Agoraphobia is generally viewed as having a fear of traveling.  In reality it is not a fear of the traveling experience (i.e. movement toward a distant location) as much as it is the fear of being gone from familiar and safe surroundings.  It is for that reason that agoraphobia is often linked to fear of flying or fear of other vehicle travel. 

In reality these two disorders are quite different.  Fear of flying is typically linked to other anxieties that are based in the fear of dying in a crash or other trauma.   The agoraphobia sufferer dreads being gone from outside their physical/geographical comfort zone - not the act of travel.

An Agoraphobia Panic Attack is not unlike other types of anxiety attack in that it is characterized by similar physical symptoms of rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, headache, muscle aches, chest pains, cold-sweats, etc.  - along with the psychological symptoms of extreme fear and panic coupled with the desire to flee the environment and return to their safe zone. 

The most prevalent problem issue with the treatment of agoraphobia is that patients avoid treatment by prevent symptomatic return - they avoid travelling outside their comfort zone.  This is not unlike the sufferer of Social Anxiety Disorder who rarely leaves home.  Both of these sufferers are difficult to treat because they simply live with the disorder by preventing its occurrence.  In neither case is treatment possible because the patient has precluded access to their condition.  Many people with agoraphobia live their entire lives within just a few miles - or blocks - from their home comfort zone.  This is quite a shame, since treatments for agoraphobia do work.

The basic approach to treating agoraphobia is to introduce a planned regimen of limit-stretching of their boundaries while treating the physical symptoms with tranquilizers and antidepressant.  This may seem odd - that the cure is doses of the panic source itself - but in reality what is happening is that the increased limit-stretching is forcing the subconscious and conscious minds to accept that indeed there is nothing to fear in either travel or geographical relocation.  Indeed, many people who were previously agoraphobia sufferers become avid travelers.

As indicated you will probably need to consult both your primary care physician and a therapist or psychiatrist to obtain or develop the actual battle plan for this behavior modification.  Your doctors will also prescribe prescription drugs for your symptoms.   You should expect to begin seeing demonstrable improvements in about six months, along with the disappearance anxiety attacks.

Tags: care physician and a therapist, Health, panic attack, prevalent problem, Agoraphobia Panic Attack, Fitness Tips, distant location, social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder