AGORAPHOBIA/AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR:

While not all people develop an anxiety disorder, some develop agoraphobia. This in turn complicates our experience and adds to the stress and
anxiety many of us feel.

In the past agoraphobia was known as the fear of open spaces or fear of the 'market place'. Now it is recognized as a fear of having a panic attack in which
help or escape may be difficult or we will make a fool of ourselves or embarrass ourselves in some way.

The avoidance behavior can be categorized in a number of ways:

1. As an overall defense against ongoing panic and anxiety. People may have 'boundaries' of where they can and can't go. Sometimes these boundaries may mean they can't leave the house or perhaps even leave one room.

2. A person may have had a panic attack or panic like symptoms in a particular situation or place and avoid going back into the situation or place for fear of
having a panic attack or panic like symptoms.

3. Anticipatory anxiety. The person may need to go into a certain situation or place but are fearful of having a panic attack or panic like symptoms. The 'what ifs' thinking creates a spiral of anxiety and they may then avoid going because of the spiral of anxiety.

4. This reason is quite obvious but not generally acknowledged. With ongoing panic attacks and anxiety many people simply do not feel well. Besides the symptoms of anxiety and panic many of us develop ongoing sinus and/or ear problems or other 'flu' type symptoms which in turn makes it more difficult for the person to go out.

WHAT IS AGORAPHOBIA

The term agoraphobia has been widely misunderstood. Its literal definition suggests a fear of "open spaces". However, this is an incomplete and misleading
view. Agoraphobics are not necessarily afraid of open spaces. Rather, they are afraid of having panicky feelings, wherever. these fearful feelings may occur. For many, they happen at home, in houses of worship, or in crowded supermarkets, places that are certainly not "open".

In fact, agoraphobia is a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Typical "phobic situations" might include driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings and social gatherings.

Agoraphobia arises; from an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have repeatedly occurred before. Once the panic attacks have started, these episodes become the ongoing stress, even when other more obvious pressures have diminished. This sets up a "feedback condition" which generally leads to increased numbers of panic attacks and, for some people, an increase in the situations or events which can produce panicky feelings. Others experience fearful feelings continuously, more a feeling of overall. discomfort, rather than panic.

A person may fear having anxiety attacks, "losing control", or embarrassing him/herself in such situations. Many people remain in a painful state of anxious
anticipation because of these fears. Some become restricted or "housebound" while others function "normally" but with great difficulty, often attempting to
hide their discomfort.

Agoraphobia, then, is both a severe anxiety condition and a phobia, as well as a pattern of avoidant behavior.