Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder which is explained by a feeling of fear, dread and uneasiness about leaving a familiar place or surroundings. This can affect people wanting to travel, use public transport, going to malls or shopping centre’s that are associated with crowded places. This condition is related to anxiety, depression, panic as well as other phobias.

The fear and dread about leaving home or another safe place is considered not to be associated with fear of the public place itself, or the fear of lots of people, but it is actually the learned fear from a previous panic attack in a previous situation.

The onset of agoraphobia can be sudden and unexpected; it may take months or years to develop into a feeling of dread or fear of those public situations. The fear of leaving the house can inhibit people from even collecting the mail from the letterbox or milk from the front door of their home.

WHAT FACTORS CAN CAUSE THIS CONDITION TO DEVELOP?

• Stress of loss, separation or death of a family member or a close friend;
• Sudden life changes can bring emotional stress;

Long term stress that builds up without the person knowing, then panic attacks are experienced which can gradually develop into agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is further reinforced by feelings of hopelessness, anger and guilt about the condition itself.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

• Confusion
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Loss of self esteem and self confidence
• Feelings of depression
• Self medicating with drugs and alcohol
• Fear of loss of control
• Anger and frustration about oneself
• Other phobias

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

• Fear of heart attack
• Feelings of light-headiness
• Feelings of being detached from ones body or surroundings.
• Blurred vision, dry mouth, tingling in the face r arms.
• Breathlessness or difficulty in breathing, not being able to inhale enough breath.
• Heart palpitations
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Wobbly or weakness on the legs.
• Sweating
• Headaches as well as other muscle aches and pains.
• Shaking hands.
• Fear of fainting.
• Dizziness
• Sudden feeling  of extreme panic