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eLearning Series: Mental Illness
Explain Mental Illnesses To Me
What
Is Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia,
when literally translated, means fear of a marketplace. Agoraphobia, when it becomes more severe,
will become fear of a public area or place. Beyond this definition
are several different emotions and reactions to places that
are attached. It is known that one-third of people who have
panic disorder will begin to develop agoraphobia. Understanding
the how and why of how agoraphobia manifests itself offers
a beginning for you to begin to be able to cope agoraphobia
as a mental illness.
Agoraphobia will usually begin when you are having a panic
attack. Sometimes, this can be as soon as the very first panic
attack that is carried through with. This panic attack, to
you, may seem to have no basis to it and only begin out of
nowhere. As a result, the panic attack scenario becomes associated
with a place that you are in. This association then leads to
avoidance of the place as well as trying to avoid other places
that have the same types of people or things as part of the
surroundings.
There
are several reasons for the panic attack occurring. Often times, it is a result of a stressful situation that is
occurring in the environment around you or in your life. Other
times, it may be a result of anxiety that is occurring in your
life. If this is not taken care of, or if you are having a
hard time coping, your brain will react by causing a panic
attack. If there is increased fear and discomfort in your life
as well, then a panic attack may occur.
There are several physical side affects that are related to
a panic attack. The first thing that you may notice is that
your heart rate will begin to get faster. As a result, there
will be pain that occurs in your chest. You may find yourself
beginning to sweat from this. Your breath will become short,
which will cause you to become dizzy. You may also begin to
shake from the panic attack. After these different things occur,
then you may notice that several fears will begin to take place.
Panic attacks will then turn into panic disorders, where one
is afraid to put themselves in a situation. While this fear
may rise, those with agoraphobia don’t necessarily take themselves
out of situations that cause panic attacks at first. Many times,
the fear of going into the area will lead them to bring a friend
with them in order to feel safe. Other instances become more
extreme where the person who is having the panic attacks and
fear will stay at home. If this fear is not treated, it becomes
worsened by more panic attacks and more fear of being in a
public area. These fears cause the person with the mental disorder
to establish what is known as zones of safety. The person will
become afraid of moving out of these areas.
One of the major results of agoraphobia is simply avoiding
situations. This may mean that you ask others to go to public
places for you or with you. At other times, this avoidance
is only by mentally being in a place, but trying not to think
of where you are. This avoidance at a more extreme level means
that you won’t leave your home in order to go places.
If you are finding that you have a fear of going into public
places and are relying on others to take you out of what you
may know as safety zones, then it is important to begin getting
help right away. To begin, there is a medication that can be
offered to you in order to calm down the panic attacks as well
as make you less afraid of where you are. The second step is
to receive cognitive-behavioral therapy. This will allow you
to be able to learn about what your fears are, when they started
and how to move past the avoidance of situations.
One of the parts of the therapy that you will probably take
part in is known as desensitization. This is also referred
to as gradual exposure therapy. Over a certain amount of time,
you will be requested to go into the areas that cause you the
most fear. While in these situations, you will learn how to
face the fears and anxiety that result. Over time, the fear
will become less threatening and you will be able to move into
places more easily.
If you are afraid of moving into public areas and situations,
or avoid certain places because of panic attacks, then you
may be developing agoraphobia. By doing this, you may be in
danger of becoming homebound and never leaving a safety zone.
If you know someone who has this disorder, or if you believe
that you have it yourself, then it is important to get help
as soon as possible. There are several methods and treatments
that can move you past your fears and allow you to face public
areas again. # # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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