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Claustrophobia: Know its scope and how to combat it
When talking about phobias, the number is infinite, some being more common than others, and among the most stormy is claustrophobia. This leads to a rejection of closed spaces, and it is very uncomfortable for those who suffer from it today.
With the increase in population and technological changes, the condition for the claustrophobic has become more bothersome. Elevators, transport and work spaces are often smaller, which for them represents a problem.
If you have come to think that it is not a worrying or risky condition, today I invite you to discover the world of claustrophobia, delving deeper into its true scope.
What is Claustrophobia?
It is classified as a disorder linked to anxiety, and in basic terms, it is a deep fear of being or staying in small and hermetic spaces. Places like airplanes, elevators, or even a car can be uncomfortable for the claustrophobic.
The smaller, darker and more closed the space, the more uncomfortable it becomes. However, their fear is not conditioned solely to the characteristics of the space, what most affects the person are the thoughts that they develop when they are there.
In this sense, the most common ideas that invade them are:
They won't be able to get out of that place.
The oxygen will run out and they will suffocate.
An accident will happen.
They won't be able to move.
All these hypotheses are generated in their minds causing a state of panic, which dominates them and makes their stay very forced in those spaces.
In general, they tend to use all possible alternative routes, even if this requires more effort.
This condition can also occur in open spaces, if the person is surrounded by a crowd. Stages, such as concerts or demonstrations, can produce the same lockdown effect.
What symptoms does the claustrophobic present?
Those who suffer from this evil usually lead a normal life, until the moment they encounter one of the spaces that affect them.
When someone goes through an episode of claustrophobia, they present physical and psychological symptoms, and these are the following.
physical symptoms
Being overpowered by anxiety, this causes your heart rate to rise, just as it is normal to see increased sweating.
Nausea or chest pain may be experienced, accompanied by flushing and shortness of breath.
The person may pass out, or they may also feel weak and lightheaded. Their coordination and mobility are also affected in some cases.
psychological symptoms
When we go to the psychological field, we find the appearance of emotions such as fear, panic and despair. The mind becomes cloudy and clogged with negative thoughts, and strong pressure and anxiety are experienced.
They tend to avoid any space that is uncomfortable for them, and if they are forced to be in one, they eagerly locate the exits.
They act with a very cautious approach, and desperation can cause them to act violently in some extreme cases.
What causes this disorder?
In basic terms, it is another mutation of the anxiety disorder, but if we analyze it in terms of factors, we can see different focuses.
The most frequent cause of the problem is having experienced a traumatic event in childhood.
There are those who have suffered cases where they were trapped in a small place, or experienced a mishap while traveling on some transport, which generated fear.
On the other hand, there are also parents who used confinement as a method of punishment. Those who experienced this type of abuse will automatically develop a rejection of similar sites that remind them of this type of episode. This evil usually affects both men and women and manifests itself at any stage of life.
From a scientific point of view, it is believed that the origin of the disorder responds to the fact that there are people who have a smaller size in an area of the brain called the amygdala, this being the one in charge of responses to fear.
But, the position that gains more strength is the one concerning traumatic events, since it is the most frequent motivation when a case of this problem is analyzed.
How to treat claustrophobia?
Depending on the degree of fear that the patient suffers, or the frequency with which they experience the episodes, it will be determined whether or not they require medication. But, in any of the cases, treatment with therapies is needed.
There are different types of therapies, where each one is aimed at working on a different psychological aspect, which favors the affected person, and the most common are the following:
Behavior therapy: This focuses on the person achieving a change in their thoughts, going from negative to positive in the face of an episode. By controlling your thoughts, you can also control your reactions.
Exposure therapy: Leads the patient to face their fear gradually, through exposure to closed spaces. It is not executed abruptly and forcefully, it is a slow treatment, but quite effective.
Relaxation therapy: In this, the patient is taught a series of tools that help him maintain control and be relaxed in the face of an anxiety situation. Breathing and maintaining concentration become very useful weapons against fear.
How does claustrophobia affect someone's life?
Although it is true that the episodes will appear sporadically in specific places, avoiding them is not so easy. One of the ways it affects the most is that it limits the ability to be, stay or move anywhere you want.
Someone with this problem may be hindered from finding a job, since if their workspace does not meet favorable conditions for them, they will not be able to accept the position.
Moving will also be another limiting factor if you do not have your own vehicle.
The subway, the bus, or the planes become quite a challenge, and if you want to travel to distant places, there are very few alternatives that are comfortable for those who suffer from claustrophobia.
Any work, academic or social development can be hampered by this disorder, so it should be treated immediately once it appears. If left unchecked, the fear will become much more acute over time.
Both claustrophobia, like any other psychological conflict that integrates anxiety, should not be taken lightly. An episode of anxiety can even lead to death, if the degree of fear gets out of control.
Never stop taking care of yourself, controlling your emotions is controlling your life.
