It can be difficult to come to the decision to seek treatment for any type of emotional or mental disorder. Sometimes, the person who suffers cannot diagnose themselves. Other times, even if self-diagnosis happens, or if others have advised that the person seek treatment, the fear of stigma, among other factors, may prevent a person from seeking treatment. However, if you have symptoms that are interfering with your day to day life and causing you distress, there is no need to continue suffering. Seeking agoraphobia treatment is a courageous decision. Let’s look at some of the symptoms that may indicate agoraphobia.
First of all, what is agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is classified alongside other anxiety disorders, though it is often a result of these disorders. Agoraphobic people feel intense fear when they are in an unfamiliar place, a large crowd, or a space that is open to the public. In sever cases, they are afraid to leave their own houses.
What is the cause of agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia can be triggered by social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder. Most of the time, it develops as a result of the panic attacks that these other disorders cause; the person does not want to risk embarrassment if a panic attack occurs. If an attack has occurred in public places in the past, oftentimes agoraphobia develops.
Since agoraphobia often happens as a result of untreated anxiety disorder, it is important to look at the symptoms of that problem. When anxiety levels are too high, the brain can create reactions that may worsen over time and may eventually become agoraphobia. Here are some of the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Do you have an intense fear of social situations?
Do you know that your fear is usually unfounded, but still cannot control it?
If your anxiety causes you to avoid social situations or functions you would otherwise attend.
Do you experience physical symptoms of your anxiety?
If you experience a sense of impending doom even when there is nothing immediate to be frightened of.
Panic attacks have many symptoms. These include having difficulty breathing, trembling, flashes of hot or cold, hear palpitations, tightness or pain in the chest, and dizziness. Panic attacks often feel, to first time sufferers, like heart attacks or nervous breakdowns. Even if your symptoms are not this severe, it might be important to explore treatment, because anxiety symptoms can reinforce each other and worsen over time.
Do not feel strange or abnormal if you think you need to seek treatment. Many people all over the world have overcome anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. Especially if your symptoms are hindering your everyday life and functions, seeking agoraphobia treatment is the right thing to do. You can overcome this.
Marcelo Quijanios is a research journalist. At the moment he is investigating a new method to alleviate him of his anxiety panic attacks. The results of this treatment are very promising and claim to have helped many people in the past.