Agoraphobia occurs when someone fears having a panic attack and not being able to get help. The individual worries about having panic attacks in public and avoids crowded places such as airplanes, sporting events, malls and subways. Sometimes the agoraphobia becomes so debilitating that the person will refuse to leave her house, because she doesn't feel safe anywhere else. Long-term treatment is often successful in helping people gain control of the disorder.
Basics
Treating agoraphobia can be challenging, because the person may not feel comfortable leaving his house. Therefore, you have to find a psychiatrist and therapist who will travel to the person's house to treat her until she's ready to leave the house for treatment. This often means that family members have to seek help for the person with panic attacks with agoraphobia.
Types of Psychotherapy
The most common form of psychotherapy used to treat panic attacks with agoraphobia is cognitive behavioral therapy. Through this form of treatment, the therapist helps the client understand how her anxious thoughts influence and affect her emotions and behaviors. The therapist works with the client to help him gain control of his thoughts. Other forms of therapy used to treat this disorder are family therapy and exposure therapy. Therapists understand the difficulty of coming to a therapist's office, so some offer sessions over the phone or through email at first if they can't travel to the person's home.
Types of Medications
The Mayo Clinic reports that medication is often needed to reduce the occurrence of panic attacks and the symptoms of anxiety. The two most common types of medication prescribed to treat panic attacks with agoraphobia are antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs, can be taken over a long period of time with minor side effects to reduce the basic symptoms of anxiety and the likelihood of experiencing panic attacks. Many times someone with this disorder will be prescribed a combination of an antidepressant to take daily and benzodiazepines to take when needed.
Warning
Benzodiazepines, also known as anti-anxiety medications, can be addicting and habit-forming, so they're usually only prescribed for short-term use. Patients may be given a benzodiazepine such as Xanax or Klonopin to take when they have a panic attack, because the medication begins to work within 30 minutes of taking it.
The Mayo Clinic reports that when a person begins and stops taking antidepressants, the individual may experience the symptoms of a panic attack. Doctors gradually increase the dosage and decrease the dosage, respectively, in order to keep those symptoms to a minimum.
Considerations
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that someone with this disorder can also use self-help techniques such as meditating and learning relaxation techniques to reduce the symptoms. This should not take the place of treatment, but it can be a good addition. Also, joining a support group once you're ready to leave your home can be another way to get help.
