AGORAPHOBIA-ISOLATION

Agoraphobia is extreme social isolation that may include fears about leaving home. It can involve the fear of being in public, particularly of being stuck in a place where escape might be difficult or embarrassing. Another hallmark is fear of having a panic attack alone, away from home, or standing in line, or on a bus, or on a bridge, or in a crowded public place. Agoraphobia is associated with anxiety disorders because it frequently accompanies panic attacks. The quality of life for people with these issues is quite limited because they tend to be isolated and lonely.

Some information about Agoraphobia suggests that the therapeutic approaches that confront and expose people to their specific fears are best practice. I respectfully disagree with these views on the grounds that they run the risk of re-traumatizing people who have already been hurt. They are vulnerable to being re-traumatized because they struggle with tremendous fear, anxiety, and sometimes shame. Dynamic therapy is suited to people with Agoraphobia and anxiety because it takes a gentle, private approach to addressing the psychological causes of the fears and anxiety. In the process of examining these fears the person develops the strength to manage all types of fear and anxiety. Rather than mastering one specific type of situation, the Dynamic approach helps a person grow in the area of dealing with anxiety and fear in general.