If you are suffering from both agoraphobia and panic attacks, this is an anxiety disorder where not only do you suffer typical symptoms of a panic attack such as a racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness etc, but you also find yourself avoiding certain places and situations, and in some cases being afraid of even leaving your house. 

The word ‘agoraphobia' comes from the latin ‘agora' which literally means market place or a place for public assemblies, and ‘phobia', which of course is an extreme or irrational fear of something. 

 If asked what agoraphobia is, most people would say ‘a fear of open places' or not wanting to go out anywhere, and certainly a person who suffers from this disorder may well only feel really safe in their home. 

Although it certainly results in fear of being outside – or an open space – it is actually the possibility of having a panic attack in front of people they don't know that they fear, and so they tend to try and avoid going to places they know will have lots of people – shopping centres, concerts etc.  Sufferers also tend to avoid places where they feel ‘boxed in' such as elevators, buses, trains and planes, because they feel they cannot easily escape if they were to suffer a panic attack.  This can often lead to problems going to work or going out for social activities, and this fear can affect some people so badly that the only place they feel safe is at home, and so they try to avoid leaving it. 

Agoraphobia is generally thought to be a complication of an anxiety disorder, and in particular is linked to panic attacks.

In turn, a person who suffers from both agoraphobia and panic attacks may quite possibly associate a particular place or situation with a time when they suffered an attack, and feel that by staying away from those places or situations they won't get another attack. 

Because agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, physical symptoms are very similar to those felt when having a panic attack. For example, the heart starts racing, you break out in a sweat, you may get some dizziness or light headedness, your breathing gets rapid and shallow, you could feel nauseous  and in extreme cases you might hyperventilate.

You can also suffer from psychological symptoms, for example......

• Fear of embarrassment of having a panic attack in front of other people
• Fear that if you do have a panic attack while out, you could die
• Low self esteem and lack of confidence which is escalated by the fear you may lose control while you are out
• Stress and anxiety when knowing you have to leave your ‘safe place' to go out, such as going to work, which leads more and more to avoidance
• A general feeling of stress, anxiety and possibly depression
• A dread of being alone, thinking you are unable to survive without the help of someone else, and fearful that if you do suffer an attack while out, you may be unable to get yourself home to your safe place.

For those of you who are suffering in silence, scared to tell anyone for fear of what others may think of you,                                HELP IS AVAILABLE

The first step is to talk to someone about it, perhaps initially a close friend or family member.  Nowadays Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is the most widely used and effective treatment for anxiety disorders. This is a type of psychotherapy where a person talks to a psychologist or psychiatrist, who will help them understand the thoughts and feelings which influence certain behaviours, and help them to change. 

There are also some very good self-help methods which will teach you how to recognise when a panic attack is starting and ways of controlling it. Basically they teach you to :

1. Understand your anxiety disorder
2. Learn the proven strategies for training your mind to beat them
3. Practise these techniques daily. They need to be practised until they are second nature, but for those who suffer from agoraphobia and panic attacks it is an excellent alternative method to having to take medication