agoraphobia

In order to fully enter into the definition of the term agoraphobia, the first thing we have to do is know its etymological origin. In this case, we have to say that it is a word of Greek origin, since it is the result of the sum of two terms from that language:
-The noun “agora”, which can be translated as “public square” or “assembly”.
-The name "phobia", which is synonymous with "fear".

In the Ancient Greece, to public plaza where assemblies and social gatherings were held, it was called agora. A phobiaon the other hand, it is an exaggerated and obsessive fear or rejection. In this way, if we unite the two concepts, we find the idea of ​​agoraphobia: fear or aversion to a public place.

Agoraphobia, therefore, is the phobia of open spaces. Those who suffer from this psychiatric disorder feel terror or anguish when they find themselves on a street, in a park or in another open place, where many people can gather.

The fact of being in a space of these characteristics causes anxiety Y nervousness to the agoraphobic, who may experience excessive sweating, tremors, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure, among other disorders. This is because the person feels that they cannot be in control of the situation and their own life.

In the same way, we must not ignore other symptoms suffered by people with agoraphobia, among which are serious difficulties in breathing normally, chest pains, nausea and dizziness ...

It can be established that there are three different types of agoraphobia:
-The one who does not have a history of panic disorder.
-Panic disorders with agoraphobia.
-Panic disorders without agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia usually arises from negative experiences. The subject tries not to repeat those experiences and, in this way, develops a mechanism that tries to protect him, although in reality it triggers a whole series of disorders that threaten the well-being and that can even incapacitate the individual.

Treatment of agoraphobia is carried out with psychological therapy. The specialist, in a controlled environment, will try to make the patient experience those stimuli that cause you discomfort so that you can understand that the automatic mechanisms are false. That is to say: if a person, when he is outdoors, feels dizzy and thinks he will faint, the psychologist will try to show him that the dizziness that is generated is not automatically followed by fainting. To avoid the initial sensation, there are various relaxation exercises.

Other information of interest about agoraphobia are the following:
-The treatment can also be based on the intake of certain medications, such as antidepressants.
-A different method to treat this situation is called exposure therapy, which is identified because it makes the person be in contact with their fears and the causes that generate them.
-One of the biggest complications of agoraphobia treatment is that people who suffer from it tend to isolate themselves from others, to be alone. Hence, it is easy for them to fall into depressions that can even generate suicidal ideas.