Agoraphobia – Fear of the Outside World

Human beings are social creatures. We have evolved to be part of communities. They help support our needs and provide for us while we contribute to the community in return. But for some of us, being part of a community can be difficult and at times impossible.

I experienced a bout of agoraphobia after my first panic attack in the summer of 2018. At first, it was localized to my job where I had the panic attack. I would walk into my office and start to feel my heart racing, my breathe quickening and I would break out into a cold sweat. I had to leave, immediately. I nearly ran out of the office back into my car and drove home.

But then it got worse. The following day, I didn’t make it to work at all. I got half way down the highway and had those same panicky feelings and started to freak out. I got off the first exit I could so I could turn around and go home. And it continued to escalate. I stopped trying to go to work at all and had to take a leave of absence. I even got uncomfortable in the grocery store parking lot. My head jetting from side to side looking at people, feeling absolutely terrified. So, I stopped going to the store.

Things got so bad that I didn’t leave my house for anything. I wouldn’t go to my mailbox because I thought people were staring at me. I ended up confining myself to my bedroom, only leaving to use the bathroom or grab some food from the kitchen. I felt so much fear and so much anxiety that I considered applying for disability because I never thought I could function like a normal person again.

What is Agoraphobia?

According to the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the bible of mental disorders, agoraphobia is defined as an anxiety disorder in which individuals have a disproportionate fear of public spaces. They would perceive such spaces as too open, crowded or dangerous. Panic attacks, or fear of panic attacks, are typically associated with agoraphobia.

Symptoms of Agoraphobia

1.     Anxiety Symptoms (You must have notable fear or anxiety about two or more of the following situations:

·       Using public transportation

·       Being in open spaces

·       Being in enclosed spaces (stores, theaters, cinemas)

·       Standing in line or being in a crowd

·       Being outside the home alone

2.     Situations are avoided or endured with notable distress or anxiety, or require the presence of a companion

3.     The situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety

4.     The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the situation

5.     The fear, anxiety or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting 6 or more months

6.     The fear, anxiety or avoidance causes significant distress or impairment of important areas of functioning in life

7.     The anxiety or avoidance is not better explained by another mental disorder

Additional Symptoms

Lifestyle Symptoms

·       Becoming isolated or detached

·       Feeling afraid of being alone

·       Overdependence on others

·       Being afraid of losing control in public

·       Avoiding places that may be difficult to escape from

·       Refusing to leave the house

Physical Symptoms

·       Racing heart / palpitations

·       Excessive sweating

·       Feeling sick

·       Chest pain

·       Digestive discomfort or diarrhea

·       Feeling faint or dizzy

·       Trembling

Causes of Agoraphobia

As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of agoraphobia is not fully understood. Some prevailing hypotheses include:

·       ‘Fight or flight’ reflex

o   The ‘fight or flight’ reflex is our body’s natural defense of protecting you from a stressful or dangerous situation. The activation of this system may be triggered improperly leading to the panicky symptoms associated with agoraphobia

·       Neurochemical imbalance

o   An imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain can affect mood and behavior. This can lead to a heightened stress response in certain situations, triggering the feeling of panic

·       Spatial awareness

o   Links have been found between agoraphobia and spatial awareness. Spatial awareness is the ability to judge where you are in relation to other objects and people. Some people with agoraphobia have a weakened balance system. This may cause a feeling of overwhelm and disorientation in crowded spaces.

·       Psychological factors

o   Trauma in childhood – death of a parent or sexual abuse

o   Stressful event – mourning, divorce or losing your job

o   History of mental illness – depression, anorexia or bulimia

o   Alcohol or drug abuse

o   Being in an unhappy relationship, or in a relationship where your partner is very controlling

Treating Agoraphobia

I lived with my agoraphobia for several weeks. I started seeing a mental health professional almost immediately after my panic attack on a weekly basis over the phone. After about a month, I felt comfortable enough to have in-person sessions. I ended up resigning from the job I had, as it was a contributing cause of the panic attack I experienced along with the agoraphobia. I had a lot of unresolved trauma from my past that I was ignoring for many years. But our minds can only hold so much before it expresses itself one way or another. For me it was a panic attack and the agoraphobia. And what helped treat these symptoms and the underlying trauma was the Emotional Freedom Technique.

Emotional Freedom Technique:

EFT, also known as tapping, can be an effective way of treating agoraphobia. EFT involves tapping on acupressure points on your own body in order to calm the amygdala, the fear center of the brain. The tapping allows for the Chi (emotional energy) to move more freely and bring a sense of relief and calm to the mind and body.

Tapping can be used prior to and during the panicky symptoms that one is experiencing to help reduce its intensity in the moment and bring relief. EFT can be used with an experienced mental health practitioner to alleviate the source of the agoraphobia and any underlying trauma, thus preventing any discomfort from being experienced at all. Agoraphobia may be triggered by a stressful event, but any underlying symptoms come from unresolved emotions and trauma that an individual is carrying with them.

Ending the fear of the outside world

You do not have to live feeling afraid to step outside of your home. Going to the store or movie theater does not have to be filled distress and discomfort. You can let go of the pain that is causing you to fear being around other people.

If that sounds like a life that you want to live. A life without fear. A life where you can go wherever you want with peace and confidence, then feel free to take advantage of the free tapping session that I offer to see if EFT and I are a good fit for you.