Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

This diagnosis is likely what many people think about when someone mentions “Panic Attacks”.  The word Agoraphobia has Greek roots loosely meaning  fear of open spaces. It currently means that a person experiences symptoms of panic when they are away from home in large, open, public places like malls, stadiums, open fields, airports, etc. This diagnosis differs from Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia, which a person experiences panic attacks at any time, anywhere.

Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia is a treatable condition through Cognitive Therapy and sometimes medications. Very often a person begins to experience symptoms after he or she had some unpleasant experience in the past, away from the safety and security of home. Then, out of the blue, one day symptoms appear, creating a very distressing experience for the person and his or her loved ones. The first time a person experiences a panic attack, physiological symptoms can be so severe, that thoughts of death and fear of total loss of control are common. First time panic attack victims frequently end up in emergency departments of hospitals, convinced of having a heart attack or stroke. This is not to say that if a person should avoid seeking medical help if unsure of having a heart attack or panic attack: it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

In my clinical practice, I have had a number of patients who begin to experience panic attacks after some medical trauma. For example, a person who had left home, subsequently was in a serious motor vehicle accident  and has latent memories of the accident, could start to have panic attacks when leaving home in the future. There are no symptoms of PTSD, just panic attacks when leaving home. It’s a matter of having been conditioned that leaving home results in a threat for survival.

All anxiety disorders are based in fear. It  is the strongest emotion we have since it has survival value. None of other emotions can spawn a total takeover of our thoughts and behaviors like fear. Anger can be powerful but typically requires fear for a total takeover of the mind and body.

Classic symptoms are:
Fear of impending doom
Excessive sweating
Tachycardia (heart beating very fast)
Clammy, sweaty palms
Gastrointestinal upset
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Vertigo

Some other diagnoses which can be confused with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia are alcohol intoxication, substance abuse, PTSD and withdrawal from many prescription and non-prescription drugs.