Claustrophobia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments - Medical News Today Claustrophobia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments Written by Mike Paddock 4 83 Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has an irrational fear of having no escape or being closed-in. It frequently results in a panic attack and can be triggered by certain stimuli or situations, such as being in a crowded elevator, a small room without any windows, or being in an airplane. Some patients with claustrophobia find their anxiety levels rise when they wear tight-necked clothing. Contents of this article: Treatments for claustrophobia What is claustrophobia? The word claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means "a shut in place" and Greek phobos meaning "fear". Claustrophobia sufferers will commonly try to avoid being in enclosed spaces such as elevators. People with claustrophobia can find the disorder hard to live with, as they will go to great lengths to avoid small spaces and situations that trigger their panic and anxiety.

They will avoid certain places like the subway/underground and will prefer to take the stairs over using a lift/elevator no matter how many floors they need to ascend/descend. According to the book "Phobias: A Handbook of Theory, Research and Treatment" 4, published by Wiley, between 15% and 37% of people worldwide are affected by claustrophobia. Even though many of them have severe symptoms, a very small percentage ever receive some kind of treatment for the disorder. The National Health Service 5, UK, says that claustrophobia affects about 10% of the UK population. Signs and symptoms of claustrophobia A symptom is something the patient feels or reports, while a sign is something that other people, including the doctor detects. A headache may be an example of a symptom, while a rash may be an example of a sign. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center 6, claustrophobia typically develops during the individual's childhood or teenage years. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder. An afflicted person has symptoms of anxiety that are triggered by being in a confined space, or the thought of it.

The sufferer dreads not being able to breathe properly, running out of oxygen, along with distress at being restricted. When anxiety levels reach a certain level, the following physical signs of claustrophobia are possible: Sweating Hot flashes (UK: hot flushes) Shaking or trembling Fear of actual harm or illness Chocking sensation Tightness in the chest, sometimes chest pain An urge to go to the toilet Confusion and/or disorientation. It is not necessarily the small spaces that trigger the anxiety but the fear of what can happen to the person if confined to that area, hence the fear of running out of oxygen. Examples of small spaces that could trigger anxiety are: elevators/lifts subway trains (UK: tube/underground trains) small rooms hotel rooms with windows that do not open revolving doors cars - especially if they have central locking trains automatic car-washes some medical devices, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners. As claustrophobia is also defined by the phobia of being restricted, being confined to one area can also trigger the anxiety, for example, having to wait in line at a checkout/cash register).

As the above situations can trigger severe anxiety and panic attacks in people with claustrophobia, they will try their best to avoid them. The Government of Victoria 1 in Australia gives the following examples how people with claustrophobia may behave or react: As soon as they enter a room they may urgently check out where the exits are and position themselves near them. When all the doors are closed they may feel more anxious. In a crowded party, even if the venue is a large and spacious room, they will try to position themselves near the door. Avoid driving during peak times, when traffic is likely to be congested Avoid traveling as a passenger in a car during the rush hour In severe cases, some individuals with claustrophobia may panic when a door is closed Avoid using elevators and use the stairs, even if this means getting tired, out of breath and sweating a lot. What causes claustrophobia? Claustrophobia is generally the result of an experience in the person's past (usually in their childhood) that has led them to associate small spaces with the feeling of panic or being in imminent danger.

Examples of these kinds of past experiences are: falling into a deep pool and not being able to swim being in a crowded area and getting separated from parents/group crawling into a hole and getting lost/stuck. As the experience will have dealt some kind of trauma to the person, it will affect their ability to cope with a similar situation rationally. The mind links the small space/confined area to the feeling of being in danger and the body then reacts accordingly (or how it thinks it should). This type of cause is known as classic conditioning and can also be a behavior inherited from parents or peers. If for example, a claustrophobic person has a child, the child may observe their parent's behavior and develop the same fears. There are other theories behind the causes of claustrophobia, these are: The amygdalae (red areas) were found to be smaller in people with panic disorders. Image credit: Life Science Databases. Smaller Amygdalae - the amygdala (plural: amygdalae) is a tiny part of the brain that is used to control how the body processes fear.

In a study published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 7, Fumi Hayano and colleagues discovered that people who suffered panic disorders had smaller amygdalae than average. This smaller size could interfere with how the body processes panic and anxiety. Prepared Phobia - there is also a theory that phobias develop on the genetic level rather than psychologically. The research behind this theory suggests that claustrophobia and some other phobias are dormant evolutionary survival mechanisms. A survival instinct buried within our genetic code that was once crucial to human survival but is no longer needed. A team from Germany and the United Kingdom wrote in the journal Translational Psychiatry 2 that a single gene defect probably contributes to the development of claustrophobia. On the next page we look at how claustrophobia is diagnosed and the treatment options for claustrophobia. Claustrophobia: Fear of Enclosed Spaces Claustrophobia: Fear of Enclosed Spaces Search the site Claustrophobia: Fear of Enclosed Spaces Fear of Enclosed Spaces By Lisa Fritscher Updated July 20, 2016 Claustrophobia is defined as a fear of enclosed spaces.

Like any phobia, the severity of claustrophobia can vary widely from person to person. Sufferers may experience symptoms in small rooms, crawl spaces, crowds, and many other situations. Some people who are claustrophobic are uncomfortable on amusement park rides such as roller coasters that use secure restraints. MRI chambers and other medical testing can also be difficult or impossible for people who suffer from claustrophobia. Symptoms of Claustrophobia If you are claustrophobic, you may feel panicked when you are in a small space. You may sweat, shake or experience heart palpitations. You may cry or yell. You might attempt to get out of the situation by any means possible. Some people with claustrophobia find it difficult to breathe. Some say that it feels like the walls are closing in on them. Eventually, you may begin to dread activities that could cause you to feel closed in. You might skip crowded parties or other events, avoid rides that use shoulder restraints, leave the door open when you enter small rooms or make many other concessions to your fear. Traveling With Claustrophobia Claustrophobia can be a challenge when traveling, turning a well-deserved vacation into a nightmare.

Flying gets the trip over with quickly, but forces you to confine yourself to a small seat surrounded by strangers. Train travel provides large comfortable seats, and allows you to walk around, but takes a long time. Driving can feel confining, but gives you the ability to stop for stretch breaks whenever you like. Being claustrophobic can severely limit your life, causing you to miss out on things you would otherwise enjoy. Medically, claustrophobia can be dangerous because it could cause you to avoid having necessary MRI tests. Many people discover the severity of their claustrophobia for the first time when undergoing MRI scans. Causes of Claustrophobia Researchers are not yet certain what factors may cause claustrophobia. Many speculate that it may be rooted in bad childhood experiences. Others believe that it may be a warping of an evolutionary survival mechanism. Either way, it appears that a history of being nervous in enclosed spaces may eventually lead to full-blown claustrophobia. Managing Claustrophobia Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be quite successful in treating claustrophobia. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants to help manage your symptoms.

Behavioral techniques such as systematic desensitization and flooding are often used in conjunction with cognitive methods such as the Stop! Technique . The methods work together to help change both your behaviors and your feelings of fear. A 2007 study, published in CyberPsychology and Behavior, showed that immersive virtual reality may be effective in helping those who suffer from claustrophobia get through a fear-inducing event. Researchers found that virtual reality was more successful than distraction with music in helping sufferers successfully complete an MRI scan. Only two clients, both of whom were diagnosed with claustrophobia, were involved in the study. Both attempted 10-minute mock MRI scans, but reported high levels of anxiety and asked to terminate the scans early. For a second attempt, one was distracted with music, while the other was immersed in a virtual reality world. The client who listened to music reported high anxiety and asked to terminate the scan. The client immersed in virtual reality was able to successfully complete the scan, reporting low anxiety and a high feeling of self-efficacy. This research is relatively new and involved only two clients. More studies will need to be performed in order to determine whether this is true in all or most situations.

Some people find relief through hypnosis and other alternative forms of treatment. Others find that self-help methods such as visualization can help them through claustrophobia attacks. If you decide to try alternative methods of treatment, be sure to get the approval of your mental health professional. Claustrophobia can be debilitating if not treated. However, treatment is usually successful. If you are experiencing any symptoms of claustrophobia, it is important to contact a mental health professional or your family doctor as soon as possible. Sources: Fact Sheet: Claustrophobia. Better Health Channel. Government of Victoria, Australia. October 2007. May 5, 2008. Garcia-Palacios, Azucena, Hoffman, Hunter, Richards, Todd, Seibel, Eric, Sharar, Sam. “Use of Virtual Reality Distraction to Reduce Claustrophobia Symptoms during a Mock Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain Scan: A Case Report.” CyberPsychology & Behavior. 10(3): 485-488.June 1, 2007. May 5, 2008.

Continue Reading Claustrophobia and Anxiety: Causes and Solution Anxiety Symptoms SHARE Claustrophobia and Anxiety: Causes and Solution Claustrophobia is a well-known anxiety problem. It's generally thought of as the fear of small spaces, but it's not necessarily small - it's rooms that don't have a clear and easy escape (many of which happen to be small, like an elevator). It's technically a symptom of anxiety and not its own disorder, yet it may as well be its own disorder because some people experience claustrophobia without necessarily a separate anxiety problem. Claustrophobia is a distressing condition, and one that doesn't always have a clear cause. Recognizing your own thought processes and using them to control your anxiety is important if you want to rid yourself of both anxiety and claustrophobia. How Bad is Your Claustrophobia? Our free 7 minute anxiety test can provide you with a thorough anxiety severity score, compare your anxiety to others, and provide useful treatment recommendations. Start the anxiety test here . Causes of Claustrophobia Claustrophobia is actually generally considered a symptom of anxiety, rather than its own anxiety disorder.

This is likely because most people that develop claustrophobia already have at least some type of mild anxiety. Take my free 7 minute anxiety test to find out more about your anxiety. This makes some sense too because several disorders seem to be affected by or play a role in claustrophobia: Generalized Anxiety Disorder - It seems that generalized anxiety disorder seems to play a role in the development of claustrophobia. Most likely there is some correlation between what led to a person developing the condition and what leads to the development of anxiety Panic Disorder - When someone is in an enclosed space, they become more likely to suffer from a severe panic attack. Chances are that the individual was at greater risk of panic attacks or panic disorder, which means that they already showed at the very least a genetic pre-disposition tot the condition. Social Phobia Those with social phobia often experience a feeling of needing to escape as part of the condition, although generally it's not limited to enclosed spaces. It's possible that some of this fear ends up tangentially passing over to the way they feel in any small space. The development of claustrophobia itself is so incredibly complex that it's likely both caused by something related to anxiety and developed separately in its own way.

Claustrophobia as a Unique Problem Even though claustrophobia is considered to be its own anxiety symptom, it is possible for people to develop claustrophobia on its own, similar to other types of phobia. For example, traumatic experiences appear to play a role in some people's claustrophobia. Childhood experiences do as well - children left in a room by accident or punished by being placed in a closet seem more at risk, which would indicate that for some people it develops as its own condition. Similarly, for some, claustophobia develops and acts more like other types of phobias, such as a fear of spiders. There are many that have a fear of small spaces that doesn't appear to have been developed by any traumatic experience, but do seem to show up at a young age. Phobias can also develop by seeing someone else in your life with the same phobia - which means if your parent was ever afraid in a small space, you may be too. But even then it's not quite that simple, as not everyone with claustrophobia has those experiences.

There are some that theorize that it's an evolutionary phobia, where being afraid of small spaces without an escape may have had some type of evolutionary benefit. For example, maybe those that avoided small, enclosed spaces were more likely to be safe from predators. In our evolutionary history, this would have been a tremendous advantage. But now that we live in a safer world, it seems and appears irrational. Does the Cause Matter? With so much time spent trying to determine the cause, it's important to remember that not all forms of anxiety have a clear cause, and the cause itself may not always matter. There are those that develop anxiety disorders for no apparent reason (indicating it may be genetically based) as well as those that develop them through a series of unrelated events. For example, you can develop something like claustrophobia from completely unrelated events. If you had an anxiety attack in a party, and then left the party in an elevator, your mind may associate the anxiety with the elevator even though your anxiousness was caused by a party. Trying to determine the cause of the claustrophobia is often a difficult task. But the good news is that the cause does not always matter.

There is ample evidence that anxiety, no matter its cause, can be treated with the right anxiety reduction strategies. So those living with claustrophobia can address the condition (and those that cause it) with the right techniques and strategies. How to Stop Claustrophobia and Anxiety The treatment for claustrophobia is complicated, because it generally involves experiencing a considerable amount of fear first and then dealing with that fear later. It may be something you want to put in the hands of a psychologist. The key here is something known as "exposure." Studies have shown that humans have the innate ability to experience less anxiety when faced with something that causes fear for a long period of time. But that only works if you allow yourself to experience the fear until the fear goes away. If you "run away" from your fear, it causes what's known as "reinforcement." It convinces your mind that, because you ran away, it must be something very scary. It is almost as if your actions have an effect on how your mind sees the situation. This can be complex, so let's look at it individually in the case of claustrophobia: When you experience anxiety in small spaces, your first instinct is to leave the space.

But with the principle of exposure, that may be your biggest mistake. Let's use an elevator as an example. If you had a fear of elevators, and you walked inside one and felt anxiety, chances are you're going to want to leave right away. Yet studies have shown that if you leave the elevator as fast as you can, you'll "reinforce" the fear. Essentially, you will confirm to your mind that it was right to feel anxiety, because elevators are scary. But if you keep staying in the elevator and going up and down and up and down while also accepting the anxiety and controlling it (using various anxiety reduction techniques), you show your mind that it's okay - that elevators are not dangerous, and that you are not in any danger by being on it. For those with severe claustrophobia, this is not easy to do. The process is known as "exposure therapy," and it is generally something you work towards slowly, rather than simply jump in an enclosed space and hope it all goes away. It takes time and practice. You'll also need to control your overall anxiety and any anxiety disorders that may have caused your claustrophobia.

This is especially true if you're having panic attacks, because these types of conditions are unlikely to go away on their own even if your claustrophobia is beaten. If you haven't yet, make sure you take my free 7 minute anxiety test to find out more about how to overcome your anxiety and what you can do to stop it completely. I've helped hundreds of those with claustrophobia keep their anxiety at bay using recommendations based on their answers. Start the test today . References Murphy, Kieran J., and James A. Brunberg. Adult claustrophobia, anxiety and sedation in MRI . Magnetic resonance imaging 15.1 (1997): 51-54. Share with your friends: Most Popular Natural Ways to Ignore Myoclonus Anxiety and a Feeling of Malaise Can Anxiety Cause Red Blotches on Your Skin? Anxiety Recovery Tips and Strategies How to Treat Anxiety Naturally How to Cure Low Libido From Anxiety Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) More... Need help with anxiety? Then take our scientifically based anxiety test - completely free (takes no more than 7 minutes).

After completing it, you will find out whether your anxiety is within "normal range," which parts are out of balance and, most importantly, how to proceed with beating your symptoms. It is made specifically for anxiety sufferers, please make use of it. The Phobia List Amaxophobia- Fear of riding in a car. Ambulophobia- Fear of walking. Amychophobia- Fear of scratches or being scratched. Anablephobia- Fear of looking up. Ancraophobia- Fear of wind. (Anemophobia) Androphobia- Fear of men. Anemophobia- Fear of air drafts or wind.(Ancraophobia) Anginophobia- Fear of angina, choking or narrowness. Anglophobia- Fear of England or English culture, etc. Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry. Ankylophobia- Fear of immobility of a joint. Anthrophobia or Anthophobia- Fear of flowers. Anthropophobia- Fear of people or society. Antlophobia- Fear of floods. Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single. Apeirophobia- Fear of infinity. Aphenphosmphobia- Fear of being touched.

(Haphephobia) Apiphobia- Fear of bees. Apotemnophobia- Fear of persons with amputations. Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia- Fear of spiders. Arithmophobia- Fear of numbers. Cainophobia or Cainotophobia- Fear of newness, novelty. Caligynephobia- Fear of beautiful women. Cancerophobia or Carcinophobia- Fear of cancer. Cardiophobia- Fear of the heart. Carnophobia- Fear of meat. Catagelophobia- Fear of being ridiculed. Catapedaphobia- Fear of jumping from high and low places. Cathisophobia- Fear of sitting. Cenophobia or Centophobia- Fear of new things or ideas. Ceraunophobia or Keraunophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.(Astraphobia, Astrapophobia) Chaetophobia- Fear of hair. Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia- Fear of cold.(Frigophobia, Psychophobia) Chemophobia- Fear of chemicals or working with chemicals. Cherophobia- Fear of gaiety.

Chiraptophobia- Fear of being touched. Chirophobia- Fear of hands. Cholerophobia- Fear of anger or the fear of cholera. Chorophobia- Fear of dancing. Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia- Fear of money. Chromophobia or Chromatophobia- Fear of colors. Chronophobia- Fear of time. Cibophobia- Fear of food.(Sitophobia, Sitiophobia) Claustrophobia- Fear of confined spaces. Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia- Fear of being locked in an enclosed place. Cleptophobia- Fear of stealing. Climacophobia- Fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs. Clinophobia- Fear of going to bed. Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia- Fear of being enclosed. Cnidophobia- Fear of stings. Decidophobia- Fear of making decisions. Defecaloesiophobia- Fear of painful bowels movements. Deipnophobia- Fear of dining or dinner conversations. Dementophobia- Fear of insanity. Demonophobia or Daemonophobia- Fear of demons. Demophobia- Fear of crowds. (Agoraphobia) Dendrophobia- Fear of trees.

Dermatophobia- Fear of skin lesions. Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia- Fear of skin disease. Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body. Diabetophobia- Fear of diabetes. Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school. Dikephobia- Fear of justice. Dinophobia- Fear of dizziness or whirlpools. Diplophobia- Fear of double vision. Dipsophobia- Fear of drinking. Dishabiliophobia- Fear of undressing in front of someone. Disposophobia- Fear of throwing stuff out. Hoarding. Domatophobia- Fear of houses or being in a house.(Eicophobia, Oikophobia) Doraphobia- Fear of fur or skins of animals. Doxophobia- Fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise. Dromophobia- Fear of crossing streets. Dutchphobia- Fear of the Dutch. Dysmorphophobia- Fear of deformity. Hagiophobia- Fear of saints or holy things. Hamartophobia- Fear of sinning. Haphephobia or Haptephobia- Fear of being touched.

Harpaxophobia- Fear of being robbed. Hedonophobia- Fear of feeling pleasure. Heliophobia- Fear of the sun. Hellenologophobia- Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology. Helminthophobia- Fear of being infested with worms. Hemophobia or Hemaphobia or Hematophobia- Fear of blood. Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia- Fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation. Herpetophobia- Fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things. Heterophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Sexophobia) Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia- Fear of the number 666. Hierophobia- Fear of priests or sacred things. Hippophobia- Fear of horses. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- Fear of long words. Hobophobia- Fear of bums or beggars. Hodophobia- Fear of road travel. Hormephobia- Fear of shock. Homophobia- Fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual. Hoplophobia- Fear of firearms. Hydrargyophobia- Fear of mercurial medicines.

Hydrophobia- Fear of water or of rabies. Hydrophobophobia- Fear of rabies. Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia- Fear of glass. Hygrophobia- Fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture. Hylephobia- Fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy. Hylophobia- Fear of forests. Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia- Fear of responsibility. Hypnophobia- Fear of sleep or of being hypnotized. Hypsiphobia- Fear of height. Iatrophobia- Fear of going to the doctor or of doctors. Ichthyophobia- Fear of fish. Illyngophobia- Fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down. Iophobia- Fear of poison. Isolophobia- Fear of solitude, being alone. Isopterophobia- Fear of termites, insects that eat wood. Ithyphallophobia- Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis. Metrophobia- Fear or hatred of poetry. Microbiophobia- Fear of microbes. (Bacillophobia) Microphobia- Fear of small things. Misophobia or Mysophobia- Fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs.

Mnemophobia- Fear of memories. Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia- Fear of dirt or contamination. Monophobia- Fear of solitude or being alone. Monopathophobia- Fear of definite disease. Motorphobia- Fear of automobiles. Musophobia or Muriphobia- Fear of mice. Mycophobia- Fear or aversion to mushrooms. Mycrophobia- Fear of small things. Myctophobia- Fear of darkness. Mythophobia- Fear of myths or stories or false statements. Myxophobia- Fear of slime. (Blennophobia) Nebulaphobia- Fear of fog. (Homichlophobia) Necrophobia- Fear of death or dead things. Nelophobia- Fear of glass. Neopharmaphobia- Fear of new drugs. Neophobia- Fear of anything new. Nephophobia- Fear of clouds. Noctiphobia- Fear of the night. Nomatophobia- Fear of names. Nosophobia or Nosemaphobia- Fear of becoming ill. Nostophobia- Fear of returning home. Novercaphobia- Fear of your step-mother. Nucleomituphobia- Fear of nuclear weapons. Nudophobia- Fear of nudity.

Nyctohylophobia- Fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night Nyctophobia- Fear of the dark or of night. If you appreciate the Phobia List, please help support it. Obesophobia- Fear of gaining weight.(Pocrescophobia) Ochlophobia- Fear of crowds or mobs. Ochophobia- Fear of vehicles. Octophobia - Fear of the figure 8. Odontophobia- Fear of teeth or dental surgery. Odynophobia or Odynephobia- Fear of pain. (Algophobia) Oenophobia- Fear of wines. Oikophobia- Fear of home surroundings, house.(Domatophobia, Eicophobia) Olfactophobia- Fear of smells. Ombrophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on. Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia- Fear of eyes. Omphalophobia- Fear of belly buttons. Oneirophobia- Fear of dreams. Oneirogmophobia- Fear of wet dreams. Onomatophobia- Fear of hearing a certain word or of names. Ophidiophobia- Fear of snakes. (Snakephobia) Ophthalmophobia- Fear of being stared at.

Opiophobia- Fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients. Optophobia- Fear of opening one's eyes. Ornithophobia- Fear of birds. Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia- Fear of smells or odors. Ostraconophobia- Fear of shellfish. Peladophobia- Fear of bald people. Pellagrophobia- Fear of pellagra. Pentheraphobia- Fear of mother-in-law. (Novercaphobia) Phagophobia- Fear of swallowing or of eating or of being eaten. Phalacrophobia- Fear of becoming bald. Phallophobia- Fear of a penis, esp erect. Pharmacophobia- Fear of taking medicine. Phasmophobia- Fear of ghosts. Phengophobia- Fear of daylight or sunshine. Philemaphobia or Philematophobia- Fear of kissing. Philophobia- Fear of falling in love or being in love. Philosophobia- Fear of philosophy. Photoaugliaphobia- Fear of glaring lights. Photophobia- Fear of light. Phonophobia- Fear of noises or voices or one's own voice; of telephones. Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking.

Phthiriophobia- Fear of lice. (Pediculophobia) Phthisiophobia- Fear of tuberculosis. Sarmassophobia- Fear of love play. (Malaxophobia) Satanophobia- Fear of Satan. Scatophobia- Fear of fecal matter. Scelerophibia- Fear of bad men, burglars. Sciophobia Sciaphobia- Fear of shadows. Scoleciphobia- Fear of worms. Scopophobia or Scoptophobia- Fear of being seen or stared at. Scotomaphobia- Fear of blindness in visual field. Scotophobia- Fear of darkness. (Achluophobia) Scriptophobia- Fear of writing in public. Selachophobia- Fear of sharks. Selaphobia- Fear of light flashes. Selenophobia- Fear of the moon. Seplophobia- Fear of decaying matter. Sesquipedalophobia- Fear of long words. Sexophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Heterophobia) Siderodromophobia- Fear of trains, railroads or train travel. Siderophobia- Fear of stars. Sinistrophobia- Fear of things to the left or left-handed. Sinophobia- Fear of Chinese, Chinese culture.

Sitophobia or Sitiophobia- Fear of food or eating. (Cibophobia) Snakephobia- Fear of snakes. (Ophidiophobia) Soceraphobia- Fear of parents-in-law. Social Phobia- Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations. Sociophobia- Fear of society or people in general. Somniphobia- Fear of sleep. Soteriophobia - Fear of dependence on others. Spacephobia- Fear of outer space. Spectrophobia- Fear of specters or ghosts. Spermatophobia or Spermophobia- Fear of germs. Spheksophobia- Fear of wasps. Stasibasiphobia or Stasiphobia- Fear of standing or walking. (Ambulophobia) Staurophobia- Fear of crosses or the crucifix. Stenophobia- Fear of narrow things or places. Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia- Fear of hell. Suriphobia- Fear of mice. Taeniophobia or Teniophobia- Fear of tapeworms. Taphephobia Taphophobia- Fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries. Tapinophobia- Fear of being contagious. Taurophobia- Fear of bulls.

Teleophobia- 1) Fear of definite plans. 2) Religious ceremony. Telephonophobia- Fear of telephones. Teratophobia- Fear of bearing a deformed child or fear of monsters or deformed people. Testophobia- Fear of taking tests. Tetanophobia- Fear of lockjaw, tetanus. Teutophobia- Fear of German or German things. Textophobia- Fear of certain fabrics. Thaasophobia- Fear of sitting. Thalassophobia- Fear of the sea. Thanatophobia or Thantophobia- Fear of death or dying. Theatrophobia- Fear of theatres. Theophobia- Fear of gods or religion. Thermophobia- Fear of heat. Tocophobia- Fear of pregnancy or childbirth. Tomophobia- Fear of surgical operations. Tonitrophobia- Fear of thunder. Topophobia- Fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright. Toxiphobia or Toxophobia or Toxicophobia- Fear of poison or of being accidently poisoned. Traumatophobia- Fear of injury. Claustrophobia - NHS Choices Claustrophobia Claustrophobia is the irrational fear of confined spaces.

It's normal to fear being trapped when there's a genuine threat, but people with claustrophobia become fearful in situations where there's no obvious or realistic danger. They'll go out of their way to avoid confined spaces, such as lifts, tunnels, tube trains and public toilets (see below for a full list). However, avoiding these places often reinforces the fear. Some people with claustrophobia experience mild anxiety when in a confined space, while others have severe anxiety or a panic attack . The most common experience is a feeling or fear of losing control. It's estimated that around 10% of the UK population are affected by claustrophobia during their lifetime. This topic covers: Help and support Triggers of claustrophobia Many different situations or feelings can trigger claustrophobia. Even thinking about certain situations without exposure to them could be a trigger. Common triggers of claustrophobia include: lifts hotel rooms with sealed windows planes If you've felt anxious during the last six months about being in a confined space or crowded place, or if you've avoided these situations for this reason, it's likely that you're affected by claustrophobia.

MRI scan anxiety If you have claustrophobia and you need to have an MRI scan , let the staff at the hospital know before the day of your appointment. They may be able to give you a mild sedative, or advise you to speak to your GP for a prescription. In some cases, you may be able to attend an open or upright MRI centre, designed for people with severe MRI anxiety. However, these clinics are often only available privately. Symptoms of claustrophobia Panic attacks are common among people with claustrophobia. They can be very frightening and distressing and symptoms often occur without warning. As well as overwhelming feelings of anxiety, a panic attack can also cause physical symptoms, such as: sweating fear of dying What causes claustrophobia? Claustrophobia is often caused by a traumatic event experienced during early childhood. For example, adults may develop claustrophobia if, as a child, they: were trapped or kept in a confined space were bullied or abused had a parent with claustrophobia Claustrophobia can also be triggered by unpleasant experiences or situations, such as turbulence when flying or being stuck in a tube tunnel between stations.

A child growing up with a parent who has claustrophobia may develop claustrophobia themselves, by associating confined spaces with their parent's anxiety and feeling helpless to comfort the person they loved. Treating claustrophobia Most people with a phobia are fully aware that they have one. Many people live with claustrophobia without having it formally diagnosed and take great care to avoid confined spaces. However, getting help from your GP and a specialist with expertise in behavioural therapy, such as a psychologist, can often be beneficial. Claustrophobia can be successfully treated and cured by gradually being exposed to the situation that causes your fear. This is known as desensitisation or self-exposure therapy. You could try this yourself using self-help techniques , or you could do it with the help of a professional. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is often very effective for people with phobias . CBT is a talking therapy that explores your thoughts, feelings and behaviour and develops practical ways of effectively dealing with your phobia. Speak to your GP to find out if CBT would be suitable for you and whether it's available on the NHS in your area. Read more about accessing therapy on the NHS .

Coping with a panic attack If possible, stay where you are during a panic attack. It could last up to an hour, so, if you're driving, you may need to pull over and park where it's safe to do so. Don't rush to a place of safety. During the attack, remind yourself that the frightening thoughts and sensations are a sign of panic and will eventually pass. Focus on something non-threatening and visible, such as the time passing on your watch, or items in a supermarket. The symptoms of a panic attack usually peak within 10 minutes, with most attacks lasting between five minutes and half an hour. Read more advice about coping with a panic attack . Help and support Charities, such as Anxiety Alliance and Anxiety Care UK , are useful sources of information and advice about how to effectively manage anxiety and phobias. They can also put you in touch with other people who've had similar experiences. Anxiety Alliance runs a helpline (0845 296 7877, that's open every day from 10am to 10pm). Calls are charged at the local rate.

You can contact Anxiety Care UK by email – recoveryinfo@anxietycare.org.uk – for advice and support. Page last reviewed: 07/06/2016 Claustrophobia - Better Health Channel Claustrophobia Summary A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of certain objects or situations. A person who has claustrophobia may panic when inside an enclosed space such as a lift, aeroplane or crowded room. With appropriate treatment, it is possible to overcome claustrophobia or any other phobia. A phobia is a form of anxiety disorder in which someone has an intense and irrational fear of certain objects or situations. Anyone suffering from high levels of anxiety is at risk of developing a phobia. One of the most common phobias is claustrophobia, or the fear of enclosed spaces. A person who has claustrophobia may panic when inside a lift, aeroplane, crowded room or other confined area. The cause of anxiety disorders such as phobias is thought to be a combination of genetic vulnerability and life experience. With appropriate treatment, it is usually possible to overcome claustrophobia or any other phobia.

Symptoms of an anxiety attack If a person suffering from claustrophobia finds themselves in an enclosed space, they may have an anxiety attack. Symptoms can include: sweating fear of actual harm or illness. Specific symptoms of claustrophobia When in an enclosed space, the signs of claustrophobia may include: inside a room – automatically checking for the exits, standing near the exits or feeling alarmed when all doors are closed inside a vehicle – avoiding travelling when traffic will be heavy inside a building – preferring to take the stairs rather than the lift at a party – standing near the door in a crowded room, even if the room is large in extreme cases – for a person with severe claustrophobia, a closed door will trigger feelings of panic. The catch-22 of avoidance as a coping technique for claustrophobia Once a person has experienced a number of anxiety attacks, they can become increasingly afraid that they might experience another. They start to avoid the objects or situations that bring on the attack. However, any coping technique that relies on avoidance can only make the phobia worse. It seems that anticipating the possibility of confinement within a small space intensifies the feelings of anxiety and fear.

Fear of treatment for claustrophobia For someone with a disabling phobia, the realisation that this fear is irrational and that treatment is needed can cause further anxiety. Since most treatment options depend on confronting the feared situation or object, the person may feel reluctant. Support and encouragement from family and friends is crucial. A person trying to overcome a phobia may find some treatment methods particularly challenging and will need the love and understanding of their support people. The therapist may even ask the family members or friends to attend certain sessions, in order to support the person seeking treatment. Treatment for claustrophobia Treating phobias, including claustrophobia, relies on psychological methods. Depending on the person, some of these methods may include: flooding – this is a form of exposure treatment, where the person is exposed to their phobic trigger until the anxiety attack passes. The realisation that they have encountered their most dreaded object or situation, and come to no actual harm, can be a powerful form of therapy counter-conditioning – if the person is far too fearful to attempt flooding, then counter-conditioning can be an option. The person is taught to use specific relaxation and visualisation techniques when experiencing phobia-related anxiety.

The phobic trigger is slowly introduced, step-by-step, while the person concentrates on attaining physical and mental relaxation. Eventually, they can confront the source of their fear without feeling anxious. This is known as systematic desensitisation modelling – the person watches other people confront the phobic trigger without fear and is encouraged to imitate that confidence cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – the person is encouraged to confront and change the specific thoughts and attitudes that lead to feelings of fear medications – such as tranquillisers and antidepressants may also be helpful in addition to psychological treatment. Length of treatment for claustrophobia The person may be treated as an outpatient or, sometimes, as an inpatient if their phobia is particularly severe. Generally, treatment consists of around eight to 10 weeks of bi-weekly sessions. Where to get help What is Cleithrophobia or the Fear of Being Trapped? By Lisa Fritscher - Reviewed by a board-certified physician. Updated March 08, 2016 Cleithrophobia, or the fear of being trapped, is often confused with claustrophobia , or the fear of enclosed spaces.

Cleithrophobia is at the heart of many winter-related fears due to the risk of being trapped underneath a snow drift or thin ice. However, many other unusual but not unheard of events might also trigger cleithrophobia, including being inadvertently locked in a bathroom or other small room. Cleithrophobia -vs- Claustrophobia Claustrophobia, or the fear of enclosed spaces, may occur at any time. Someone with claustrophobia might fully intend to enter a small space, such as an MRI chamber or a motion simulator, yet have a panic attack before or during the experience. The specific focus of the phobia itself is the small space. Cleithrophobia, however, is triggered by actual confinement in a small space. People with cleithrophobia are often fully comfortable entering small areas that they are free to leave at will. The specific focus of this phobia is on being trapped, locked in, or otherwise unable to leave. The difference between the two phobias is subtle but important. However, it can be nearly impossible to distinguish between them. Both phobias often cause anticipatory anxiety , in which the sufferer begins to panic long before the actual event occurs.

Cleithrophobia may mirror claustrophobia if the person sees even a slight risk of becoming trapped in the space. Likewise, claustrophobia often mirrors cleithrophobia in that many people with claustrophobia may feel trapped or locked in, even if they are actually free to leave. The two phobias may even exist simultaneously. For these reasons, it is important that an exact diagnosis be made only by a trained mental health professional. Common Triggers for Cleithrophobia Everyone is different, and no two people have the exact same phobia triggers. In general, however, cleithrophobia is triggered by a lack of escape. Rides that utilize shoulder harnesses or other tight-fitting restraints, locked rooms and MRI chambers are particularly common triggers. Symptoms of Cleithrophobia The symptoms of cleithrophobia are similar to those of other specific phobias . If you have this fear, you might experience a panic attack when you feel trapped. Crying, screaming, physically lashing out, freezing up and attempting to run away are very common. If you are unable to leave the situation, you might start sweating profusely, feel your pulse rate begin to rise, and develop symptoms of physical illness.

You will likely be unable to think of anything other than the need to escape. Coping With Cleithrophobia If your symptoms are severe or life-limiting, it is always best to seek advice from a mental health professional . Systematic desensitization and other cognitive-behavioral techniques work very well with phobias, but should not be tried without the assistance of a professional. Those with milder symptoms, however, sometimes find relief from a variety of self-help techniques. Leaving an escape route, such as cracking the bathroom door or removing the locks from your bedroom, can help you feel calmer in many situations, but this is not always possible or practical. If you begin to panic, try using purposeful breathing or guided visualization to calm your anxiety. If you have a supportive friend or relative nearby, ask that person to speak calmly with you about light topics. Some people find that the Stop! technique helps curb anxiety, while others find that it does not work in the middle of a panic attack. Although cleithrophobia is never fun, it typically responds well to a variety of treatment methods. With hard work, there is no reason for the fear of being trapped to take over your life. Source:

Question: What is claustrophobia the fear of?
Answer: Confined spaces