Agoraphobia disease
Agoraphobia is one kind of anxiety disorder, characterized by great fears while in a crowded open space, such as in markets, airports, and so on. In general, agoraphobic sufferers may avoid being in a crowded place alone.
While in open and crowded rooms, people will usually feel panicked, shy, insecure, and helpless. Therefore, patients usually feel the need to be accompanied when they need to be in these places to feel safer.
Causes of Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is generally the result of a panic attack, a sudden panic condition with no obvious cause, characterized by feelings like dying, suffocated neck, pounding chest, cold sweat, shortness of breath.
If someone has a panic attack while traveling out of the house alone, this can be a shameful event because he will be the center of many people's attention. Because of this, agoraphobia can begin to occur.
People feel excessive fear if they have to be in the crowd. Feeling worried when a panic attack happens again, embarrassing events will repeat.
Agoraphobia Diagnosis
To ensure the presence of agoraphobia disorder, doctors should conduct a thorough interview of the sufferer. A competent physician does so as a psychiatrist.
A person is mentioned as experiencing agoraphobia when the criteria of the mental disorder Diagnostic (PPDGJ) III guidelines are met:
- Symptoms that arise should be a manifestation of anxiety (anxiety).
- The arising anxiety must occur in at least two of the following situations:
-Many people
-In public places
-Travel outdoors
-Traveling alone
- Avoiding situations that cause a phobia
Symptoms of Agoraphobia
Agoraphobic symptoms are a combination of fear, anxiety, and physical complaints such as palpitations, chest pains, dizziness, cold sweat, shaking, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.
People experiencing agoraphobia have a fear of the situation:
- Traveling alone
- Be in a crowded public place
- Being in a shameful situation
Agoraphobic Treatment
To overcome agoraphobia, it takes a combination of medicine and psychotherapy. The action of this treatment should be done by a psychiatrist.
Medications that can be used to treat agoraphobia include the drug class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or such as the benzodiazepine group. These drugs should be consumed in strict supervision by a physician. If the dose is not correct, instead of the complaint disappears, the complaint can even get worse.
Psychotherapy, meanwhile, is done to change the sufferer's mindset about the irrational fear conditions experienced. Psychotherapy requires good cooperation between sufferers and psychiatrists.
Through this treatment, the sufferer will gradually realize that the fear will not occur, the anxiety will disappear slowly, and the sufferer can control his fears.
Agoraphobia Prevention
To prevent excessive fear, agoraphobia sufferers must learn to be calm and relaxed. Also, avoiding alcohol and drug consumption helps prevent the occurrence of fear and anxiety due to agoraphobia occurring.