People suffering from anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia and social phobia experience panic symptoms that are caused by certain situations. A sufferer of social phobia is afraid of being in situations when he or she is at the focus of a group, like public speaking for example. The thought of making a fool of themselves in front of other people creates such fear that they will try and do anything to get out of it.

Social anxiety can be hereditary, although this is not the only cause for this disorder. Professionals have come to the conclusion that social anxiety is a learned habit which can affect anyone. Very shy children and those that suffer abuse are at a greater risk of developing social anxiety disorder. Adults are still at risk of developing this disorder through learned negative habits.

Agoraphobia is a relatively common condition that for reasons unknown affect twice the amount of women as men. Those with this disorder have extreme fears of having a panic attack in public. Some typical triggers for panic attacks are places with lots of people and nowhere to escape. Meetings, standing in a queue or elevator are common situations that spark fear.

Misdiagnosis can sometimes occur since this disorder shares some similarities with social anxiety. It was once considered that panic attacks were only related to panic disorder; another anxiety disorder. However many studies have shown that people with agoraphobia do not necessarily have a history of panic disorder.

People with panic disorder experience panic attacks out of the blue and have no forewarning. Most of the time, panic symptoms are triggered by a feared situation in agoraphobes. When an attack occurs a sufferer might experience a number of symptoms including a tightness in the chest and throat, shaking and palpitations.

These symptoms might escalate and the sufferer might experience extreme fear, embarrassment and sensations such as derealization. In extreme cases people with agoraphobia stay at home for months at a time without stepping out. Life can be unbearable.

Day to day life is limited and it’s no surprise how depressing and lonely it can be. Making a life, pursuing a career or having a relationship can seem like impossible tasks. Depression is highly common in those with agoraphobia. In male sufferers, alcohol is often used to escape from panic symptoms and depression.

Although some anxiety disorders have only recently been discovered there is Anxiety Help available. The options include therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and hypnosis and medication. Changes to lifestyle to improve overall health can make difference too. In addition incorporating self help techniques such as EFT and NLP can dramatically improve symptoms.

For some sufferers, they just can’t overcome their fear to go out and see a doctor. This dilemma means that potentially thousands or millions are not treated. Regardless, getting help is the first step to recovering. Ask a family member to go with you for support.

Therapies are often designed to expose to your fears gradually. This can promote positive behavioral changes when done correctly. As well as therapy, some sufferers find support groups helpful. Getting support and supporting other sufferers can make one feel less alone. Online forums for anxiety disorders are another source of help and support.

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