxation therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective form of talk therapy for anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you specific skills to better tolerate anxiety, directly challenge your worries and gradually return to the activities you’ve avoided because of anxiety. Getting over agoraphobia without treatment is difficult (only 10% of people are successful). The SAMHSA National Helpline (800-662-4357) or website may be able to refer you to mental health clinicians in your state who treat anxiety. There is an increase in the risk of developing agoraphobia in late adolescence and early adulthood, with the overall average age at onset being 17 years.