Okay. Let’s ask the most important question first: What is Agoraphobia?
Well, in order for us to define agoraphobia concretely, perhaps it would be best to illustrate a particular scenario for a person. Imagine for a bit that you are someone who has occasional panic or anxiety attacks. You don’t really know when they’re going to strike. You just know that whenever they do, it’s a really stressful and intense situation that you have difficulty getting out of. These attacks are only further aggravated whenever you have lots of people around you who make you feel like you are just drowning in their presence. It can make it really hard to breathe and act sensibly. You so desperately want to escape the crowd, but you can’t find a way out.
That situation that we have just described and imagined is definitely a rough one. And it’s not one that many of us would ever enjoy being in. Having a fear of being stuck in that kind of situation is essentially what agoraphobia is. The reason that we had to illustrate that situation in a more concrete manner as we try to understand what agoraphobia is all about is that the literal agoraphobia meaning doesn’t really tell the whole story. Literally, agoraphobia should mean fear of public spaces.
Obviously, from the situation that was described, agoraphobia is just so much more than that. In fact, it’s a lot worse than just being in a public space surrounded by a large group of people. It’s more like the fear of feeling suffocated by the presence of the people around you without knowing how to get out of it. The thing about agoraphobia that sets it apart from other phobias is that it’s one that is likely to inflict people who might be dealing with mental health or anxiety issues.
There are plenty of people out there who might be suffering from agoraphobia without them even realizing it. In fact, you might be one of those people. The reason that a lot of people don’t realize that they don’t have agoraphobia is that not a lot of people are aware that they might be inflicted with mental health issues or anxiety disorders. You definitely don’t want to be that kind of person. You always want to stay aware or mindful of whatever conditions you might have in your life – whether physical, mental, or emotional. The reason that this is so important is that when these issues or conditions are left to be ignored or unaddressed, then you are prone to spiraling into a very deep, dark, and dangerous zone that you might not be able to escape from.
If you are someone who has agoraphobia, it’s very important that you stay aware of your condition. Agoraphobia treatment is very much a viable option for anyone who might be inflicted with this fear. But you would never know what you should be getting help unless you make yourself aware of the many agoraphobia symptoms and signs that you could be exhibiting yourself.
There is just no denying that agoraphobia is probably one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions in the entire world. Sure, some people might have already encountered this word or idea in one way or another. But not too many people really know the details and the depths that are important to the understanding of what this condition really is and how it could impact a person’s life. It’s more than just having a panic attack. It’s more than just dealing with bouts of anxiety. It’s a very specific condition that can be triggered by very specific stimulants which can leave a very traumatic emotional mark on a human being.
It truly is a very complicated and complex phenomenon that the vast majority of human existence has a very infantile understanding of. And that’s truly a shame. We need to be able to bring more awareness to this issue. Let’s not confuse the condition of having a panic disorder with agoraphobia. Even though a panic disorder isn’t something that should be taken lightly, agoraphobia is just something else entirely. It’s brought about by completely different stimuli, and it can have many different treatments.
If you want to know whether you have agoraphobia or not, then you just have to make an effort to stay aware of the many symptoms or signs that accompany it. But if you don’t know what those signs or symptoms are, then you’ve come to the right place. This article is going to highlight five specific signs that someone might be inflicted with agoraphobia. If you feel like a lot of the signs here resonate with you, then it’s very likely that you really do have agoraphobia.
Even though you don’t like to be rude, you still have a tendency to be wary of going to large social events. You don’t hate people. In fact, you like social interaction. It’s just that you get apprehensive about certain social situations.
2. Whenever you walk into a room, you always immediately look for the way out.
You might not do it on a conscious level. But subconsciously, your mind is already trying to figure out an exit strategy whenever you walk into a room that is just full of people.
3. You have had bouts with panic attacks in the past.
If you have had a history of panic attacks in the past, then this might make you more susceptible to actually having agoraphobia or eventually developing it in the future.
4. You don’t really like to go anywhere unaccompanied.
You always want to be with someone you know and are comfortable with whenever you have to be within a large group of people.
5. You consistently have repeated panic attacks in public spaces.
As they say, if the problem persists, then consult a doctor. If the panic attacks just aren’t going away, then that means that something is really wrong, and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. This is for your own sake.
