Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia comes from the Greek “agora”, meaning ”marketplace” and “phobia” meaning “fear”. This definition encapsulates the essence of agoraphobia – the fear of been trapped in a public place where escape may be difficult or impossible. The fear is that being trapped in such a situation will lead to suffering a panic attack, which the sufferer fears might cause possible loss of control, insanity, or death.

Agoraphobia is usually associated with panic disorder. Agoraphobia refers to the avoidance of those situations that might trigger panics, such as shopping malls, public elevators, public transportation, movie theaters, etc. At its worst, agoraphobics may not be able to leave their homes.

If you or a loved one suffers from agoraphobia, contact us at CBT SoCal for help. Agoraphobia is very treatable through cognitive behavioral therapy!