Claustrophobia is an overwhelming and intense fear of confined spaces or crowded conditions. This phobia is situational and quite common in many people. Examples of claustrophobia include being locked in a small room with no windows, being trapped in a crowded elevator, or driving on a busy highway.
Phobias that a person experiences are irrational, with extreme fear usually arising when the situation is not as dangerous as one thinks. They have difficulty concentrating and functioning. This can disrupt daily activities, limiting a person's ability to work, relationships, or lack of confidence.
Symptoms of claustrophobia
Several factors trigger symptoms of claustrophobia, including being in a small room (toilet cubicle, revolving door, changing room, tunnel), driving a small car, taking an elevator, undergoing a CT scan, or standing in a large but crowded room (a concert or party). When that fear comes on, a person usually has a panic attack.
In addition, other symptoms that may be felt include:
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Feels warm blood flowing through the body
- Extreme fear and panic
- Endless fear
- Difficult to breathe
- Hyperventilating
- Heart pounding
- Chest pain
- Nauseous
- Dizziness or fainting
- Disoriented
- Numb
- Tinnitus
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One of the symptoms of claustrophobia is sweating.
Causes
The environment can contribute significantly to claustrophobia, especially in childhood or adolescence. This phobia is also more common in women than in men. If associated with brain function, it may occur due to amygdala dysfunction (the part of the brain that regulates how we process fear).
Claustrophobia can also be triggered by several experiences, such as:
- Stuck in a tight space or crowd for a long time
- The turbulence experienced in the aircraft.
- Getting claustrophobia because parents also go through the same thing
Diagnosis
Because claustrophobia usually interferes with day-to-day work functions, a person is asked how intense the fear is, how often the symptoms occur, how it affects social interaction, and how to cope. You will then be asked about recent life changes, stress levels, or consumption of certain medications and supplements.
Therapy
Exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are the 2 main treatments commonly used to treat claustrophobia. Exposure therapy is performed by deliberately creating situations that trigger phobias, such as remembering a feared experience or viewing images close to real experiences.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping people manage their anxiety through thinking, feeling, and behaving. In addition to these two treatments, a person can be taught relaxation techniques by counting backward or imagining a safer place. This method will be able to calm and relieve panic.
One of the therapies to treat claustrophobia is exposure therapy.
So claustrophobia is defined as an extreme and intense fear of confined spaces or being in crowded but cramped conditions. Symptoms range from shaking, sweating, and even fainting. The way to deal with it is to do therapy. If you have many other questions, consult the Fitie application, ladies!