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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffA phobia is the excessive fear of a specific object, circumstance or situation. Agoraphobia is excessive worry about having a panic attack in a public place. Typical agoraphobia symptoms include:
- Fear of being alone
- Fear of being in crowded places, such as in a shopping mall or sports stadium
- Fear of losing control in a public place
- Fear of being in places where it may be hard to leave, such as an elevator or train
- Inability to leave your house for long periods (housebound)
- Sense of helplessness
- Overdependence on others
- A sense that your body is unreal
In addition, you may also have signs and symptoms similar to a panic attack, including:
- Lightheadedness
- Trouble breathing
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Upset stomach or diarrhea
- Chest pain
- Feeling a loss of control
- Trouble swallowing
When to see a doctor
Agoraphobia can severely limit your ability to socialize, work, attend important events and even manage the details of daily life, such as running errands.
Some people with agoraphobia have "safe zones," or places they can go without severe worry, especially if accompanied by a trusted friend or relative. Sometimes they may muster up the courage to go somewhere, but they still feel severely distressed and anxious.
Often, however, agoraphobia can make you feel like a prisoner in your own home. If you anticipate having a panic attack when you venture out in public, you may indeed have one — causing a vicious cycle. The number of places you're able to go may become fewer and fewer.
Don't let agoraphobia make your world smaller. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of agoraphobia.
- Agoraphobia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Hollander E, et al. Panic disorders. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Ciechanowski P. Overview of phobic disorders in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 3, 2009.
- Shearer SL. Recent advances in the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2007;34:475.
- Agoraphobia. In: Moore DP, et al. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125211023-6/0/1243/85.html?tocnode=52436571&fromURL=85.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02911-6..X5001-5--section6_797. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Richardson WH, et al. Herbal drugs of abuse: An emerging problem. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2007;25:435.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 12, 2009.
