Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder, a fear of closed spaces and narrowness or a fear of being locked up in a tight space.
Feeling fear is a normal reaction of humans, and phobia may not be a disease, but a mental disorder. Unlike fear, a natural anxiety of humans that represents a psychological or physiological reaction to some threat. Phobia is characterized by a great fear, which can be of an animal, an object or a situation that does not bring a real danger, and yet causes extreme anxiety.
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Claustrophobia is a condition where people who suffer can not or can hardly bear to be in closed, confined or crowded environments. Claustrophobic fears can occur in many situations, and sometimes quite suddenly. Whether on the plane, in the bus, in the subway, in the cinema, in the department store or in the elevator.
What is Claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder, a fear of closed spaces and narrowness or a fear of being locked up in a tight space as defined earlier
The condition is counted among the anxiety disorders. Is one of the so-called specific phobias. A specific phobia is an unreasonable fear of very specific objects or situations, such as dogs, blood, spiders or even closed/confined spaces, as is the case with claustrophobia.
This excessive fear are fueled by staying in confined spaces or just having the idea of staying in a closed environment. A classic example is the tight elevator or the idea of being buried alive as described in movies. The other common form is the fear of larger crowds or space (agoraphobia). A concert by a popular band or a visit to a disco can become an insurmountable hurdle for those affected. Traveling on an airplane, using subways and even going through a tunnel in traffic also causes this kind of reaction. But in some cases, the dread is so much that one can not even close the door to his own room.
Claustrophobia is one of the most common phobias, and like any other, its severity can vary greatly from person to person. It is estimated that about five to eight percent of the world’s population has claustrophobic anxiety of various kinds, with twice as many women affected. Sufferers of the condition turn to hide it as long as possible.
Because the fear of tightness is often understood as a flaw. In a perceived threatening situation sufferer’s panic, which can express themselves in physical symptoms such as sweating and shortness of breath. If a sufferer does not come in contact with the source of their fear very often, it may not affect their life. Although, in some cases, even thinking about the thing they fear may cause the person an anticipatory anxiety
Claustrophobia can be treated in a manner similar to other anxiety disorders with a variety of treatments but if left untreated, this anxiety disorder can lead to significant restrictions for those affected. The increasing fears often prevent the possibility to travel or participate professionally in seminars or congresses or can organize their life avoiding the aspect or the very thing that is causing the fear.
Triggers of Claustrophobic Panic Attacks
They are a number of classic environment that influence claustrophobic panic attack. Individuals may have different triggers depending on the severity of the phobia and the cause of the anxiety disorder. While some sufferers are “only” afraid in an elevator, others can not bear to stay in any enclosed or confined space. For many claustrophobic, certain medical examinations are like a nightmare. So there is nothing worse for many than to get into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), People with claustrophobic fears often can not get through the MRI.
- small windowless rooms
- small cars
- elevators
- MRI or CT scanners
- crowded rooms
- closets
- public restrooms
- car washes
- revolving doors
- changing rooms
- tunnels
- plane, bus, train, metro or tram
- closed, confined spaces
- premises with a big crowd
- cinema hall, opera or theater
- lifts
- changing rooms
- public toilets
What’s it Like Being Claustrophobic?
Claustrophobic increasing fears often prevent the possibility to travel or participate professionally in seminars or congresses or can organize their life avoiding the aspect or the very thing that is causing the fear. They will do anything possible to escape the situation unless they can’t escape or leave, if they are suddenly overwhelmed by fear they lose control.
Many are uncomfortable when people come too close. Claustrophobics are also often sensitive to the suffocating effects of crowds. For this reason, people with claustrophobia can also avoid intimate engagements and relationships, resulting in phobias of commitment. Some even feel uncomfortable wearing goggles, masks, tight clothing and jewelry because of the suffocating feelings these objects cause physically and symbolically.
Claustrophobics can feel this trapped sensations when they are stuck on an open road or in a traffic jam, in the middle of a crowd or in the middle of an island. They think they are suffocating, dying, going crazy or passing out. And that’s why those affected want only one thing: escape the situation as quickly as possible. Feeling stuck (literally or symbolically) and their anticipation produces anxiety. And feeling unable to escape amplifies this anxiety, creating a real panic.
What are the Causes of Claustrophobia?
Hereditary
Claustrophobia can run in families. New research has shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA. Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, found that mice can pass on learned information about traumatic or stressful experiences. Transl. Psychiatry also in a 2013 published a study, saying that mice deficient in Gpm6a had no obvious abnormalities, but could be induced to develop claustrophobia. A single gene encoding a stress-regulated neuronal protein, GPm6a, can cause claustrophobia. They also made mention that, mutations of the Gpm6a gene were more common in claustrophobic individuals than those without claustrophobia.
Having a smaller Amygdala
This is the part of the brain that controls how the body processes fear and genetic factors, as an evolutionary survival mechanism. The size of amygdala can influence a person’s susceptibility to anxiety disorders, including claustrophobia. Amygdala is one of the smallest structures in the brain, but also one of the most powerful. In a study, people with panic disorders had smaller volume of amygdala compared to people without panic disorder.
Trauma of childhood
Early trauma in life is probably another contributor to claustrophobia. Like other phobias, the fear of closed environments may originate from a trauma experienced during childhood and that persists throughout life.
Claustrophobia can occur when confinement is linked to danger by the brain, becoming a trigger for panic symptoms. Being trapped in a confined space while a child, such as an elevator, subway or even a dark room, generates a negative memory that can turn into claustrophobia in adulthood. Traumatic birth is also believed by some to cause Claustrophobia. But not all children who go through a traumatic situation develop claustrophobia hence his situation is seen as a risk factor.
Claustrophobia transmitted by parents
A child growing up with a parent who has claustrophobia may develop claustrophobia even if the child does not suffer any trauma. The parent can induce this fear into the child and this happens unconsciously. This sense of fear and anxiety can be conveyed to the children during their developmental stage. This negative learning that is conveyed by avoiding lifts or showing dread of being in an enclosed space induces the sense of danger to the child who may develop the same parent problem. In addition, people are particularly susceptible to fear of space, whose parents in their childhood were too anxious and exaggerated safety-minded with them. They have often not learned to take responsibility in stressful situations and to overcome them alone successfully.
What are the symptoms of claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia is characterized mainly by the feeling of fear, anguish and anxiety, inappropriate to the situation, which lacks much of a real foundation. In this case, it is mainly about fears of confined spaces with narrow boundaries and larger crowds or even when they imagine such a situation, like exaggerated fear of being locked up. Many sufferers know that their fear is actually unfounded. Nevertheless, they do not manage to overcome their fears on their own. Instead, they are dominated by their fear. Depending on the severity of the phobia, there may be sensations of anxiety or discomfort or even severe panic.
Symptoms of an Acute Claustrophobia.
- sweating and/or chills
- accelerated heart rate and a rise in blood pressure
- dizziness, fainting spells, and lightheadedness
- dry mouth
- hyperventilation
- hot flashes
- shaking or trembling and a sense of “butterflies” in the stomach
- nausea
- headache
- numbness
- a choking sensation
- tightness in the chest/chest pain and difficulty breathing
- an urge to use the bathroom
- confusion or disorientation
- fear of harm or illness
Examination and Diagnosis of Claustrophobia
Symptoms such as anxiety, sweats, or palpitations are typical of an anxiety disorder such as claustrophobia. But they can also occur in various physical disorders, such as in a hyperthyroidism. In order to rule out an organic cause, the doctor will physically examine his patient and, if necessary. This includes the acquisition of some blood values, an electrocardiogram ( ECG ) or an examination of the thyroid gland by means of ultrasound.
In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide information about pathological changes in the brain as the cause of anxiety. This method, however, is more likely to be used in terms of getting more information for further references. However, such an investigation is a considerable challenge especially for people with claustrophobia. Because the investigation in the “tube” is here itself an element triggering anxiety.
Using standardized questionnaires, the doctor or psychologist first asks about the symptoms. The therapist is able to quickly identify the manifestations, symptoms, and common triggers. In addition, he will want to know when the symptoms occur, how long they last and whether the anxiety is linked to certain situations or objects. He also focuses his attention on whether, in addition to claustrophobia, other mental illnesses such as depression and agoraphobia can be diagnosed. Because in order to restore the mental well-being, these also have to be treated.
How to ease these symptoms during a panic attack?
Many people with claustrophobia avoid the spaces that cause the disorder. This does not work well as a long term solution because it is possible to eventually find yourself in an inevitable scary situation.
There are ways, however, of dealing with a panic attack due to claustrophobia such as:
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, counting up to three with each breath;
- Concentrate on something secure, like time passing on your watch;
- Remind yourself repeatedly that your fear and anxiety will pass;
- Challenge what is triggering your attack by repeating that fear is irrational;
- Visualize and focus on a place or moment that will calm you down.
It is also important not to resist the attack when it is happening. Instead, accept what is happening. Try to remember that it is okay to experience these feelings, reaffirming that the sensations are fleeting.
Claustrophobia treatment
There is yet no known effective drug treatment for anxiety disorder or a drug that can cure claustrophobia, the good news is that these anxiety disorders can be treated and for claustrophobia treatment, there are several possibilities. Drug treatment,Behavior therapy, and Hypnosis are the main methods of treatment. The sooner the therapy begins, the better the chance of being able to completely combat the condition.
Drug treatment
Certain medications can relieve the patient. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants are sometimes used to help relieve the symptoms associated with claustrophobia. For example, Medications like tranquilizers, antidepressants and beta-blockers can be used to treat the physical symptoms of the condition. However, drug treatment should only be a temporary measure. Because drugs can not solve this problem permanently nor cure. Although the medication does not always solve, it reduces anxiety so that the person can deal more easily with the problem.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Identifying and changing thoughts, beliefs and reactions regarding that original source that triggered the phobia with the help of a cognitive-behavioral therapist. Cognitive therapy is an approach with a high success rate and that is highly effective in this type of situation. In this type of cognitive behavioral therapies. First, the therapist work teaching patient to recognize their thought that makes them reach a conclusion that is not very useful for them, that is the thoughts that leads them to have dysfunctional thoughts and behavior. The therapies get patient to be able to reflect on their way of thinking and then they will help the victim put into practice techniques to destroy this mental process and replace it with another, more constructive one.
Treating anxiety by yourself
Depending on the severity of the phobia and the severity of those affected, claustrophobic people can treat their anxiety themselves. For example, it often helps to consciously expose oneself to fears and to talk about it with other people. In this way, they manage to overcome the claustrophobia and they can get rid of them permanently.
Relaxation technique
Some people with claustrophobia are helped to learn a technique. Relaxation techniques and stress relief are often used with other therapeutic approaches. Targeted relaxation can help you to stay calm even in a state of anxiety and to relax altogether. Relaxation techniques can include things like specific forms of breathing, muscle relaxation training, guided mental imagery or comforting self-talk. Learning these methods enables the patient to relax even in threatening situations.
Hypnosis
A popular and widely used treatment for claustrophobia is hypnotherapy, Hypnotherapy can also be effective. This usually consists of systematic desensitization and other therapeutic techniques conducted under hypnosis by a clinical hypnotherapist which brings to light the causes of the anxiety disorder. Claustrophobia treatment through hypnosis generates new learning and reorients, recovers, and modifies this behavior toward healthier attitudes.
Hypnosis has been one of the most effective treatment options for Claustrophobia in the world.
