guestbook    archive    contact us

Agoraphobia used to be defined simply as a fear of open spaces but over the years as the stigma surrounding mental illness has lessened and more is being learned about such conditions, the definition has moved on and now it can be defined as something like...

An acute or irrational fear of potentially fearful or embarrassing situations that cannot be easily escaped to a place of perceived safety. A fear of recurrent panic attacks or similar disabling episodes from which there is no easy retreat

Agoraphobia can be triggered by different scenarios in different people. Some people are afraid to go into crowded buildings, some people won't use public transport and some people won't leave their home at all.

It usually manifests itself as a sudden feeling of extreme insecurity and dread that can lead to shaking, sweating, incoherence, dizziness, blurred vision - all accompanied by an overwhelming urge to get back to somewhere familiar and safe.

Safe places

Most agoraphobics will have one or a number of 'safe places' that they tend to retreat to when they feel the anxiety coming on. Of course these places are, in all likelihood, no more safe than other places but to the agoraphobic there is a perception of safety.

It is not only venturing outside these safe places that brings on anxiety; sometimes having visitors 'invade' one of your safe places can be just as distressing.