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When people do not go back to certain places because they are afraid that they might re-experience a panic attack, they may be suffering from a condition called agoraphobia. When a person has experienced a panic attack in a certain place, it will often leave a negative mental connection of the place because it panic attacks affects a person physically and mentally. It will be difficult for a person who is suffering from agoraphobia to be in places like malls, sport arenas, public transportation, and other similar public areas because it is outside their comfort zone.

According to the Anxiety Disorders of America, panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience intense feelings of fear, sweating, shortness of breath and other symptoms out of the blue. The attacks can occur unexpectedly, and may last for several minutes or more than an hour.

If a person is experiencing at least four of the following things, they are having a full-blown panic attack: fear of dying, chills or heat flush, a tingling sensation, nausea or abdominal discomfort, trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and dizziness. There are some people who may feel depersonalization from their environment or may think that they are going crazy.

A person having a panic attack may become very afraid of the physical environment they are in because panic attacks trigger fear and a need to escape. The term for the fear which associates the place where the person thinks that they will experience an attack and would have difficult to escape from is called agoraphobia. Examples of these places are theaters, arenas, concert halls, public transportation, and other public places where it will be impossible to get away.

The good new is that there are treatment options available for panic attacks and panic disorders to help you lower the instances of agoraphobia. Lifestyle changes, mental health counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and certain types of medication are some of the current treatment options that can help control anxiety and reduce the risks of panic attacks. In some cases, a change in diet and lifestyle is sufficient to effectively get rid of panic attacks. Mental health counseling so that they can get desensitized to the problem-causing environment will be able to help the people who are no longer experiencing recurring panic attacks but still suffer from intense agoraphobia.

Panic disorder and agoraphobia are both are sub-types of general anxiety disorder and their root cause is still unknown. Panic disorders can be triggered by stressful major life transitions like divorce or a loss of a loved one, environmental factors, and it often also runs through the family. The exact reason why people experience agoraphobia is unknown, but experts have said that it can be traced back from a childhood experience of panic disorder and anxiety. Some say that agoraphobia is a learned behavior, so that means you can unlearn it and enjoy a healthy and more balanced lifestyle.

Both panic disorder and agoraphobia can be managed with behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes even with the strong link between the two. So that they can enjoy a healthier lifestyle, people who suffer from panic disorder can work on ways to control their response to certain environments.

If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety when socializing with people, or have fear of leaving your home, there is hope. A non-pharmaceutical anxiety treatment that can help you to free yourself from the unsettling thoughts that may lead to panic attacks.