Agoraphobia
Obsessive, persistent, intense fear of open places.
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About Panic and Agoraphobia
People who have full-blown, repeated can become very disabled by their condition and should seek before they start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a happened in an elevator, someone with may develop a fear of elevators that could affect the choice of a job or an apartment, and restrict where that person can seek medical attention or enjoy entertainment.
Some people’s lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About one-third become housebound or are able to confront a feared situation only when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. When the condition progresses this far, it is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.
Early can often prevent agoraphobia, but people with may sometimes go from doctor to doctor for years and visit the emergency room repeatedly before someone correctly diagnoses their condition. This is unfortunate, because panic disorder is one of the most treatable of all the , responding in most cases to certain kinds of medication or certain kinds of cognitive , which help change thinking patterns that lead to fear and anxiety…