What is Agoraphobia?

I think one of the reasons agoraphobia was so hard to recover from was because it snuk up on me before I even knew what agoraphobia was. I already had full-blown agoraphobia before I became aware of the term.

I mean who has heard of agoraphobia that hasn't either suffered from it themselves or known someone who did. I think most people are familiar with terms like "panic disorder" or "anxiety disorder" but whenever I mention that I had agoraphobia, most people just shake their heads and look at me funny.

I am sure that if I had suffered from claustrophobia I would get a lot more understanding and sympathy. Why is it that most everyone has heard of claustrophobia and not agoraphobia when the two are related - in fact, they are nearly exact opposites. People with claustrophobia fear closed spaces and seek more open environments. People like me with agoraphobia fear open spaces and look for places where you can feel closed in and surrounded by something. Feeling closed in can actually help someone with agoraphobia feel safe.

Anyway, I have been thinking of putting up a website dedicated to people with agoraphobia since our disorder doesn't seem to be recognized by the mainstream. When I was doing some background reading for the site, I looked up different definitions of agopraphobia on the web. Here's what I came up with:

Definitions of Agoraphobia on the Web:

1) Irrational fear of being in a situation where escape is difficult or impossible.

2) Marked fear of being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing; fear of being out of control or fear of losing control when in a public place, eg, a restaurant, shopping mall, or classroom. Fear of being in a place or situation in which help might not be available in the event of a panic attack.

3) a Greek word that literally means "fear of the marketplace." This anxiety disorder involves the fear of experiencing a panic attack in a place or situation from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing.

4) a condition which leads to extreme anxiety and fear about leaving the safe environment of home, being in open spaces or being alone or in a public place.

5) the abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation from which escape is difficult or embarrassing, often characterized at first by panic or anxiety and finally by avoidance of open or public places.

6) Irrational or abnormal fear of open spaces or large crouds of people.

6) the fear of public places or open spaces. People with agoraphobia try to avoid being in situations that make them feel trapped.

7) fear from open places and the presence of many people aroundlibrary.

8) an abnormal fear of open or public places.

9) Agoraphobia is the fear of going out into public places. Agoraphbia can occur with or without panic attacks.

10) Fear of leaving a safe place.

11) a morbid fear of open spaces (as fear of being caught alone in some public place).

12) Agoraphobia is a form of anxiety disorder. The word is an English adoption of the Greek words agora (αγορά) and phobia (φόβος). Literally translated as "a fear of the marketplace", agoraphobia is a fear of open or public spaces where help in an emergency might not be readily available.

But this, by far, was my favorite definition:

Agoraphobia: What the Heck Is It???

I guess it will be a while before agoraphobia gets the full respect it deserves as one of the most common anxiety disorders.

I'll be back to write more about my experience with agoraphobia later.