Your symptoms must not be due to another condition and must be present for six months or longer. A mental health professional can evaluate you and determine if your symptoms are the result of a phobia, panic disorder , or another issue.
A similar specific phobia known as cleithrophobia a fear of being confined or trapped is sometimes mistaken for claustrophobia. Researchers are not yet certain what factors may cause claustrophobia. Many speculate that it may be rooted in bad childhood experiences. Others believe that it may be a remnant of an evolutionary defense mechanism related to the dangers of being cornered with no escape.
Other underlying fears, such as a fear of injury, fear of losing control, or fear of death, may also play a role in the onset of claustrophobia. Researchers from Emory University concluded that people who falsely perceive the distance beyond their arm's reach are more likely to experience claustrophobic fear. Either way, it appears that a history of being nervous in enclosed spaces may eventually lead to a more serious case of claustrophobia.
Being claustrophobic can severely limit your life, causing you to miss out on things you would otherwise enjoy and even place undue stress on your health. For example, claustrophobia can be a challenge when it comes to travel. An anticipated vacation can turn negative once you find yourself in one of these situations, or these concerns may prevent you from even booking a trip in the first place. Medically, claustrophobia can be dangerous because it could cause you to avoid having necessary MRI tests or other important medical procedures.
Treatment for claustrophobia depends on the person and severity of symptoms. There are various treatments available. Your doctor or therapist may prescribe anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants to help manage your symptoms.
Low-dose anti-anxiety medication may be an option for upcoming travel if you are traveling by airplane, cruise ship, or other means of travel that may be a usual cause of claustrophobia for you. Be sure to pay close attention to dosage and medication instructions, as you may need to start taking the medication several days before you travel, or follow other procedures such as taking the drug with a meal or avoiding alcohol.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT in particular has been shown to be quite successful in treating claustrophobia. Exposure therapy is another treatment that can be effective. Systematic desensitization, counter-conditioning, modeling, and flooding are often used in conjunction with cognitive methods such as the Stop!
The methods work together to help change both your behaviors and your feelings of fear. While avoiding enclosed spaces is one way to avoid experiencing symptoms of fear and panic, avoidance coping also tends to make fear and anxiety worse. Finding ways to reduce panic and fear when you do encounter a situation that triggers feelings of claustrophobia can be helpful. You might try:.
Some people find relief through hypnosis and other alternative forms of treatment. Others find that self-help methods such as visualization can help them through claustrophobia attacks. If you decide to try alternative methods of treatment, be sure to get the approval of your mental health professional.
Although estimates vary, some have suggested that as much as Claustrophobia can be debilitating if it's not treated. However, treatment is usually successful. If you're experiencing any symptoms of claustrophobia, it's important to contact a mental health professional or your family doctor as soon as possible.
The cause of anxiety disorders such as phobias is thought to be a combination of genetic vulnerability and life experience. With appropriate treatment, it is usually possible to overcome claustrophobia or any other phobia. If a person suffering from claustrophobia finds themselves in an enclosed space, they may have an anxiety attack. Symptoms can include:. Once a person has experienced a number of anxiety attacks, they can become increasingly afraid that they might experience another.
They start to avoid the objects or situations that bring on the attack. However, any coping technique that relies on avoidance can only make the phobia worse. It seems that anticipating the possibility of confinement within a small space intensifies the feelings of anxiety and fear. For someone with a disabling phobia, the realisation that this fear is irrational and that treatment is needed can cause further anxiety.
Since most treatment options depend on confronting the feared situation or object, the person may feel reluctant. Support and encouragement from family and friends is crucial. A person trying to overcome a phobia may find some treatment methods particularly challenging and will need the love and understanding of their support people. The therapist may even ask the family members or friends to attend certain sessions, in order to support the person seeking treatment.
Treating phobias, including claustrophobia, relies on psychological methods. Depending on the person, some of these methods may include:. The person may be treated as an outpatient or, sometimes, as an inpatient if their phobia is particularly severe. Generally, treatment consists of around eight to 10 weeks of bi-weekly sessions. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave familiar environments, because they are afraid of having a panic attack.
You can help your child overcome anxiety by taking their fears seriously and encouraging them to talk about their feelings. Anxiety disorders are common mental health problems that affect many people. They may avoid places like the subway and prefer to take the stairs rather than an elevator, even if many floors are involved.
Up to 5 percent of Americans may experience claustrophobia. A diagnosis of claustrophobia may emerge during a consultation about another anxiety-related issue. For a specific phobia to be diagnosed, certain criteria need to be met. Being in or thinking about being in a confined space can trigger fears of not being able to breathe properly, running out of oxygen, and distress at being restricted. It is not necessarily the small spaces that trigger the anxiety, but the fear of what can happen to the person if confined to that area.
Reactions include :. Claustrophobia involves a fear of being restricted or confined to one area, so, having to wait in line at a checkout may also cause it in some people.
Following a diagnosis, the psychologist may recommend one or more of the following treatment options. It may involve slowly exposing the patient to small spaces and helping them deal with their fear and anxiety.
Observing others : Seeing others interact with the source of fear may reassure the patient. Drug therapy : Antidepressants and relaxants can help manage symptoms, but will not solve the underlying problem. Relaxation and visualization exercises : Taking deep breaths, meditating and doing muscle-relaxing exercises can help deal with negative thoughts and anxiety.
Alternative or complementary medicine : Some supplements and natural products may help patients manage panic and anxiety. Treatment often lasts around 10 weeks, with sessions twice a week. With appropriate treatment, it is possible to overcome claustrophobia. Strategies that can help people cope with claustrophobia include :.
Longer-term strategies may include joining a yoga class, working out an exercise program, or booking an aromatherapy massage, to help cope with stress. In this video, Stella Lourency, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Emory University, explains that people with higher levels of claustrophobic fear tend to underestimate distances.
Past or childhood experience is often the trigger that causes a person to associate small spaces with a sense of panic or imminent danger.
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