What Is Agoraphobia Like - How Do You Help It?

What is agoraphobia like and how to help it?

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in certain places where you have anxiety and are unable to escape or get help.

The diagnostic manual for mental disorders lists five kinds of places that you fear going to
The five scenarios are:
Using public transportation like training planes and buses
Being in open spaces like parking lots, shopping malls, or bridges
Being in enclosed places like a shop or a theater
Standing in line or being in a crowd
Being outside of the home alone

With agoraphobia, you fear or avoid these situations because you fear you may not be able to escape in the event that you become panicked or in the event you have some incapacitating or embarrassing symptom.

The treatment for agoraphobia is cognitive behavior therapy with or without anxiety medication. Common methods of therapy used are exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring.

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[kristinegonsalves]

For me, it's not the fear, but actually being in that situation...being in those public places, especially alone. I only feel safe at home

[calypsoulz]

It’s such a embarrassing thing to have, it sounds so silly to say I can’t leave the house alone just to go to the store because my mind says no

[PVAPlayy]

Agoraphobia has severely limited my life. I'm in my thirties now and I'm actively trying to tackle this once and for all.

[lucymcneill]

i’m literally crying bc i really can’t go out anywhere and i never knew it had a name

[thalesalexandre-inglesbase]

I love exercising, going jogging, more specifically. However, anxiety has made me fearful of having a heart attack while exercising. I hate this disorder. 😡

[bluecasey]

I used to get panic attacks while driving. When I would feel I couldn't breathe I would sing along to songs on the radio which really helped regulate my breathing. It did wonders for me and helped ease my anxiety about having a panic attack

[c.tejahhh]

No way.... this whole time, there’s a name for this?! It’s been years 😭

[marshmelleoh]

I am 21 and have been homebound for almost 4 years, with some brief periods where I would try study or work but after a few months I'd wake up with daily anxiety attacks over leaving the house. This video motivated me to find a psych. Thank you.

[robinhood]

I dont know if i am agoraphobic, introverted, socially anxious, or just love my house. I think it is all four 😂 but seriously, whenever I go outside I feel stressed, irritable or "on edge/jumpy" and feel the need to go back to my home and to my bed.
Once again thanks for a good video. Love from Norway ❤🇳🇴

[lexi_tyson]

When she said about exposing yourself to get over the fear bit by bit.... i just went "oh nope nope nope, aint doing that."

[astronart]

My bf has agoraphobia, it's really tough for him especially when the pandemic hit. He's been getting better and I'm so proud of him! Of course he'll have days where it's really hard but I just remind him that his anxiety makes life hard and he's not a failure for not being able to do certain things

[Lechanan]

Can agoraphobia manifest in irritability and anger? Because I don't feel nauseous or fear I'll pass out, but I hate leaving my home if I don't have to because being in public makes me... angry for lack of a better description. I dislike leaving my home some days because I'm depressed but others I just dont like how I feel outside my bubble. I hate having to interact with people, traffic, lines, seeing people who know me etc. Would that be agoraphobia or would it be just a lack of patience? Haha

[jessevenegas]

Oh my goodness. Another really helpful video. I suffer from agoraphobia in the form of fear of public transportation, dread of standing in lines, and total avoidance of movie theaters and other enclosed places. One of my all time biggest fears is being on an airplane and having a major health emergency (stroke/heart attack) and I wouldn’t be able to get help in time. The idea of the plan crashing doesn’t even exist or bother me. This is really about my hypochondria meeting my agoraphobia and the two hyping each other up. As always, thank you for the information. It’s helpful to be able to understand my cognitive distortions.

[Luiza]

You described my symptoms very well! I am like "Tom", I feel nausea, feel like I will faint, my vision starts to be funny, I feel disoriented and starts the panic attack. But I can't be alone in home because I have panic attacks too, but now I can go to the market alone, walking, this is a good step already, but in another places I can go just with uber(taxi, whatever) because of the open places.

[sofiamaria]

This is so accurate especially the nausea case. Literally me. I love you thanks for explaining it so well

[jelenamandic]

My anxiety and agoraphobia started back in 2016 and ive never been the same since..its actually scary how it turned me from outgoing and adventureous person, to being terryfied of even thinking about leaving my house

[prtybrneyez]

I have panic disorder with agoraphobia. I am home bound for years now. Currently in therapy and watched this with my therapist. You were spot on!

[meganr]

Since Quarantine I work from home and get groceries delivered so when I do go out around people and crowds I get anxious and with the mask feel like I can’t breath and get dizzy

[pmtthemonkey]

I sent this to my boyfriend. This video completely explains my life and I couldn’t have said it better myself.

[somethingbright]

Have had this for 19 years and never left my house in that time.
Once 8 years ago I took very ill and had to go to hospital for a month. Was the most hellish time ever.
I know I will never go out now and I'm at peace with it.
Its much more complex than what this woman is saying.