Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia: Understanding the Disorder

Panic Disorder is a disorder which is characterized by constant and sudden attacks because of extreme fear and nervousness. The attacks are normally not connected to any particular situation and it usually lasts for ten minutes. The patient who experiences anxiety accompanied with a particular phobia is expected or indicated to a recognized motivation.

Agoraphobia refers to a fear of crowds. It is a fear of not being able to escape or afraid of not being able to ask for help in cases of panic attack.

What are their causes?

The cause of panic disorder is still unidentified, but it is believed that it is related with many physiological factors. It can happen with or without the presence of agoraphobia. However, the phobia develops sixty or seventy percent in most panic disorder cases.

The development of the phobia may include adapted behavior since it reveals a fear of experiencing panic attacks in unsafe places. At times, panic attacks are related with the places where it already happened in the past.

It can happen to children but the average age when it usually occurs is 25 years old. It can also affect adults and elders. According to the recent studies, women are two to three times more prone to panic disorder.

What are the symptoms?

Panic attacks include limited periods of severe symptoms. Some of these are listed below which usually lasts for ten minutes.

* Difficulty in breathing
* Light-headedness or faintness
* Tremors
* Trembling
* Too much perspiration
* Choking
* Abdominal pain and nausea
* Lack of feeling or tingling
* Chest pain
* Chills
* Necrophobia or Fear of dying
* Afraid to become crazy
* Fear of losing control

The symptoms of agoraphobia involve:

* Being worried of being in an area where it is difficult to escape
* Avoiding circumstances or situations which can be stressful
* Being worried of having panic attacks
* Autophobia or afraid to be alone
* Afraid of losing control in a crowded place
* Prefers to be at home for longer periods
* Afraid of being helpless and depending too much on others
* Afraid of being estranged from others

How will you know if a person has this disorder?

A physical exam and a psychological assessment are done to have a diagnosis. Most patients with undiagnosed panic disorder might feel that they are dying. Usually, they immediately proceed to emergency rooms or health centers because of a feeling of having a heart attack.

Diagnosis test are performed based on the symptoms that take place.

How is the disorder being treated?

The main objective of treating is to help the patient function well. The effectiveness of the treatment normally depends in part on how severe is the agoraphobia.

Antidepressants medicines are the believed to be effective treatments for most patients of panic disorder. There are also anti-anxiety medicines which are also helpful and effective as a cure for such disorder.

However, there are behavioral therapies that are suggested which include relaxation methods, pleasant mental imagery and cognitive behavioral therapy. These are done to recover deformed and potentially dangerous interpretations of intense anxiety.

Some patients would choose to have psychological therapy and counseling methods. In this way, it would help understand everything about the disorder and the factors that serve as triggers or defender for them.

As a conclusion, if you are also experiencing panic disorder with agoraphobia, you need not to be afraid. Instead, ask the help of a doctor and tell him or her about your worries.

Remember, the only person who could help you with your illness is yourself so, take care of yourself and do not abuse your body too much.

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