Panic disorder and agoraphobia aren’t like water and oil. In fact, they’re more like peanut butter and jelly, albeit, of a more unpleasant variety.
Before we proceed, a definition of terms is in order.
Panic disorder is often used synonymously with panic attack. This is incorrect. Panic attacks refer to episodes whereby the subject experiences feelings of extreme terror and dread, senses impending doom, and suffers a variety of psychosomatic symptoms. Panic attacks are brief, lasting less than 30 minutes per episode. Panic disorder, on the other hand, is a condition whereby the subject suffers recurring panic attacks of a severe nature. The subject is often observed for a month, and if intense anxiety attacks are experienced at least once per day, then panic disorder can be established.
It is easy to determine why panic disorder and agoraphobia are mistaken for each other. 36% of people suffering from panic disorder, after all, also suffer from agoraphobia.
What is agoraphobia?
Basically, agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped in an embarrassing situation from which there is no escape. People who are suffering from agoraphobia are often antisocial, preferring the solitude of their homes to the interactive nature of public places. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that agoraphobia comes from two Latin words: agora and phobia, which, when used together would mean “fear of the marketplace.”
So, what is the connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia?
Experts agree that the development of agoraphobia is one of the possible, and more likely, consequences of panic attacks, more so, a full blown panic disorder. During periods of extreme anxiety, the sufferer develops irrational fears. One of these irrational fears can be the fear of embarrassing situations which the subject cannot escape, i.e. agoraphobia.
The connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia also results in undesirable psychological conditions. Social phobia, also known as social anxiety, is one of these unwanted consequences. Because agoraphobics fear embarrassing situations and because embarrassment entails the presence of witnesses, they start to fear people – or the company of people – in general. This, of course, leads to an even bigger problem as the agoraphobic also tends to develop antisocial behavior.
Hence, the problem with agoraphobia is that it’s like the Ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. Agoraphobics fear public places, making it difficult to convince them to seek medical treatment for their condition. This is why agoraphobia – and panic disorder AND agoraphobia for the matter – is very prevalent these days. It’s a shame, really, because the success rate of treatments for agoraphobia remains at a high 90%.
What can be done to resolve the potentially serious problem of panic disorder and agoraphobia?
The first thing that should be done, of course, is to muster enough courage to actually seek professional help. This is easier said than done, indeed, but it still remains as something that SHOULD be done. Agoraphobia is a personal struggle, and one must find the strength to conquer his fear – at least his fear of going to a psychiatrist.
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