Causes of Agoraphobia

There is no single cause of agoraphobia, nor is there any one factor that has been proven to be present in all cases. However, here are a list of factors that commonly contribute to the development of agoraphobia:

Family Factors
Growing up in a family with rigid rules or belief systems
Having an anxious parent as a role model
Having an overly critical parent that demands perfection or has unrealistic expectations
Having an overprotective parent
Receiving performance related approval as a child
Being abused as a child either physically or emotionally
Growing up with alcoholism in the family

Personality Factors
Oversensitivity to emotional stimuli
High levels of creativity and imagination
Black-and-white thinking
Perfectionism
High need for approval
High need for control
Suppressing or denying feelings
Tendency to disregard physical needs or acknowledge connection between the body and emotions.

Biological Factors
Oversensitivity to adrenalin
Oversensitivity to hormone changes
Oversensitivity to medication
Oversensitivity to physical stimulus (lights, sounds, temperatures, bodily sensations, etc.)
Large amounts of sodium lactate in the bloodstream

Usually a number of these factors contribute together to the onset of agoraphobia.