Agoraphobia – mental illness, and extremely interesting. Read the description of its various subspecies – it's like leafing through a detective story, a script for an adventure movie.
For example, an agoraphobe – this is the one who goes crazy in the elevator, or the one who has panic attacks in a cafe, or the one who cannot cross the square near his own house without a beloved dog or loved one.
Medicine does not undertake to describe all the symptoms, causes and manifestations of this mental disorder, since this is simply impossible. After all, phobias – far from uncommon, and many of us, especially women, may well be classified as novice agoraphobes.
But slight anxiety – it is a manifestation of the norm. But the advanced stages should already be treated seriously. Therefore, estet-portal.com decided to consider in more detail, what is agoraphobia and whether it is possible to overcome it in oneself.
1. Agoraphobia: description of the disease and different stages
2. How do people feel when they have a disorder such as agoraphobia
3. Causes of agoraphobia and for whom it is typical
4. How is agoraphobia treated with medication and not only
Agoraphobia: a description of the state of the psyche, manifestations and stages
Agora – an ancient Greek word meaning market, bazaar. It literally turns out that "agoraphobia" – it is the fear of the market place, both of this rather large space itself and of the noisy market crowd.
But, of course, such a diagnosis is made not only in cases of fear of open areas or crowds of people.
People with a similar mental disorder begin to experience a painful panic when they get into an unfamiliar place or into an unfamiliar situation that has not been calculated in advance.
For example, if you see that someone begins to breathe rapidly and tense up, if he has to make a report to the public, then this is also a manifestation of agoraphobia.
In the mild stage of the disorder, people are able to cope with such fears on their own. Careful planning helps, self-hypnosis methods.
More severe forms of the disease cause the person to lose control of themselves – so much so that the agarophobe tries to avoid unacceptable conditions at all costs.
As a result, some people either avoid society altogether or never leave their homes. Of course, in this scenario, social life is reduced to zero, which rarely passes without unpleasant consequences.
Fear of specific past traumatic situations, public places, crowded places and events, open spaces, public speaking, deserted streets and lonely exits – these are all manifestations of agoraphobia.
How do people with a disorder like agoraphobia feel
Many people with phobias carefully create conditions to avoid getting into stressful situations and otherwise lead normal lives.
They can visit shops, visit, work – the main thing is that the place where they stay should be under their control, be studied by them. And someone does shopping or work at home, just from the comfort of their own space.
But as soon as the agarophobe is outside the safe zone or situation, neurotic manifestations begin:
• anxiety;
• fear;
• panic.
Severe panic attack accompanied by somatic manifestations:
• nausea;
• a feeling of suffocation;
• diarrhea;
• strong cold sweat;
• neurological pain in the region of the heart;
• heart beats fast and hard;
• mouth goes dry;
• dizzy;
• gait is disturbed;
• limbs may tremble;
• possible fainting.
The panic state lasts, typically 15-30 minutes. If you do not help a person in any way, then a faint may occur.
Of course, it is impossible for a patient at such a moment to maintain adequacy. He will ask those around him to take him to a safe place. He himself, most likely, will be disoriented. It happens that at such moments, agarophobes even lose the ability to see.
It is not possible for a person to overcome panic at this stage on their own. At this moment, it often seems to him that he is about to die, that his heart will burst from horror.
Although in reality such an outcome is impossible, the agarophobe remembers this terrifying state and will continue to experience fear of repeating such unbearable emotions, which only deepens the disease.
Causes of agoraphobia and who is it typical for
– the most common cause for such a mental disorder. It can be an earthquake, an accident, a war, an attack by hooligans or rapists. It can be a strong emotional impact of great power from spiritually close people. Scientists note that such a disease is sometimes inherited.
Perhaps this is because personality traits that contribute to agoraphobia are often hereditary:
• increased anxiety;
• suspiciousness;
• lowered
level of self-esteem; • excessive self-criticism and exactingness to oneself;
• tendency to delve into oneself;
• high responsibility;
• pedantry;
• the habit of relying on reason against the background of self-prohibition to give free rein to the emotional aspirations of the soul;
• the habit of calculating, foreseeing and analyzing.
Men, by the way,
have a tendency to drown out their fears with alcoholin order to decide to overcome themselves. This is partly why science has recorded more cases of this disorder in women. Also, this
disease is more femininesimply because the fair sex is more emotional and in our society they are given more moral right to do so. It is believed that
the representatives of the weaker half of humanityunder the age of 25 who do not have stable relationships with men, have little income or low social status are most prone to such disorders. If we talk about
external causes, then diseases contribute to: • excessively busy work schedule;
• lack of sleep and lack of rest;
• alcoholic and narcotic influences;
• endocrine disorders and a number of other diseases, including viral ones;
• improper medication
Only professional help can cure this mental disorder. This is possible within 3-6 months!
After the examination and determination of the boundaries of the disease, patients are prescribed antidepressants and tranquilizers.
The doctor must constantly monitor the effects of medications and, if necessary, replace them. In severe cases, if delirium is present, antipsychotics may be prescribed. And, of course, a psychotherapeutic effect on such a patient is mandatory. Gestalt therapy methods, neuro-linguistic programming, Ericksonian and conventional hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy are used.
Phobia at the stage of panic – it's not just fear that can be "persuaded" retreat. This is a physically unbearable and difficult condition that the patient himself cannot overcome.
The best help for an agoraphobic sufferer is if you get him out of his uncomfortable environment or provideurgent medical care
. Further, long-term treatment with psychotherapeutic and drug methods will be needed.
As you can see, agoraphobia– not uncommon at all. However, its difficult stages, when a person is no longer able to independently suppress attacks of fear, are still rare. Sometimes it is enough for an agarophobe just not to leave comfortable conditions, but if this interferes with normal human life, then the problem needs to be solved.
It's possible!Before contact – more likely that in just 3-6 months so much even a very serious phobia will be overcome. And then you will have a full-fledged social life, where there will be no horror and panic.
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