Anxiety Disorders: Common Symptoms Of Agoraphobia

Definition: Agoraphobia is the fear of being in a situation where there may be lack of an escape or help, and may result in embarrassment and humiliation. (MedicineNet, 2013) This may include being in a public or open place; like in a crowd, standing in line, being in some mode of transportation, being on a bridge, or being out alone. (Psych Central Staff, 2013) Often, those with Agoraphobia need the presence of a companion to leave their house or venture to specific places. Anxiety is accompanied when one is placed in these threatening situations and they will experience panic-like symptoms or a panic attack. This fear will cause one to entirely avoid these places or situations and become more reclusive to decrease the panic attacks.

Agoraphobia is anxiety about being in (or anticipating) situations that might be difficult or in which help may not be available in the event of having a panic attack. The individual might feel like the situation is unsafe and that is when the panic sets in. These symptoms must be present for at least six months. The DSM states that this must occur in at least two of these places: 1) public transportation 2) being in open spaces 3) being in enclosed spaces 4) standing in line or in a crowd or 5) being outside the home alone. Agoraphobia can be diagnosed with or without panic disorder. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

Agoraphobia is a mental disorder. It is a type of anxiety or fear. People with agoraphobia fear public places where they may be trapped, helpless, or embarrassed in the event of a panic attack or loss of control. They often start to avoid the feared situations or insist that another person go with them. Agoraphobia may interfere with normal daily activities and personal relationships. People with severe agoraphobia may become completely homebound and dependent on others for groceries and other errands.

Phobic disorders are objects, places, things that people develop a fear of that are not realistically dangerous. People often develop this usually from one past experience. Many people have arachnophobia, acrophobia, claustrophobia, and hydrophobia. There is some strange phobias that people develop like homophobia, fear of long words, fear of popping balloons and fear that somewhere a duck is watching you. I don’t know if it was from when I was a child but I fear that people are going to let go of their balloons or pop them, which is very strange. My friend has agoraphobia which greatly affected her social life, and only last year got over it to find a job and be able to shop by herself. I used to have to drag her into town when I needed to go and if she saw someone we knew she would hide, and would even run out of the store.

"This is just a time for me to emotionally check out for a second and take care of myself and come back in 30 days as the best 30-year-old woman I can be," this was said by LeAnn Rimes, a country artist who has won two Grammy’s, three Academy of Country Music awards, a Country Music Award, and four Billboard music awards, and more. Rimes recently entered a 30-day-in-patient treatment facility to cope with anxiety and stress. Anyone who listens to country music and enjoys LeAnn Rimes would most likely never guess she would be suffering from any type of disorder. It’s interesting to see that even celebrities who are known to stand up on stage in front of thousands of people to perform still develop different types of anxiety. In this paper, I

A phobic disorder is marked by a persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that presents no realistic danger. Agoraphobia is an intense, irrational fear or anxiety occasioned by the prospect of having to enter certain outdoor locations or open spaces. For example, busy streets, busy stores, tunnels, bridges, public transportation and cars. Traditionally agoraphobia was solely classified as a phobic disorder. However, due to recent studies it is now also viewed as a panic disorder. Panic disorders are characterised by recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that usually occur suddenly and unexpectedly (Weiten, 1998).

The patient we will call “Liz”. She is a 38 year old, white female. She is married and has 3 children. She suffers from agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person is afraid to be in public places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or help unavailable if panic-like symptoms were to occur (Comer, 2014, p. 111). Her first experience with panic attack in a public place occurred in her early twenties.

Discuss issues of reliability and validity associated with the classification and diagnosis of phobic disorders (24 marks)

A phobic disorder is marked by a persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that presents no realistic danger. Agoraphobia is an intense, irrational fear or anxiety occasioned by the prospect of having to enter certain outdoor locations or open spaces. For example, busy streets, busy stores, tunnels, bridges, public transportation and cars. Traditionally agoraphobia was solely classified as a phobic disorder. However, due to recent studies it is now also viewed as a panic disorder. Panic disorders are characterised by recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that usually occur suddenly and unexpectedly (Weiten, 1998).

As you walk the streets all around you there are individuals who may live their life in fear of the petrifying clowns that appear out of nowhere, the spine-chilling darkness that creeps in at dusk, or even the nauseating germs of others surrounding you, but what if you knew someone simply terrified of the outdoors. This may seem strange, but these individuals are constantly living in fear of the outside world away from their “Safe Zone”. From the moment they wake they fear the outside world, constantly panicking about what could happen if they venture to the outdoors. Agoraphobia affects between 5-12% of Americans (Misconceptions of Agoraphobia), and is essential to become aware of the true definition of Agoraphobia.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a common mental disorder associated with excessive unnecessary worrying. There are many causes, symptoms, and treatments associated with it. While Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be paralyzing to an individual, with proper treatment a person can still function and live a normal life.

Agoraphobia could be a result of previously repressed emotional problems, such as a death of a loved-one or any type of abuse. The fear of some situations is learned. After feeling uneasy in one situation someone might think they will get the same feeling next time. this is classified on the DSM-IV it is an excessive or unrealistic worry about life circumstances.

Panic disorder and agoraphobia are two separate disorders that often go hand in hand with each other. An individual can be diagnosed with panic disorder, but a diagnosis without agoraphobia can often take place as well. Some individuals develop symptoms of agoraphobia, but do not have the classic panic disorder symptoms, hence the reason they are both listed as separate disorders in the DSM-5. Panic disorder can be identified as “recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time four or more physical and cognitive characteristics take place (Hooley, J. 2017, pg.188).” When dealing with panic disorder it can often become debilitating, due to the fact that the individual does not know when the onset of an attack will occur. Individuals with panic disorder more commonly develop agoraphobia as a comorbid disorder, and if left untreated, can have a difficult time even leaving their home. Agoraphobia can be defined as “the individual fears or avoids

According to the DSM, the major symptoms of Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia are, recurrent panic attacks and enduring anxiety about experiencing another panic attack. The individual is also anxious about going places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where they will be unable to receive assistance in case of emergency.

Anxiety is a reaction to things that stress you. It is normal to have some anxiety at work, school, or home. It is when anxiety becomes a daily occurrence with no known cause that it is categorized as a disorder. Anxiety, panic, and depression often begin with normal stress that gets out of control.