Claustrophobia Facts

A person who has an irrational fear of small or enclosed places is said to have claustrophobia. These people feel trapped and like they will never be able to get out of a given situation. Claustrophobia is a specific phobia dealing with anxiety. There are physical and emotional components to the condition. Although there is no way to prevent developing the condition, with proper treatment, claustrophobia can be controlled and sometimes overcome entirely.

Causes

• No exact cause for claustrophobia is known, but some develop the condition because of a traumatic event in childhood in which the person was actually physically trapped in a small space, leading to extreme anxiety. From then on, the thought of being in small, enclosed places causes anxiety, leading to the recurring condition.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of claustrophobia include rapid heartbeat, trembling and sweating, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, terror, panic attacks, fainting, nausea, dizziness, headache and chest pain.

Other Signs

• A person with claustrophobia will avoid elevators, be scared when all doors are shut to a room, keep a lookout for exits and often stand close to exit doors when in crowds, and not ride in planes or subways, and even cars when lots of traffic is present.

Considerations

• People with claustrophobia often feel like they are going to die or are going crazy when going through an attack.

Treatment

• Claustrophobia is treated with psychotherapy or counseling to overcome fear, using various techniques such as relaxation and behavioral therapy, and anti-depressants or antianxiety medications to treat panic.