Agoraphobia

Definition

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Agoraphobia is the extreme or irrational fear of open or public places.

Phobia

A phobia is an irrational fear, a kind of anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has a relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place or thing.

What is Agoraphobia

Based on the MNT website http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162169.php . Agoraphobia is the fear of being in open or public space where there is a risk for the sufferer to have a panic attack. Accordingly  this person avoids leaving his house as there the only space that there is no risk of having a panic attack. Moreover, Agoraphobia often results in fear of being outdoors as there is a change that the person will feel embarrassed, trapped and helpless somewhere while having a panic attack

 Anxiety and Depression Association of America says that about one third of all people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia. As they are always on guard for the next panic attack, their world may become smaller. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162169.php .

A sufferer will not have symptoms as long as he is in his safety zone and thus he will stay indoor. Nevertheless when he leaves or even think to leave his house, the symptoms will arise and then some or all of the following symptoms will occur

• Accelerated heart beat.
• Rapid and shallow breathing (hyperventilating).
• Feeling hot, flushing.
• Stomach upset.
• Diarrhea.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Breaking out in a sweat.
• Nausea.
• Trembling.
• Dizziness.
• Feeling light headed, as if one were about to faint.
• Ringing in the ears
• Fear that people will notice a panic attack, causing humiliation and embarrassment.
• Fear that during a panic attack their heart might stop, or they won't be able to breathe, and may die.
• Fear that the sufferer himself/herself is going crazy.

The following symptoms are symptoms that are that an agoraphobic person may suffer generally. 

• Low self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Feeling a loss of control.
• Depression.
• General feeling of dread and anxiety.
• Thinking that without the help of others the sufferer himself/herself would never be able to function or survive.
• Dread of being left alone.

Where there is no treatment for agoraphobia , the sufferer will come to the point where there lifestyle will be restricted. Moreover in some situations, the person will stay indoors all the time and be dependent on other people. Additionally, the person will be isolated with no social life (including daily activities), and limited job prospects. Furthermore, the untreated sufferer,  has  a greater risk of having "depression, further anxiety disorders, and turning to alcohol or other substances. Finally, according to Drugs.com, some people with agoraphobia may feel isolated, lonely, depressed, and even suicidal." http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162169.php