One of the unexpected effects of the ongoing pandemic has been a surge in cases of agoraphobia.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have prompted some people who had their agoraphobia under control to backslide. General anxiety about the coronavirus may also be contributing to the development of new cases of what is now being called Pandemic Agoraphobia.
It is important to note that many of these new cases are occurring in young people. Pandemic-related disruptions to schooling, socializing and family life have created a situation that the U.S. Surgeon General has described as a “youth mental health crisis.”
Additional Reading
For a better understanding of this situation please read our recently released 2022 State of Youth Mental Health Report. And to learn more about COVID’s effect on mental health please read our blog post Mental Health After COVID-19.