Behind the technical word “agoraphobia“, which sounds quite similar to the super soft wool of the famous angora rabbit, is a serious anxiety disorder, namely claustrophobia. It belongs to the phobias and is a fear directed at a specific object or situation.
There is usually confusion about the correct use of the term (agora, Greek: = marketplace, public gathering place), because agoraphobia is often confused with the fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia). It is correct, however, that it refers to the fear of crowds and large places. Hence the still common German translation “claustrophobia”.
The “claustrophobia” is expressed in the fact that affected people avoid public places and situations. They are afraid of not being able to flee quickly enough if something embarrassing happens to them or they get into a dangerous situation.
The definition has changed
Agoraphobia used to be the fear of public places or wide streets alone, or more specifically, of crowds, of being in public. However, according to an expanded definition that takes into account more recent medical findings, the term also includes the fear of experiencing threatening or embarrassing bodily symptoms in a situation and of being without help, of not being able to get away, of losing control of oneself. Today, agoraphobia is understood to mean:
- Still the fear of wide places, avenues, streets, (empty) halls and (church) rooms, etc., but rarely as the sole sign of the disease.
- Fear and thus avoidance of situations in which it could be particularly unpleasant or dangerous to have an anxiety attack: to leave the “protective” house and go (alone!) To shopping, work, leisure activities, etc..
- The use of difficult to understand, partly ridiculous-looking aids to mitigate such fears, such as escort, symbolic protective objects such as walking stick or other familiar objects, children’s or shopping cart, pet, “escape-proof” corner seats near the door, sunglasses, etc..
