When a person feels their "safety zone" is a limited area around their house, and they fear they"ll have panic attacks as a result of getting too far away from this protection and safety, they may become agoraphobic.
Panic Attack Symptoms (some or all the symptoms may occur).
Terror (a sense that something unimaginable horrible is about to happen and one is powerless to prevent it).
Racing heart beat.
Chest pains.
Dizziness.
Sense of unreality.
Fear of dying .
Fear of losing control going crazy doing something embarrassing.
Treatment with Medication:.
The three groups of medication that are commonly used are Tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and MAOIs. The determination of which drug to use is based on consideration of safety, efficacy, and the personal needs and preference of the patient.
Agoraphobia: Panic disorders may progress to a more advanced stage in which the person becomes afraid of being in any place or situation where escape might be difficult to attain. Typically, people with agoraphobia fear being in crowds, standing in line, entering shopping malls, and riding in cars or public transportation. Often these people restrict themselves to a zone of safety that may only include the home or the immediate neighborhood. Any movement beyond the edges of this zone creates mounting anxiety. People with agoraphobia can be seriously disabled by their condition. Some are unable to work, and they may need to rely heavily on other family members, who must do the shopping and run all the household errands ass well as accompany the affected people on excursion outside the safety zone. Thus the person with agoraphobia typically leads a life with extreme dependency as well as great discomfort.
Agoraphobia without history of panic disorder is marked anxiety or distress of leaving home, being in public places, or feared situations. The patient with agoraphobia is not necessarily afraid of open spaces rather that are afraid of having panicky feelings.