Agoraphobia with Panic Attacks
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Photo Credit: Anxiety & Panic Treatment Center
A panic attack is associated with a baseless sudden fear. It simply does not have a specific cause. When a panic attack develops, the heart races faster than it should and leaves the chest with pain.
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder. It can occur on its own and at other times, can come alongside other anxiety disorder types like panic disorder, phobias, or social anxiety disorder.
It’s often known to be the fear of being seen in public places. This description is not that accurate.
If you have agoraphobia, you always try as much as possible to stay away from situations because of this fear you have that it will be difficult to escape from such situations.
Agoraphobia is nothing else than anxiety. People could fear that help might not be readily available in an instance where someone develops symptoms that look like panic. When you are also afraid of encountering embarrassing or incapacitating situations, you can develop anxiety. This alone can make you develop a fear of leaving home and make you be afraid of certain places.
Symptoms of agoraphobia with panic attacks
Panic attacks do not always bring about agoraphobia. Agoraphobia can be prevented when the panic attacks are promptly managed.
Some symptoms of panic attacks include:
- fear of losing control over yourself
- chest pain
- fear of dying
- fear of losing your mind
- hot flashes coupled with cold chills
- racing heart
- rapid breathing
- an intense feeling of fear
- shortness of breath
- paresthesia – numb sensations
- trembling
- de-realization – feelings of unreality
- inability to swallow food
- depersonalization – feeling detached from yourself
- stomach discomfort
When agoraphobia happens alongside panic attacks, you may have these symptoms:
- feeling surreal
- quick temper
- fear of being seen in public places
- symptoms of depression
- fear of leaving your home
- feelings of isolation
- fear of being alone
Causes of agoraphobia with panic attacks
Agoraphobia with panic attacks has no definite cause responsible for its development.
Repeated panic attacks can be attributed to it. Previous panic attack experiences can raise fear in your heart about developing it again. This will cause you to start avoiding events that could cause a panic attack.
Panic attacks and agoraphobia typically begins in the late teens and sometimes in the early twenties. They really don’t have a specific age when they can occur. Women are more likely to have panic attacks than men.
Diagnosing agoraphobia with panic attacks
Agoraphobic attacks can be quite scary. You can even confuse them for a heart attack. You might have this feeling that you are going crazy. Only a health provider can help out with the right diagnosis when you present these symptoms that are not caused by an obvious physical cause. Signs indicating alcohol use, drug use, or negative effects of the medication will be used to rule out the presence of a panic attack.
Physical signs associated with the symptoms will also be looked out for by your doctor.
Your lungs, nervous system, and heart will be tested to see whether they are working fine. When you are eventually diagnosed with a panic attack, a mental health doctor will take over your case. He or she will be the one in the best position to discover the cause of the panic attacks.
Treatment options for agoraphobia with panic attacks
Panic attacks have a number of treatment plans based on the cause and the severity.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and medications usually go and hand–in-hand in the treatment of agoraphobia with panic attacks.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A CBT specializes in making one with a panic disorder to start feeling about his condition. CBT also has the capacity to help you understand the distorted feelings that you normally have during a panic attack. A typical CBT should have between 10 to 20 sessions but it can be more than that. It will continue until you are able to feel no anxiety in the same places that usually trigger them.
You will also be retrained on how you ought to respond to scary events.
With this training, agoraphobia symptoms will be drastically reduced.
There are relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress.
Meditation and deep breathing will be very helpful in anxiety management.
Medication
Medications will typically be administered in order to treat the feelings of anxiety. Medications will only be administered if you have had more than one panic attack.
Common medications utilized in the treatment of panic disorders are:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (antidepressants): This class of SSRI is FDA-approved in the treatment of depression. Aside from this, they are also useful in combating anxiety and other mood-fluctuating experiences. Panic disorder and agoraphobia are not exceptions. Celexa (aka citalopram), Paxil (aka paroxetine), Zoloft (aka sertraline), and Prozac (aka fluoxetine) are common examples of SSRI.
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI): This is another antidepressant class of its own. Common SNRIs that are normally recommended are Cymbalta (aka duloxetine) and Effexor (aka venlafaxine).
- Benzodiazepines: Although very effective, they can only be used for a very short while because they carry in them addictive powers. They are wonderful in reducing anxiety and treating agoraphobia with panic attacks. Examples of benzodiazepines are Xanax (aka alprazolam), Valium (aka diazepam), and Klonopin (aka clonazepam).
Complications of agoraphobia with panic attacks
Habits can be developed from the use of agoraphobia and panic attack medications. Before you discontinue these medications, ensure you get the right advice and help from your doctor.
Aside habit development, agoraphobia with panic attacks has the following complications:
- depression
- suicidal feelings
- increased tendency for drug and alcohol abuse
Prognosis of agoraphobia with panic attacks
It is common to find virtually everyone who was properly treated fully recover especially if CBT and medications are combined together. Be in the habit of always asking for help when the need for it arises.
Tonika Bruce, MSN, RN, MBA. is an accomplished nurse leader, published author, and personal development expert passionate about advancing healthcare management and quality patient outcomes.
She taps into the years of experience in healthcare management to produce credible and easy-to-understand health and leadership content. Her exceptional work has been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, Recruiter, Inc, and the Color of Wellness magazine.
