Agoraphobia

• a feeling of light-headedness or a feeling of being detached from one's own body  buzzing in the ears, blurring vision, a dry mouth, tingling in the face and arms
  
• difficulty in breathing perhaps breathlessness without any reason
  
• a sudden feeling of extreme panic, heart palpitations, indigestion, dizziness, severe backache without apparent cause, headaches and other muscle aches and pains, weakness of the legs, sweating, nausea, shaking hands, fear of fainting, fear of heart attack

Causes

Almost anyone can develop agoraphobia, although it is generally associated with people who are perfectionists, conscientious or have a tendency to be nervous.

Agoraphobia usually starts with an underlying stress, which might be the result of sudden life changes, losses or separation. This underlying stress may not be recognised, although the sufferer may begin to change their behaviour. The change in behaviour may only be slight to begin with, for example the person may start to restrict going to certain public places. The agoraphobia may only become apparent when these self-imposed restrictions start to disable the person by making them almost completely house-bound.

Treatments

Treatment for agoraphobia is usually very successful and can involve either short-term drug therapy or psychotherapy in a rehabilitation environment. Medicated therapy is usually effective and is only needed for a short period of time.

Rehabilitation centers or psychotherapy is also useful in helping people with agoraphobia using a cognitive behavioural therapy type treatment method, where the therapist exposes the agoraphobic person the situations that they have been avoiding.

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