Anxiety episodes really make life difficult because they always seem to take place at the most inconvenient occasions. Moreover, once they are experienced consistently the patient of these panic attacks will many times try to hide from them. This particular habit can lead to a condition called agoraphobia.
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Agoraphobia is the most undesirable outcome of anxiety disorder. This is because those who suffer from it remain home bound. Many agoraphobia patients stay at home for years on end. The reason they choose this path is because they feel the episodes of panic they experience are caused by certain places and things. Therefore, they reason if they stay away from these places and things panic attacks will never occur. The problem is that it is impossible to hide from panic.
Agoraphobia is often a problem which develops out of anxiety disorder, but fortunately, not everyone’s anxiety turns into this affliction. The normal progression which leads to this condition is:
- Nervousness with no reason
- Large amounts of anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Agoraphobia
For some, panic attacks do not lead to agoraphobia. For others, being very anxious or even suffering what can be called an anxiety disorder does not lead to panic attacks. However, panic attacks are very common outcome of anxiety and if left unchecked will often develop into agoraphobia.
Still, it does not have to be so. Panic attacks can be stopped and reversed. Also, anxiety can be stopped and reversed. If panic attacks are stopped, this alone will prevent agoraphobia from developing. This is true simply because without the sufferer believing he or she needs to avoid a particular place because this place will cause a panic attack, he or she will have no reason to stay home.
It is only after the sufferer of bouts of panic is convinced staying away from some particular venues will prevent panic attacks from occurring that the inclination to stay home will develop. If the sufferer becomes cured of panic attacks, or even if he/she is convinced panic attacks are unlikely, he or she will be at ease venturing back out into the world. At this point, agoraphobia will not be an issue.
Therefore, one can easily see that overcoming agoraphobia requires overcoming panic. Being free of panic cuts agoraphobia’s legs out from underneath it. The reverse however, is not true. In other words, being able to overcome agoraphobia will not necessarily stop panic attacks from occurring. Actually, it is the case that many people go through life suffering episodes of panic but never become inclined to lock themselves up in their houses. The point is, there is a connection between these two afflictions and once it is understood it can be better dealt with.
