The name claustrophobia comes from the words “claustrum” (Latin for locking in some place) and “phobos” (Greek for fear). It is classified by medical specialists as a nervous disorder, it can also be said that claustrophobia is a social phobia, statistics show that about 7% of humanity suffer from it.
Claustrophobia manifests itself as a baseless fear of small, low, narrow and closed rooms. Interestingly, symptoms the disease can be expected even among large numbers of people, on a plane or while driving. Claustrophobia it does not appear only in small rooms, doctors say that seizures are in some way dependent on the patient. That is why a list of specific places or situations in which claustrophobia could take its toll, is still not specified. There are cases when the sufferer begins to feel anxious while standing in a long line or sitting in the dentist’s chair. Generally speaking, claustrophobia is a disease that attacks mainly in places from which it is difficult to escape or exit. It should be remembered that for each of us it may be a completely different situation or a significantly different place.
Claustrophobia – causes
Both the list of places influencing the appearance of anxiety and specific ones causes remain unspecified. Psychoanalysts explain that claustrophobia it concerns all of us. However, some people become more at risk of a sudden panic attack that can be birth-related – when it is pushing through the birth canal. According to psychoanalysts, this may have an impact on the development of the disease in the future. By contrast, proponents of the behavioral theory believe that claustrophobia it has its basis in family relations, observation of the parents’ panic in small rooms may become the cause of the disease. Claustrophobia according to behaviorists, it may also have grounds for childhood traumas, e.g. being locked in a closet. Remember that despite these theories claustrophobia there are no clearly defined causes, each of us may have a different disease causes.
Claustrophobia – symptoms
Claustrophobia it manifests itself primarily in phobic situations, i.e. those in which there is a high risk of triggering uncontrolled panic or fear. At such moments, the sufferer is accompanied by anxiety, overwhelming fear, in the case of cramped rooms there is a phenomenon of lowering the ceiling over the head. Breathing becomes shallow, irregular, cold sweat and goose bumps develop. Claustrophobia It can also manifest itself with increased heart rate or pulse, paralysis and dizziness. Claustrophobia it can give the sufferer a strange feeling of impending catastrophe, accompanied by unfounded panic, trembling hands and stress. Be aware that the symptoms claustrophobia may vary, depending on the situation or the place where the patient is. The symptoms of phobias listed above are the most common ones that patients have to deal with, but let us remember that this range may be wider.
Claustrophobia – how to treat?
Claustrophobia is a serious disease that can cause discomfort and prevent people from functioning normally, so treatment for phobias becomes necessary. The basic help sufferers should seek is a visit to a specialist – psychologist. Claustrophobia requires research and cognitive psychotherapy, which will help to alleviate attacks of the disease in high-risk places. The therapy gradually reduces the sensitivity to factors that can trigger anxiety.
Claustrophobia is treated too exposure therapythat is, one in which the sufferer is exposed to the trigger of the panic attack. It is then that the leader proves the patient that he is safe in this situation. This therapy is supposed to “unlearn” nervous behavior to some extent, but it is associated with the roar of failure. It should only be performed under the constant supervision of a specialist.
Claustrophobia it can also be treated pharmacologically, but this is not the best option. This disease is a mental phobia, therefore antidepressants or anxiolytics should only be added and used only when the symptoms are at their maximum strength.