Agoraphobia

A phobia is generally defined as the severe, unrelenting fear of a situation, activity, or thing that causes one to want to avoid it. The definition of agoraphobia is a fear of being outside or otherwise being in a situation from which one either cannot escape or from which escaping would be difficult or humiliating.

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety in

situations where the sufferer perceives the environment to be dangerous, uncomfortable, or unsafe. These situations can include wide-open spaces, uncontrollable social situations, unfamiliar places, shopping malls, airports, and bridges.

Major symptoms

Fear of crowd

Fear of public transport

Restriction to the home or neighborhood.

Social isolation

Unable to leave home alone

Panic attacks

The exact cause is unknown but it is more in people with

Asthma

Divorce

Personality disorders

Perfomance anxiety

Shyness

Treatment

Psychotherapy (behavioral therapy and real life exposure may be helpful)

Medication ( many homeopathic medicines available for agoraphobia)

Cognitive behavioral therapy.