Agoraphobia

What is agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an intense fear of being trapped in a place or situation where it would be hard to leave or get help if you needed to. The name literally means “fear of the public square”, but agoraphobia covers much more than a fear of open spaces.

It often occurs together with panic disorder, but it can also exist independently.

Situations that trigger the fear

The situations that most often cause anxiety are:

• public transport: the metro, the bus, the plane, the train
• open spaces: squares, large car parks, bridges
• enclosed or crowded spaces: shops, cinemas, conference rooms
• standing in a queue or in a crowd
• being alone outside the home

The common element: the feeling that if a problem arose, you could not leave or get help.

When to see a specialist

An assessment is worthwhile if:

• you increasingly avoid situations that used to be normal for you
• you have started turning down invitations or opportunities because of this fear
• you can no longer leave the house alone, or you only do so on strictly familiar routes
• the fear affects your career, relationships or autonomy
• you also have panic attacks, especially in the situations you avoid

Agoraphobia tends to get worse over time if it is not treated, so it is worth asking for help early.

With a specialist alongside you, the places you now avoid can gradually become part of your life again.

The first step

If you recognise yourself in what you’ve read, book a conversation with one of our specialists. Together, we’ll look at what’s going on and what your options are.

Services: Psychiatry · Psychotherapy
See our team and pricing.

This information is for educational purposes and does not replace a specialist consultation.