Medication
Agoraphobia treatment usually involves a combination of treatment methods: therapy, medication and lifestyle changes. A therapist can help you work through your fears. Using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a mental healthcare provider can help you recognize thoughts that cause you anxiety. Then you’ll learn ways to react more productively.
Therapy
Treatment - Agoraphobia Self-help techniques and lifestyle changes. Learning more about agoraphobia and its association with panic disorder and... Psychological therapies. If your symptoms do not respond to self-help techniques and lifestyle changes, your GP may... Medicine. Sometimes medicine can ...
Self-care
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a very useful treatment option for phobias such as agoraphobia and will normally be used in conjunction with medication. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps to change the way you think about your fears and anxieties.
Nutrition
Sep 27, 2013 · Treatment Options There are different ways in which people seek help for agoraphobia disorder; one of the most common ways is through behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. Working out their issues and talking to another person about their fears tends to help some people overcome their phobia.
What is the most effective treatment for agoraphobia?
Oct 03, 2021 · Agoraphobia Therapy Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a proven, scientific method to help treat all kinds of anxiety disorders.
How to overcome agoraphobia fast and naturally?
Oct 15, 2021 · SSRIs are typically considered first-choice treatments for agoraphobia. They’re also used to treat depression and anxiety disorders (including panic disorders ). A few examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Common side effects of SSRIs include: Headache Dry mouth Sleeping problems Dizziness
Which medications are used to treat agoraphobia?
How to get rid of agoraphobia?
Home remedies & lifestyle changes. Preparing for an appointment. Takeaway. Talk therapy and certain medications are considered first-line treatments for agoraphobia, but you can also improve symptoms with certain self-care strategies. When you have agoraphobia, you may fear not being able to escape a certain place or situation, such as the subway, ...
What does it mean when you have agoraphobia?
When you have agoraphobia, you may fear not being able to escape a certain place or situation, such as the subway, movie theater, a large crowd, or a long line at the grocer y store. You may also fear not having help if you experience distressing physical sensations, like a panic attack or physical health problems.
Can agoraphobia cause you to be unable to leave your home?
This fear may lead you to avoid certain situations or to engage in safety behaviors, such as asking someone to ride the subway with you or accompany you to the grocery store. In severe cases, people with agoraphobia may be unable to leave their homes.
Can you leave your home with agoraphobia?
In severe cases, people with agoraphobia may be unable to leave their homes. However, while living with agoraphobia can be challenging, effective help is available. Psychotherapy (“talk therapy”) is considered the treatment of choice and may offer long-term benefits.
Can exposure therapy help with agoraphobia?
If exposure-based therapy doesn’t work for your agoraphobia, another option may be panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy extended range (PFPP-XR). Research has found PFPP-XR can be effective for anxiety disorders, including panic disorder with agoraphobia. In 24 biweekly sessions, people gain a deeper understanding of their anxiety.
How to help someone with agoraphobia?
Practice breathing and relaxation skills. Research has found that relaxation and breathing exercises can be useful tools when treating panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. If you experience panic attacks as part of your agoraphobia, these techniques can help you feel grounded.
Does alcohol cause agoraphobia?
Some people with agoraphobia may use substances to manage their anxiety, but this can worsen the condition. For instance, alcohol may affect your sleep and spike anxiety as the effects wear off. Caffeine can heighten physical sensations associated with anxiety.
What are the challenges of agoraphobia?
People dealing with agoraphobia face some of the greatest mental health challenges: fear of leaving an environment deemed to be safe. As many agoraphobia sufferers see their home as the only safe place, this means they face incredible difficulty carrying out simple, everyday tasks, from going to work to taking the kids to school to going to the store for groceries.
Is it safe to go to the store with agoraphobia?
As many agoraphobia sufferers see their home as the only safe place, this means they face incredible difficulty carrying out simple, everyday tasks, from going to work to taking the kids to school to going to the store for groceries. The good news is that extensive studying of agoraphobia has led to the emergence of several rather effective methods ...
Is agoraphobia a form of anxiety?
The good news is that extensive studying of agoraphobia has led to the emergence of several rather effective methods for treating this condition, which is a form of anxiety. The right form of treatment for each individual will depend on the extent of their agoraphobia and the amount of time the condition has affected the patient. 1.
What is the first step in addressing agoraphobia?
The first step in addressing agoraphobia is to have the patient discuss their condition with a trained specialist, such as a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. They can help the patient determine the extent of their agoraphobia and go about devising treatment plans based on the way the condition affects the patient’s lifestyle.
How does group therapy help with agoraphobia?
Group therapy can help agoraphobia patients by showing them that they’re not alone — that other people are struggling with the same condition.
Is agoraphobia a fear of spiders?
Take arachnophobia, for example — a fear of spiders, it will not drastically affect a patient’s general lifestyle unless they regularly visit places with spiders. In most environments, that’s pretty rare. But agoraphobia is different because it limits a person from just leaving their home.
Why do people with agoraphobia go to therapy?
Because agoraphobia primarily affects one’s ability to leave the home — in other words, they become deeply afraid of visiting public or open spaces like shopping malls, schools and workplaces — a trained therapist may need to conduct therapy sessions in the home rather than in a medical office.
Why do people with agoraphobia avoid new places?
Because of fear and anxiety, people with agoraphobia often avoid new places and unfamiliar situations, such as: Open or enclosed spaces. Crowds. Places outside your home. Public transportation. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
How many people have agoraphobia?
About 1% to 2% of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with agoraphobia. Roughly 2% of adolescents experience it. Agoraphobia is more common among women. It usually starts before age 35.
What are the risk factors for agoraphobia?
Risk factors for developing agoraphobia include: Having panic attacks or other phobias. Experiencing stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, being attacked, or being abused. Having a nervous or anxious nature. Responding to panic attacks with excess fear and apprehension. Having a relative with agoraphobia.
Can agoraphobia be caused by panic attacks?
It is not clear what causes agoraphobia. However, it is often associated with an existing panic disorder. Panic disorder causes short, intense attacks of fear for no particular reason. About a third of people who have panic disorder develop agoraphobia. But agoraphobia also can occur alone.
What to do if you have agoraphobia?
If you think you have agoraphobia, and the anxiety is interfering with your daily life, you should talk to a primary care provider or psychiatrist. If you are afraid to visit a medical office in person, you may be able to schedule a telephone or video appointment. The healthcare provider may ask you:
Can a provider diagnose agoraphobia?
It is important to be open and honest with your healthcare providers. Your provider may diagnose agoraphobia if you meet specific standards developed by the American Psychiatric Association. To have a diagnosis of agoraphobia, a person must feel extreme fear or panic in at least two of the following situations:
Can you prevent agoraphobia?
There is no proven way to prevent agoraphobia. However, it is easier to manage in its earlier stages. The more you avoid situations, the more fearful you may become. Some people with severe agoraphobia are unable to leave their home at all and are totally dependent on others for help.
How to treat agoraphobia?
A stepwise approach is usually recommended for treating agoraphobia and any underlying panic disorder. The steps are as follows: Find out more about your condition, the lifestyle changes you can make, and self-help techniques to help relieve symptoms. Enrol yourself on a guided self-help programme.
Can agoraphobia be controlled?
Learning more about agoraphobia and its association with panic disorder and panic attacks may help you control your symptoms better . For example, there are techniques you can use during a panic attack to bring your emotions under control.
How to get rid of panic attacks?
take regular exercise – exercise can help relieve stress and tension and improve your mood. have a healthy diet – a poor diet can make the symptoms of panic and anxiety worse. avoid using drugs and alcohol – they may provide short-term relief, but in the long term they can make symptoms worse.
What to do if you don't respond to self help?
Psychological therapies. If your symptoms do not respond to self-help techniques and lifestyle changes, your GP may suggest trying a psychological therapy . If you prefer you can refer yourself directly for psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), without seeing your GP.
What is CBT therapy?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that unhelpful and unrealistic thinking leads to negative behaviour. CBT aims to break this cycle and find new ways of thinking that can help you behave more positively.
What is applied relaxation?
Applied relaxation is based on the premise that people with agoraphobia and related panic disorder have lost their ability to relax. The aim of applied relaxation is therefore to teach you how to relax. This is achieved using a series of exercises designed to teach you how to: spot the signs and feelings of tension.
How to stop feeling tense and panicky?
spot the signs and feelings of tension. relax your muscles to relieve tension. use these techniques in stressful or everyday situations to prevent you feeling tense and panicky. As with CBT, a course of applied relaxation therapy consists of 12 to 15 weekly sessions, with each session lasting about an hour.
What is agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder where you avoid certain situations or places. This is because you experience fear or anxiety due to feeling like there’s no escape. It’s often associated with an existing panic disorder.
What medications are used to treat agoraphobia?
There aren’t any FDA-approved medications specifically for agoraphobia. But several different antidepressants may help relieve anxiety symptoms from the condition. They’re used off-label, meaning they’re used in a way that’s not FDA approved.
Which antidepressant works the best for agoraphobia?
If your agoraphobia is mild to moderate, you may not need to take medication. In this case, psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be enough. CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps you recognize and change thoughts and behaviors. But if it isn’t working, or if your symptoms are more severe, adding a medication may help.
What are some other tips for coping with agoraphobia?
There are several treatment options for agoraphobia. Sometimes, a combination of treatments may be needed. And there are some self-care things you can do to help, too. Below are some tips you can use to take care of your mental health while you’re going through treatment.
The bottom line
Agoraphobia is a condition where you experience fear or anxiety about places or situations where you feel trapped. It’s unknown what causes it. But there are treatment options available to help with symptoms and improve quality of life.
