Interpersonal Self-Help Techniques for the Social-Phobic
Person
The Agoraphobic Experience
An agoraphobic person is afraid of being in places or
situations from which escape might be difficult or in
which help might not be available if incapacitating or
embarrassing symptoms developed. This incident illustrates
some of these aspects of agoraphobia.
The woman who lives next door is a very nice
person and I like her. One day she asked me if I
would like to drive over to a big shopping center
that had recently opened about 5 miles from where
we live. I didn't know how to tell her that there isn't
a chance in the world that I'd go to that shopping
center or any other place outside our neighborhood.
She must have seen how upset I got, but I was
shaking like a leaf even more inside.
I imagined myself in the crowd, getting lost, or
passing out. I was terrified by the openness of the
shopping center and the crowds. I made an
excuse this time, but I don't know what I'll say next
time. Maybe I'll just have to let her in on my little
bit of craziness.
Certain types of thoughts and bodily reactions that
are typical of agoraphobia are listed below.
Thoughts
• I am going to choke to death.
• I will hurt someone.
• I am going to act foolish.
• I am going to scream.
• I may loose bowel or bladder control.
• I may vomit.
Bodily Reactions
• Heart palpitations
• Pressure in chest
• Numbness in arms or legs
• Nausea
• Feeling disoriented or confused
• Wobbly or rubber legs
• Dizziness
The individual may have an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of the home; in the most extreme cases, the victim is unable even to walk down the street. Like most other phobias, agoraphobia is woman than among men. It often begins in the late teens, although it is also observed in older people. Like other phobias, it waxes and wanes, and it is not uncommon for the object of the fear to change over time.
Another woman who was also afraid to visit a shopping
center near her home sought the help of a clinical
psychologist. As part of the therapy, he took her there on a
series of trips. She became able to visit a supermarket in the
center while the therapist went to another store, and
eventually she was able to visit the shopping center on
her own change. Some cases of agoraphobia are preceded
by panic attacks marked by intense anxiety. In many cases
of agoraphobia seen by clinicians the phobic symptoms
are a complication of panic disorder.
An agoraphobic person is afraid of being in places or
situations from which escape might be difficult or in
which help might not be available if incapacitating or
embarrassing symptoms developed. This incident illustrates
some of these aspects of agoraphobia.
The woman who lives next door is a very nice
person and I like her. One day she asked me if I
would like to drive over to a big shopping center
that had recently opened about 5 miles from where
we live. I didn't know how to tell her that there isn't
a chance in the world that I'd go to that shopping
center or any other place outside our neighborhood.
She must have seen how upset I got, but I was
shaking like a leaf even more inside.
I imagined myself in the crowd, getting lost, or
passing out. I was terrified by the openness of the
shopping center and the crowds. I made an
excuse this time, but I don't know what I'll say next
time. Maybe I'll just have to let her in on my little
bit of craziness.
Certain types of thoughts and bodily reactions that
are typical of agoraphobia are listed below.
Thoughts
• I am going to choke to death.
• I will hurt someone.
• I am going to act foolish.
• I am going to scream.
• I may loose bowel or bladder control.
• I may vomit.
Bodily Reactions
• Heart palpitations
• Pressure in chest
• Numbness in arms or legs
• Nausea
• Feeling disoriented or confused
• Wobbly or rubber legs
• Dizziness
The individual may have an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of the home; in the most extreme cases, the victim is unable even to walk down the street. Like most other phobias, agoraphobia is woman than among men. It often begins in the late teens, although it is also observed in older people. Like other phobias, it waxes and wanes, and it is not uncommon for the object of the fear to change over time.
Another woman who was also afraid to visit a shopping
center near her home sought the help of a clinical
psychologist. As part of the therapy, he took her there on a
series of trips. She became able to visit a supermarket in the
center while the therapist went to another store, and
eventually she was able to visit the shopping center on
her own change. Some cases of agoraphobia are preceded
by panic attacks marked by intense anxiety. In many cases
of agoraphobia seen by clinicians the phobic symptoms
are a complication of panic disorder.