What is agoraphobia the fear of?

Agoraphobia is the fear or anxiety of being in environments where one may not be able to escape easily or situations where immediate help would not be available if something goes wrong.

Most people think agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces, but it is more complex than that. When someone with agoraphobia is in a stressful environment, they manifest symptoms of panic attacks, such as an increase in heart rate, rapid breathing, and excessive sweating.

People with agoraphobia tend to avoid environments or situations that cause fear and anxiety. They manifest strange behaviors such as ordering groceries online instead of going to a grocery store. This type of behavior is called avoidance and happens after the individual has experienced anxiety in the environment they are avoiding.


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