Agoraphobia: Causes and Treatment Plan (Essay Sample)

Agoraphobia
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Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder where victims ted to fear and avoid places or situations that are likely to cause panic. People are said to be agoraphobic when they are scared to be in situations where they feel embarrassed, helpless, and trapped. Often, it is not because a place is unsafe that people feel agoraphobic but because it is an open place where there is a likelihood of crowds. Panic attacks are the foundations of this disorder hence victims fear experiencing the same due to previous embarrassment. People with this disorder avoid public places, and if so, they desperately require the accompaniment of a friend or family with whom they feel safe around. In some instances, fear can become so overwhelming that such people are scared of leaving their home confinements. Treatment of this condition can be a challenge because it involves one confronting his or her fears.
People with this disorder are likely to manifest symptoms of a panic attack like rapid heartbeat and nauseating feelings whenever they find themselves in stressful situations (Kivi, 2018). It is also likely that such people experience panic symptoms before they get into such places because of their anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, up to 0.8 percent of American adults have this condition (Kivi, 2018). Up to 40% of the total cases are considered severe, whereby victims' normal activities become completely interfered with because they cannot do their daily