Fear Of Closed Spaces What Is Claustrophobia?
Fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia) is when a person experiences anxiety and uneasiness while being in a closed or locked area. This situation can occur in many areas of daily life. Those who experience this fear cannot control their emotional state. They worry that they will not be able to leave the area they are in. They feel like the surrounding walls are closing in on them.
Even though there is no realistic explanation, they feel in danger. They react differently depending on the magnitude of the fear. The quality of life of these individuals who are exposed to closed spaces in their daily lives decreases. Fear of claustrophobia creates psychological and physiological tension in the person’s body.
What Causes Fear of Closed Spaces?
What causes claustrophobia? This is a question that many people are looking for an answer to. Family members with claustrophobia are more likely to have this fear. The fear and anxiety experienced by parents in closed spaces may cause children to experience similar fears. A parent having a panic attack can cause children to experience fear without a logical reason. Individuals who were locked and stuck in a place as a child may experience claustrophobia in the future. It is possible for children who have survived the danger of drowning to also experience claustrophobia.
What are the symptoms of claustrophobia?
Fear of claustrophobia creates psychological and physiological effects on the person. These symptoms may feel milder or more intense depending on the anxiety experienced. In case of intense anxiety, even a panic attack may occur. Some psychological symptoms of claustrophobia include:
1.Sadness
- Fear of not being able to leave a closed area
- Feeling of falling on walls
- Don’t feel bad
- Feeling of suffocation
6.Fear of fainting
7.Panic state
- Feeling angry
Some physiological symptoms of claustrophobia include:
- Shortness of breath
2.Rapid heartbeat
- Tremors
4.Sweating
- Locking in hands and feet
- Chest tightness and pain
- Dry mouth
- Need to go to the toilet
In Which Environments Does Claustrophobia Reveal?
People are in many different closed areas in their daily lives. Workspace, offices, and the vehicles we use while traveling are a few of them. Even cinema, even though it is a means of entertainment and enjoyment, can trigger claustrophobia. There may be more than one environment that stimulates the anxiety underlying a person’s claustrophobia. In relation to the magnitude of claustrophobia experienced by the person;
- Locked rooms
2.Elevator
3.Airplane
4.Metro and tunnels
- Narrow spaces that are not well ventilated and illuminated
6.Clothing changing cabins
7.Revolving doors
- Locked vehicles
Fear of claustrophobia emerges in such environments. In other words, it can also be expressed as types of claustrophobia.
How Do I Overcome Claustrophobia?
It seems that the individual who wants to overcome his fear of closed spaces is forced by his environment. Relatives who want to do a favor for him to overcome his fear try to force or insist on him getting into closed spaces. This situation can cause the person to increase in fear and uncontrolled escalation of tension.
Ultimately, this approach does not contribute to the solution since the real cause of the person’s claustrophobia is unknown. There is no herbal treatment for claustrophobia. It is very important to get expert support to overcome fear.
The cause of anxiety can be found with psychotherapy methods under the supervision of a specialist . By identifying the source of the problem, the person’s concerns can be resolved. Thus, the fear experienced in closed spaces is eliminated.
The anxieties of individuals with claustrophobia put a strain on themselves and their environment. Stairs are used instead of elevators, and traveling in the vehicle increases tension. A person’s state of anxiety and anxiety also has a negative impact on his immediate environment. Fears that turn into panic attacks completely disrupt the comfort of daily life. In cases that cannot be overcome with personal efforts, it may be necessary to seek expert support.
Erdem Psychiatry Center offers personalized solutions with its expert staff and developed methods. Privacy is taken into consideration when applying to people with claustrophobia and their relatives. Individuals whose fear situation is eliminated live a more comfortable life.
