Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces and can be awful on its own. In combination with Panic Disorderit can be obstructive. Around 3.2 million men and women deal with Agoraphobia on a daily basis. There is also a rise in the amount of people experiencing the severe version – Panic Disorder.
Those who suffer from Panic Disordercan find themselves unable to react to circumstances around them when an attack is under way. Their symptoms can be harsh ranging from chest pains to hyperventilation, to non-stop trembling. Agoraphobia is often times a contributing factor, but it is not the only one.
Attacks can be hazardous when people are driving. Their reflexes become impeded, and they may find it tough to react properly to situations around them. This makes it harder when other drivers aren’t aware of the situation or when they engage in road rage. This causes a real problem, with the patient not wanting to leave the home out of fear that they may have an attack, causing a wreck.
Many patients treat the condition with medicines, others try therapy and many try a combination of both. Others stay in seclusion, and live as hermits avoiding getting help for the panic attacks. When left untreated, these people can suffer depression or become suicidal.
Both settings have options for treatment. SSRIs such as Citalopram, Dapoxetine or Escitalopram can help, although these are not generally prescribed for certain groups such as liver disease sufferers or pregnant women. SSRIs are also known to have side effects, some severe and long lasting.
Benzodiazepines can also be used, although the medical community as a whole believes that they should not be a long term medication for either condition. They can, however, be used in combination with some therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) where the goal of the psychological therapy is to achieve a cure, while the Benzodiazepine suppresses the symptoms during treatment.
Groups already at risk of heart conditions, such as men and women over 40 should ensure they take extra care in choosing a treatment regime with their doctors, as both the Panic Disorderand some medications can cause complications in these patient groups. The long term dangers of addiction to drugs also need to be fully understood prior to commencing any form of treatment.
As always with medical or psychological issues, the best person to discuss potential treatment with is the family practitioner. People who believe they are suffering from any form of phobia, particularly panic symptoms with no apparent cause, should seek the advice of their doctors before undergoing any form of treatment. The doctor can refer patients to specialists in the relevant areas of expertise.
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