agoraphobia

Agoraphobia (from the Greek words for marketplace and fear) is one of the modern anxiety disorders in which the sufferer is intensely afraid of being in situations from where it might be embarrassing or difficult to escape.

The phobia is increased by the notion of having a panic attack or an irrational amount of anxiety without being able to find help. The symptoms which are most feared to cause embarrassment are dizziness, fainting, confusion and diarrhoea. A modern lifestyle which revolves around malls, supermarkets, high-rise buildings and public transport can severely restrict the freedom of a person with agoraphobia. In fact, it could also be a contributory factor to the cause of the condition. Agoraphobia is associated with abnormal activation of arousal feedback cycles. This activation either follows or causes dysfunctional neuro-endocrine (brain and hormonal) responses. Two symptom patterns are visible which reciprocally influence each other to set off a vicious cycle. Firstly, the anticipation of the bodily effects of anxiety causes a build-up of emotional anxiety about going into the outer world. Secondly, once in the outer world, severe anxiety or a full blown panic attack with intense body symptoms causes an escalation of the fear of embarrassment or being unable to cope. This increases the anticipatory anxiety to the point of getting panic attacks even before venturing into the outer world. Agoraphobia is often associated and confused with social phobia, where the focus is on how others in the outer world will perceive the sufferer. However, agoraphobia is more about the response of the inner world than the outer world. It is therefore related to symbolic turmoil in the receptive, inner yin aspect of life. Consequently it is more common in females, and could relate to a perplexing relationship between mother and daughter, explaining the sense of impending doom that often underlies the superficial feelings.