What Is Agoraphobia? The Number 1 Side Effect of Panic Disorder

Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces according to the dictionary. However agoraphobia is more recognizable to people when you label it as phobic avoidance or the act of avoiding things that might cause you intense anxiety or a panic attack. What is agoraphobia and why do you have it? Keep reading to find out.

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia was once thought to be an extreme version of social anxiety, but studies have recently found that nearly all people who suffer from agoraphobia also had untreated panic disorders. Long term anxiety and panic disorder can make you avoid things that may cause you to have a panic attack.

This becomes a real problem when you start to avoid everyday activities like:

• Shopping at the grocery store
• Driving
• Avoiding social events (concerts, weddings, anywhere there may be a crowd of people)
• Going outside to get the mail
• Being afraid to go to work
• At its worst you may not ever want to leave the comfort and safety of your home

Agoraphobia is a progressive cycle of fear that only gets worse the longer it goes untreated. You may find that medications can help ease your symptoms, but no cure has been identified in medicine.

People that are afflicted with this condition rarely get the courage to leave their home and when they do it is a constant struggle. They are constantly terrified that they might have an embarrassing panic attack in public and never want to leave their house ever again.

Phobias are irrational fears, but telling someone who has a phobia that they are being "irrational" about their fears is not only incredibly insensitive, it's completely inaccurate as well. Agoraphobia is a mental affliction. The fears and insecurities that you feel are very real to you and that is why it can be so disabling to your life.

If you look up "what is agoraphobia" you will see a definition that says the fear of open spaces. That's a very broad and ambiguous description so just know that if you have agoraphobia you have an untreated panic disorder. They have been specifically linked to people who suffer from panic attacks.

In order to get your life back you need to work on lowering your general anxiety. If this sounds like you be sure to speak to your doctor about medications and therapy to help you regain control of your life. Living in constant fear is not living at all and you know you deserve better than that!

Please Read This

Agoraphobia causes feelings of isolation, severe depression and even suicidal thoughts. You can't let this destroy your life! I urge you to check out my blog post What is agoraphobiafor a better understanding of what you are going through and what steps you need to take to be able to live free of fear and reluctance once again.