Agoraphobia can make certain places or situations feel unsafe because leaving might be difficult, help may not be available, or you might experience panic or other uncomfortable symptoms while you’re there.
This fear can arise in crowded areas, open spaces, stores, public transportation, traffic, unfamiliar places, or situations where you feel trapped or far from home. You may avoid these situations, only face them with someone you trust, stay close to exits, or carefully plan how you could leave if anxiety becomes overwhelming.
These strategies can help you feel safer in the moment, but over time they may limit your independence, relationships, work, travel, or ability to leave home.
Therapy can help you gradually approach the places and situations anxiety has taught you to fear, become more confident in your ability to navigate panic and discomfort, and regain freedom in your everyday life. We’ll work collaboratively and move at a pace that feels challenging but manageable.
Agoraphobia
What this can look like
Feeling Anxious in Certain Places or Situations
You may feel especially anxious in situations where leaving quickly, getting help, or feeling safe seems difficult, such as:
Using public transportation, such as buses, trains, or planes
Being in open spaces, such as parking lots, marketplaces, or bridges
Being in enclosed spaces, such as stores, theaters, or elevators
Standing in line or being in a crowd
Being outside of your home alone
Avoiding Places That Feel Hard to Escape
You may start avoiding certain places or situations because you’re worried about feeling trapped, panicking, becoming overwhelmed, or not being able to leave easily. Over time, your world may begin to feel smaller as more situations become difficult to approach.
Feeling Anxiety in Your Body
Feared situations may bring on a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking, dizziness, nausea, or other uncomfortable sensations. Sometimes these sensations can become intense enough to feel like a panic attack.
Worrying About Situations Before They Happen
Anxiety may begin well before you leave home. You might plan how you'll escape, worry about whether you'll panic, look for exits ahead of time, or decide not to go because you're unsure whether you'll be able to handle how you feel.
Needing Someone or Something to Feel Safe
You may feel more comfortable going places when someone you trust is with you, staying close to exits, driving yourself so you can leave whenever you want, or having other ways to feel prepared in case anxiety becomes overwhelming.
Anxiety Limiting Your Independence
You may find yourself turning down plans, avoiding travel, changing how you get around, relying more heavily on other people, or having difficulty doing things you want or need to do because of the fear.
You can feel anxious and still live your life
Anxiety may have gradually changed where you go, what you do, or whether you feel comfortable doing things on your own.The goal isn't to wait until anxiety disappears before you start living more freely. Treatment can help you gradually approach situations you've been avoiding and learn that anxiety can come along without deciding where you can and can't go.