Why Are Some People Claustrophobic?

Not having enough personal space or being in a small room can make some people feel anxious or trapped. What is claustrophobia and is there a cure?


Read More:
Claustrophobia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
"Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has an irrational fear of having no escape or being closed-in. It frequently results in a panic attack and can be triggered by certain stimuli or situations."

Psychologists closing in on causes of claustrophobic fear
"People who project their personal space too far beyond their bodies, or the norm of arm's reach, are more likely to experience claustrophobic fear, a new study finds."

A Single Gene Defect Causing Claustrophobia
"Surprisingly, we found that mutations affecting a single gene, encoding a stress-regulated neuronal protein, can cause claustrophobia."
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[wailingwolfie]

As long as I can see a way out I'm fine, but if I see there's no escape I panic.

[catw.]

I can't understand how people can be chill with being contained in an enclosed box that barely fits you...

[turboshottho]

Elevators, planes, and subways don't bother me. Getting stuck in a tight space like a sewer, or narrow crawl space, Terrifying.

[chelseybelcher]

If I can't move my arms I get claustrophobic

[jerry]

My claustrophobia symptoms are like getting stuck in very tight narrow spaces and elevators and if someone's holding me under a blanket and I can't get out I'll have a panic attack(start screaming, breath heavily, and/or cry

[pedrosarellanoestrada]

I'm fine with tight spaces but if I get locked in any space no mater how big it is I get an anxiety attack

[strangely]

In cars, subways and planes I'm perfectly fine as long as I have a clear view outside like near a window or so...

[AlienOf_Fandoms]

Squidward:You're Making Me Claustrophobic
Patrick:What does Claustrophobic Means
SpongeBob:It means his afraid of Santa Claus
Patrick:Hohoho!!!

[xhenaaaa]

thinking about not having a way out of somewhere or getting stuck in a small space makes me have the worst panic attacks. it's strange because it fairly new, I didn't really even realize this until this year when my anxiety's worsened. it's definitely rough.

[abiiidabiii]

thinking about it feels like i cant breathe ._.

[adriennkosa]

I'm claustrophobic, and when I'm in a tight place or even when my blouses' neck is tight I feel like I can't even get much oxygen

[captainblack]

I was alone in an elevator one time when I was a kid and it got stuck for about 3 minutes. Now my friends think I'm weird for always using the stairs.

[RegulateZX]

Imagine having claustrophobia and arachnaphobia and u were in a small room locked with a spider

[maggiemae]

I get claustrophobic because I can't get out of a space

[RedoGaming]

When I was little, my parents used to wrap me in blankets, and when that happened, I screamed and had a panic attack. My parents thought it was because I was scared of dark, but last week I was diagnosed with claustrophobia.

[pjay]

I developed claustrophobia around 20 years old. I never had the fear before. Now airplanes, elevators, back seats of cars, large crowds, small spaces in general freak me out. I have panic attacks and become overwhelmed with a sense a doom

[ThePoptartster]

I watched a spelunking horror film called The Descent, and the when the characters crawled through tight spaces I felt like I was suffocating. As well with Trace's story.

[anakulic]

I was locked up in a school library when I was around 12. My heart started beating so fast and I started banging on the door. Since no one could hear me I tried to use a librarian phone and call someone in and get me out. It lasted about five minutes but seemed like hours.

[meinnameist_nein]

Elevators, subways, planes, rooms without windows, any places that’s underground can easily trigger me. Most of the time, I manage to control my fear relatively well, so well that not many people know I’m claustrophobic...but it’s not always easy. I try my best to sit as near to the window as possible, wherever I go. And try to keep my mind occupied so I don’t have time to think about “what if...” and “suffocate”.

[JustSayRance]

I can't stand people walking behind me