Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia!

Panic disorder is at its most severe when it becomes panic disorder with agoraphobia. Panic disorder with agoraphobia creates such anxiety that a person will do anything to avoid being in what he or she considers 'unprotected space'. Public places are feared as 'unprotected' merely because a panic attack could happen there.

When a panic attack sufferer begins to avoid public places, agoraphobia has set in. The agoraphobic tries to stop attacks by making his or her world very small.

Agoraphobics have difficult networks of fears that totally control their lives. Major symptoms of agoraphobia are:

• Frequent intense panic attacks and severe anxiety.

• Avoiding attacks by staying home all the time.

• Depending too heavily on others.

• Never wanting to be alone.

• Avoiding any place where you can't escape.

• Fear you'll lose control in a public place.

• Feelings of detachment plus isolation.

• Helpless feelings.

• A persistent feeling of unreality.

• A feeling that your body is not quite real.

• Twitching, trembling, or emotional outbursts.

Agoraphobics have symptoms which are periodically disrupted by panic attacks. Agoraphobics have very intense panic attacks. Heart attacks and agoraphobic panic attacks look and feel very similar. The following symptoms are typical during a panic attack:

• Trouble breathing.

• Extreme disorientation or dizziness.

• Feeling like you may faint.

• Numbness plus tingling sensations.

• Blushing uncontrollably.

• Chest pain.

• Worry that you are dying.

• Thinking you are going crazy.

• Rapid pulse.

• A spike in blood pressure.

A disorder with agoraphobia is serious and will not got away on its own. Agoraphobia usually develops after years of panic issues.

The negative effects of panic disorder with agoraphobia come with social isolation, unemployment, and broken private relations. Panic disorder with agoraphobia can be successfully treated even though the symptoms are severe.

Early diagnosis is critical. Early treatment creates the fastest cure. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) combined with systematic desensitization is the standard treatment for agoraphobia. Medication may also be prescribed.

CBT is a method for changing the way an agoraphobic thinks about fear and the world. Systematic desensitization actually desensitizes agoraphobics to fear so they never become afraid of specific stimuli.

Agoraphobics could start out by being asked to simply imagine leaving the house. When that can be done without panic, the next step might be to imagine opening the door. Stepping outside might be the final step. Agoraphobics are all different, but generally the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent.

Antidepressant medications may be prescribed to relieve the most intense symptoms. Drugs can improve the effectiveness of therapy. Agoraphobics may be weaned off medication when therapy is complete. Patients occasionally continue to take medications in order to maintain a full recovery.

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