Agoraphobia

What it is

Agoraphobia is excessive fear about specific situations: using public transportation, being in open space such as a shopping mall, being in enclosed places such as a cinema, standing in line, or being outside of the home alone. It is a member of the anxiety disorders family.

How it presents

Severe anxiety comes on whenever the person leaves home, and going out is avoided for months. With it goes an episodic feeling of impending death several times a week, each lasting a few minutes.

A described example is a woman of 35 who presented with severe anxiety whenever she leaves her home, episodic feeling of impending death several times a week, and 3 months of avoiding going out.