Agoraphobia Management: Effective Treatment Options

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Agoraphobia Management Effective Treatment
Options
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Introduction

• According to past studies, anxiety disorders
  affect 33.7 of the worlds population in their
  life time. In the United States alone, 40 million
  adults suffer from some form of anxiety disorders
  every year. This translates to 18.1 of the total
  population. These statistics are alarming just to
  say the least. Suffice it to say that if you are
  not a victim, someone in your circles probably
  is.
• Anxiety in itself is a normal human emotion.
  Healthy people feel nervous from time to time.
  For example, you may feel nervous just before you
  walk into the exam room or prior to making a
  life-changing decision. However, when you notice
  you have extreme feelings of panic and anxiety
  over simple things like going to the grocery
  store or the mall, chances are you suffer from
  some type of anxiety disorder.

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• This mental condition can stop you from carrying
  on with your social life. It can consume with
  your mind with constant thoughts of worry and
  fear round the clock. Anxiety disorders are
  varied including panic disorders, social anxiety
  disorder (aka social phobia), obsessive
  compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress
  disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder,
  generalized anxiety disorder, and specific
  phobias.
• Agoraphobia, the irrational fear of crowds, is a
  type of panic and anxiety disorder that is both
  rare and severe in equal measure. Addiction Hope
  puts the number of American adults suffering from
  this deadly condition as 1.8 million. From this
  figure, it is safe to say that this problem is
  not a reserve for America only the entire world
  needs to share in this pie as well.
• Follow through as we shed more light into the
  symptoms, causes and treatment of agoraphobia.

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Table of Contents

• What is Agoraphobia?
• Causes of Agoraphobia.
• Symptoms.
• Treatment Options.
• Additional Information.
• Self-help Techniques During an Attack.

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What is Agoraphobia?

• Agoraphobia is a form of anxiety disorder that
  causes an individual to fear crowds. People with
  this condition often shudder at the thought of
  leaving their own homes, going to crowded places
  and generally entering spaces with no escape
  routes. They fear the risk of having a panic
  attack in a public place.
• Agoraphobics avoid elevators, large open spaces,
  huge music concerts, travelling, and crossing
  bridges. The avoidance behaviours differ for
  different agoraphobics. Some fear having a panic
  attack on the wheel. Because of this, they will
  not only avoid driving but using any means of
  transportation whatsoever including a train, bus,
  bike, and plane.
• These queer behaviours have a tendency to pick up
  pace over time. If not checked, they can
  certainly impair a persons quality of life
  considerably. For instance, an agoraphobic may
  have a hard time travelling for work or business
  appointments or showing up for social gatherings.
  In short, everyday life becomes utterly affected.

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Causes of Agoraphobia

• Doctors havent yet made a conclusive report on
  what really causes agoraphobia. However, certain
  factors increase your risk of developing this
  mental condition. These include
• Substance abuse
• A second type of anxiety disorder such as
  obsessive compulsive disorder or generalized
  anxiety disorder.
• Feelings if depression
• Genetics
• Suffering from another type of phobia such as
  claustrophobia or social phobia.
• Sexual or physical abuse history.
• According to Healthline, agoraphobia is more
  prevalent in women than in men. Typically, the
  condition comes around when you are a young adult
  of around 20 years of age. If not treated, the
  symptoms intensify over time until it takes full
  control of your entire life.

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Symptoms

• If an agoraphobic is forced into an uncomfortable
  situation, he or she will most likely experience
  intense anxiety feelings evidenced by the
  following symptoms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• An increased heart rate
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Light headedness
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Trembling

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• Shortness of breath
• Problems with swallowing
• Feeling too hot or too cold
• Fear of dying

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Treatment options

• Treatment of agoraphobia should occur as early as
  possible. National Institute of Mental Health
  (NIHM) estimates that 40 agoraphobic cases are
  actually severe. If left untreated, the condition
  can be quite disabling. It can affect the quality
  of life in more ways than one.
• When you visit the doctor, they will first make a
  proper diagnosis to know which treatment option
  is right for you. Heck, it may even be that the
  stomach bug got to you or you had a heart attack.
  Youll be asked questions in the lines of when
  you first noticed you were agoraphobic, the
  medical history of both you and your family and
  all the symptoms you have been experiencing. You
  may also need to give out your blood for testing
  as this will reveal any physical cause for the
  disorder.
• There are certain standards outlined by the
  American Psychiatric Association in their
  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
  Disorders (DSM). If your diagnosis doesnt meet
  the standards, you will not be declared
  agoraphobic.
• According to the DSM, being a person with
  agoraphobia means having extreme feelings of
  anxiety in two or more of the symptoms below.

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• Leaving home on your own
• Using public means of transport such as a bus or
  train
• Being in crowded open places like the parking lot
  or the grocery store
• Being in the middle of a crowd
• Being in enclosed places like a car or an
  elevator
• DSM has a few more other conditions that need to
  be fulfilled before a person is declared
  agoraphobic. If the symptoms are caused by
  something else such as substance abuse or any
  other type of disorder, they will be declared
  free from agoraphobia.
• There are three treatment options for this mental
  condition. Lets delve deeper into each of them
  below.

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• 1. Therapy
• Therapy is often the most effective agoraphobia
  management option for most medical experts. When
  combined with medication, the outcome is even
  more fruitful. There are three main therapies
  employed in managing this condition.
• Psychotherapy
• Commonly referred to as talk therapy,
  psychotherapy involves visiting a therapist or
  any other mental health expert on a regular basis
  just to talk. It is a fantastic method of
  treatment because it allows you to express your
  fears to a stranger whom you can trust. During
  the appointment, you can talk about all the
  issues you face with regards to the panic
  disorder. Psychotherapy is often a short-term
  solution that is stopped once you are able to
  counter your anxiety and fears.

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• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Almost all agoraphobics undergo this type of
  therapy at some point in their lifetime. CBT is
  almost similar to psychotherapy only that it is
  thorough and thought-provoking. Here, your
  negative thoughts and feelings towards
  agoraphobia will be challenged to the core. The
  therapist will help you know how to handle
  stressful situations right from the mind. It is
  highly successful method in trying to help you
  gain control over your anxiety and fears.
• Exposure therapy
• As the name suggests, exposure therapy focuses on
  helping you cope with anxiety by releasing you
  into environments you had initially termed as
  unsafe At first, this will seem overwhelming
  and downright frustrating but once the process is
  done, you wont believe the far you would have
  come by then.

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• 2. Medicine
• Both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications
  are used in combination with therapy for optimal
  results. Antidepressants are commonly referred to
  as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
  (SSRIs) and they include fluoxetin (Prozac) and
  sertraline (Zoloft). These have been known to
  bring down any feelings of depression that often
  accompany anxiety.
• Anti-anxiety medication or simply
  benzodiazepines, on the other hand, are sedatives
  that can be used by your doctor to help relieve
  symptoms of anxiety. They are often utilized on a
  short-term basis, mainly for acute cases. These
  drugs can be rather addictive. Doctors have
  therefore put out strong cautions especially for
  people who have suffered from anxiety problems
  for a relatively long period of time.
• Please note that medication may take up-to 2
  weeks to relieve anxiety symptoms. Also, you may
  have to try different medications before you
  arrive at your perfect fit.

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• 3. Lifestyle changes
• Lifestyle changes will not treat agoraphobia
  directly but will help the course of treatment in
  more ways than one. Here are proven habits you
  can embrace that will ensure this.
• Regular exercise Physical fitness helps
  alleviate any feeling of tension and stress
  within your body. It also helps improve your
  overall mood.
• Healthy eating An unhealthy diet may worsen
  anxiety feelings.
• Stop using drugs and alcohol Even if you get
  temporary relief, these will have adverse effects
  in the long term.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks These include coffee,
  tea and cola. Like poor diet, caffeinated drinks
  worsen anxiety symptoms.
• Practice meditation and breathing Daily
  meditation and deep breathing exercises also help
  fight anxiety and frequent panic attacks

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Additional Information

• If you notice any symptom of agoraphobia, there
  are certain actions you need to undertake to get
  help. These should come from your willingness to
  combat the mental condition once and for all.
  These include the following
• Know the condition This should be on top of your
  list of priority. Dont just sit back and do
  nothing about the disorder, acquire as much
  information about it as you can. Learn how to
  react to stressful situations. Correct your
  negative thinking towards crowded and enclosed
  spaces. This will not happen overnight so take
  one day at a time. When you fail, try again.

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• Find support There are a ton of support groups
  for agoraphobics and other people suffering from
  anxiety disorders out there. Look around your
  community for an available self-help group you
  can be a part of. Join both online and physical
  ones to take full advantage of the benefits of
  these groups in managing anxiety disorders. You
  will most likely meet other people who have
  triumphed. People who dont stress over leaving
  their homes or hoping on the train. Apart from
  support groups, you should be open to your
  friends and family. Let them know what you are
  going through and how you would like them to help
  you.
• Talk to a mental health professional It is
  prudent to seek professional help the second
  agoraphobia symptoms kick in. Ignore all the
  feelings of embarrassment that will overwhelm you
  at this point. Look for a genuine mental care
  professional and let them assess your condition.
  Remember if you dont nip it in the bud, it might
  develop and become almost irreversible.

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Self-help Techniques During an Attack

• When a panic attack strikes, the first thing at
  the top of your head would be to make a run for
  it. However, this will only worsen the condition.
  Instead, take the bull by its horns and use these
  self-help techniques to combat it.
• Divert your thoughts When panic gets the best of
  you, the best thing you can do is to try and
  focus on a totally different thing such as the
  beautiful ring at the store or the beautiful baby
  playing at the park. Constantly remind yourself
  that if you shifted your focus long enough, the
  feelings of anxiety will soon pass.
• Stay put Even if your whole body tells you to
  look for the closest escape route, do all you can
  to stay put. If you are driving, stay calm until
  it is safe for you to park the vehicle.

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• Think good thoughts In a moment of anxiety and
  panic, you want to create a mental picture of a
  place, person or situation that brings you peace.
  This will help shift the focus from anxiety to
  feelings of calmness.
• Resist the urge to fight a panic attack This
  will only make the situation worse. Instead,
  accept embarrassment for the moment it wont
  kill you anyway.
• Agoraphobia is a real problem affecting people
  all over the world. Thankfully, it is a condition
  that can be managed and treated. For best
  results, treatment of agoraphobia should consist
  of a subset of the different treatment options
  i.e. therapy, medication, lifestyle change, and
  self-help techniques.
• Holistic Healthcare Centre offers long-lasting
  solutions to agoraphobia as well as physical and
  mental health concerns. Their practitioners work
  together as a team to help you accomplish optimal
  health. They are not only approachable, but also
  cares about helping their clients lead full and
  happy lives.

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The End

• Find out more, Please Visit- http//www.hhccentr
  e.com/agoraphobia/