On the outside, someone with agoraphobia may seem like they’re antisocial or they don’t want to leave the comfort of their home. On the inside, agoraphobia can feel like a crippling burden that turns everyday activities into overwhelming challenges. 

To clear up the misconceptions surrounding agoraphobia, let’s uncover what it is, what its symptoms are, and how it can be treated.

What Is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a specific type of anxiety disorder that causes someone to feel an overwhelming fear of being trapped or unable to escape. It can make someone avoid new or unfamiliar situations, such as:

• Crowded places (like malls or grocery stores)
• Large, open areas (like concerts or parks)
• Enclosed places (like elevators or movie theaters)
• Public transportation (like buses or planes)
• Places outside of their home 

In mild cases, someone with agoraphobia may leave their home, but will still feel intense anxiety and panic. In extreme cases, someone will be completely unable to leave their home, and even the thought of stepping outside can trigger panic attacks.

Read our related article for more information on anxiety and how it’s treated.

How Common Is Agoraphobia?

Compared to other anxiety disorders, agoraphobia is relatively uncommon. That said, with an estimated 1.3% of people in the U.S. experiencing agoraphobia at some point in their lives, that’s still millions of people suffering from this disorder.

Traditionally, agoraphobia was thought to be more common in women. In recent years, however, it has been reported that both men and women are equally likely to develop agoraphobia.

Causes of Agoraphobia

Currently, there isn’t any indication that agoraphobia is rooted in a single cause. Instead, researchers have found that it likely comes from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

There’s evidence that agoraphobia can run in families, especially when it's linked to panic disorder. In fact, some studies suggest that genetic factors make up 48%-61% of agoraphobia cases. However, genetic factors don’t tell the whole story, and someone may develop agoraphobia even when there isn’t a history of it in their family. 

Certain environmental factors, like childhood trauma, overprotective parents, or isolated traumatic events, may also lead to agoraphobia. These events can cause someone to fear the world around them, and they may associate the outside world with anxiety or danger.

Signs and Symptoms of Agoraphobia

In many ways, the signs and symptoms of agoraphobia can resemble a panic attack. When in an uncomfortable setting, someone with agoraphobia may experience:

• Rapid heart rate
• Chest pains
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Paleness or flushness
• Upset stomach

These symptoms are the result of the body’s fight-or-flight response being activated. Even if there isn’t an immediate threat, someone with agoraphobia may perceive an uncomfortable environment as dangerous or threatening. 

In addition to these symptoms, agoraphobia is also known to lead to avoidance behaviors and social isolation, which can severely limit someone’s daily life.

Avoidance Behaviors

It’s common for someone with agoraphobia to develop avoidance behaviors as a means to cope with the fear and anxiety surrounding the outside world. These avoidance behaviors may alleviate their symptoms in the short term, but they will only reinforce their fears in the long run.

When someone with agoraphobia experiences anxiety in a specific location, they avoid going there altogether. As this list of locations grows, their fears amplify and their world shrinks. Over time, agoraphobia can make it feel like there’s nowhere outside of the home that feels safe.

Read our related article for more information on avoidance coping.

Social Isolation

Agoraphobia limits someone’s exposure to the outside world, which, in turn, limits their ability to maintain relationships or build new ones. This usually leads to deep feelings of isolation and depression, and these feelings only get worse as time goes on.

Humans are social creatures—interacting with others is vital to someone’s mental and emotional health. Agoraphobia disrupts this basic human need by creating barriers that make it difficult to socialize and make meaningful connections with others. 

Treatment for Agoraphobia

Treating agoraphobia usually involves a combination of targeted therapy, exposure therapy, and medication. With the right treatment and support, many people can experience long-term relief or even a complete remission of their symptoms.

Targeted Therapy

The two most common forms of therapy that are used to treat agoraphobia are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectal behavior therapy (DBT).

CBT is a common form of psychotherapy that helps someone bridge the gap between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It helps identify and challenge the fear-based thoughts that fuel agoraphobia, and it teaches people how to cope with these thoughts in a healthier, more productive way.

DBT was originally created to help those who suffer from emotional dysregulation, but it can also be used to treat the intense fear and anxiety that comes with agoraphobia. This form of therapy teaches people how to build emotional resilience and respond to stress without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down. 

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is one of the most important and effective treatments for agoraphobia. It helps people face their fears and reclaim their lives in a safe and structured way. 

This type of therapy works by gradually exposing someone to the situations that cause them fear and anxiety. Over time, exposure therapy breaks the cycle of avoidance behaviors and helps people recognize that the situations that they feared aren’t as dangerous as they thought.

Medication

In addition to therapy, certain medications may also be prescribed to relieve the symptoms of agoraphobia. For example, SSRIs may be prescribed to help alleviate anxiety symptoms, while Benzodiazepines may be prescribed to alleviate acute symptoms of fear and panic.

Although medication can help alleviate some of the fear and anxiety that comes with agoraphobia, it works best when paired with therapy and a treatment plan that addresses both the emotional and behavioral aspects of the condition.

Learn more about medication management at Sequoia.

Reclaim Your Life From Agoraphobia

At Sequoia Behavioral Health, our team of mental health experts can help you overcome agoraphobia and live life on your terms. Our treatment programs take a holistic approach to healing that not only addresses the symptoms of agoraphobia but also treats your fear and anxiety at its core.

Reach out today to connect with a mental health professional and take the first steps towards your healing journey.