Claustrophobia resource guide and information
Symptoms of Claustrophobia
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Symptoms of claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is most believed to have two symptoms: the fear of restriction and suffocation. A person suffering from claustrophobia may fear restriction in the following areas: closets, small rooms, restroom stalls, caves, tunnels, cellars, elevators, locked rooms, subway trains, crowded areas and planes. Also, the fear of restriction can cause some claustrophobics to be afraid in common settings as sitting in a barber’s chair or waiting in line at a grocery store simply out of a fear of confinement to a single space. However, claustrophobics are not necessarily afraid of these areas themselves, but, rather, they fear what could happen to them should they become confined to said area. Often, when confined to an area, claustrophobics begin to fear suffocation, believing that they can not breathe in the area to which they are confined. Any combination of the above symptoms can lead to severe panic attacks. However, most claustrophobics do everything in their power to avoid these settings.
Treatment of Claustrophoba
There are several methods to treat those who suffer from claustrophobia. Sadly, many claustrophobiacs do not seek treatment for this illness. Some treatments available are:
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Drugs- unfortunately some psychoanalysts prescribe drugs such as Zanax or Valium. While this may treat the symptoms of claustrophobia, the causes may go unchecked.
Psychological and psychiatric sessions- these sessions designed so claustrophobiacs face their fears in a controlled environment to reduce the fears of their reaction when confronted with small spaces. While this can help some with this particular anxiety disorder, the outcomes of such treatments are of varying degrees of effectiveness.
Massage Therapy- a highly unproven and despised by the "accepted" medical community is massage therapy and aroma therapy. The combined benefits of nervous system stimulation has provided some evidence that this malady may have more of a physical root than previosly believed.
