The name comes from the ancient Greek word “ agora ,” which refers to a place of assembly or a marketplace. People often misunderstand agoraphobia as a fear of open spaces, but it is more complex than that. Situations or places that may trigger fear in people with agoraphobia include public transport, crowds, and open countryside.

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder which involves fear of being trapped or being panicked and avoiding such situations. The symptoms of agoraphobia include fear of leaving home alone, many people, waiting in a queue, enclosed places like theatres, small stores, open spaces like malls, and parking lots, and using public transportation. Treatment includes psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy and medicine.

Symptoms of agoraphobia may include: These situations almost always trigger an anxiety response that is out of proportion to the actual danger presented by the situation. Panic attacks often precede the onset of agoraphobia. When forced to endure a feared situation, a person may experience a panic attack that causes symptoms including:

Researchers don’t know the exact cause of agoraphobia. However, it’s often associated with an existing panic disorder. Panic disorder causes short, intense attacks of fear for no particular reason. About a third of people who have panic disorder develop agoraphobia. But agoraphobia also can occur alone. What are the symptoms of agoraphobia?