Managing Day-to-Day With Agoraphobia
Severe panic disorder can lead to agoraphobia, a fear of
places that can leave you a prisoner in your own home.
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically reviewed by Niya Jones. MD. MPH
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people who suffer from frequent panic attacks are constantly afraid of having another One, and
will often steer clear of places where they've had a panic attack before. Eventually, they may
become so terrified of having a panic attack in public that they avoid leaving the house
altogether. This severe, disabling fear reflects an anxietv disorder known as agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia: Extreme Anxiety Disorder
"Agoraphobia is really territorial avoidance or limited territorial avoidance where a person fears
going Outside Of their safety zone. ney're afraid they might re-experience the panic that they've
felt before," explains Martin N. Seif, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City and
Greenwich, Conn. Over time, this desire to avoid places outside Of their comfort zone may
become so intense that many agoraphobics are unable to leave their home.
Agoraphobia is nearly always associated with panic disorder, but not everyone with panic
disorder has agoraphobia.
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