Agoraphobia - Fear to be alone

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a condition in which person tries to avoid places where chance of help are less, or places causing anxiety to him. This phobia usually starts at the age of 20 to 25. Those suffering from agarophobia are afraid of panicking situations. They will start avoiding such occassions and might become house bound. They are in need of a companion at all times. Agarophobia may lead to some other specific phobias or panic disorders. They might get isolated from society and might affect interpersonal relations or job perfomance. They will have rigid thinking also.

Symptoms

Fear to be alone
Feel of helplessness
Need of companion
Fear to lose control in public places
Geting dettached from others
Becoming housebound
Avoiding places where help is difficult
Feeling oneself that their body or environment is unreal
Anxiety attack
Agitation with trembling
Fainting
Chest pain
Nausea
Choking
Numbness
Dizziness
Skin flushing
Sweating excessively and High blood pressure
Fear of death

Causes

This is a condition that arise from facing panic creating situations repeatedly or anxiety causing places. Some might be feeling fear or discomfort rather than panic. Those with a family history of phobias may have these symptoms. Women are affected more and this is a condition that accompanies other panic disorders. It happens to those with a general tendency to fear and anxiety, those characterized high strung or to those with adrenal insufficiency.

Treatment

Systematic desensitization or method to get relaxed and imagining anxiety causing things might help.Exposure to such situations is another method. To get rid of symptoms one may use anti depressive or anti anxiety medicines. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like Paxil, Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine (Effexor)are given to patients. paxil is the primary choice and Effexor is used in severe cases. Benzodiazepines are prescribed when anti depressents does'nt help. Along with drugs certain behavioural therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Pleasant mental imagery, Relaxation techniques are also fond useful. Councelling also helps to deviate from the thoughts that lead to anxiety or panic. Changing the life style with exercise, enough rest and sleep along with good nutrition is also effective.

Alternative medicines

Medication and Yoga are another methods helpful with medicines. This helps to regain confidence and to get relief. Homeopathy refers to certain medicines like pure calm is useful in cases of panic attack. Hypnosis by an expert hypnotherapist will help to understand the root cause of phobia and it is easy to treat when you know the cause. But in all cases this is not useful as every one cannot be hypnotised.


Links

http://www.iampanicked.com/anxiety-articles/agoraphobia-treatment.htm

http://www.panic-and-agoraphobia.com/

http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/agoraphobia.asp

http://ezinearticles.com/?Different-Kinds-Of-Agoraphobia-Treatment&id=791167

http://pages.infinit.net/drnayman/agorapho.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000923.htm

http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/agoraphobia?utm_medium=ask&utm_source=smart&utm_campaign=article&utm_term=Agoraphobia&ask_return=Agoraphobia

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000931.htm#Definition