| Many of us have heard of mental disorders, and most | | | | fear of something. Thus we can understand that |
| of us think that only certain people become afflicted | | | | people who suffer from agoraphobia have a fear of |
| with these conditions. However this is simply not the | | | | being in crowded places. |
| case. Mental disorders include panic attacks, anxiety | | | | Agoraphobia is a condition that develops gradually. In |
| disorders and social anxieties as well. These attacks | | | | general it occurs after a panic attack. After the first |
| can range from mild discomfort to debilitating | | | | attack you may subconsciously be preparing for |
| agoraphobia and this is a condition that can strike | | | | another attack and fearing the symptoms that will |
| anyone. | | | | leave you feeling helpless. This cycle of panic attack |
| Your life is going along the normal path that you've set | | | | and impending panic attack can cause you to change |
| out when suddenly without any warning terror has you | | | | your entire lifestyle just to avoid those feelings of |
| in its grip. You feel weak and helpless. Your heart's | | | | terror. As panic attacks can occur anywhere at |
| pounding and you have trouble breathing. You may | | | | anytime, we generally associate the first place that we |
| even wonder if you're having a heart attack or if | | | | feel helpless as perhaps the reason for our terror. |
| you're about to die. When you finally go to see a | | | | An agoraphobia sufferer will go out of their way to |
| doctor, you might even be told there's nothing | | | | avoid those places and situations where a panic |
| physically wrong with you. | | | | attack may occur. They may even end up being |
| So when you next suffer from an attack you wonder | | | | housebound as they avoid being in crowded places. |
| what's wrong with you. You find that certain situations | | | | This unhealthy lifestyle can in itself trigger agoraphobic |
| will bring on these frightening attacks and this will be | | | | attacks to occur in everyday normal situations. The |
| your first clue that you're experiencing a panic attack. | | | | increased heart rate may also cause a panic attack |
| Panic attacks are not physical conditions, and that is | | | | because you may think that you're having a heart |
| why your doctor might have had trouble diagnosing | | | | attack. |
| your complaint. | | | | As you can see this is a vicious and extremely |
| So, what is agoraphobia you might ask? This is a | | | | debilitating mental condition. For sufferers of panic |
| condition where an individual doesn't wish to go places | | | | attacks they should seek the medical aid of doctors |
| or face situations where they could become exposed | | | | who specialize in these mental disorders and receive |
| to panic attacks. The very word agoraphobia itself lets | | | | treatment before their panic attacks spiral into |
| us know the nature of this debilitating condition. 'Agora' | | | | agoraphobia where they may end up being restricted |
| comes from the Greek language and it means places | | | | in their lifestyle due to their ever increasing fear of |
| where people meet, or a marketplace. 'Phobia' is a | | | | being helpless in the face of a panic attack. |