Your retirement years can be a great opportunity to discover new places and spend more time in your community. If you have agoraphobia, though, you may have an immensely difficult time going out in public. Agoraphobia is a fairly common phobia in seniors, and it can have a profoundly negative effect on your social and emotional well-being.
Sometimes, the signs of agoraphobia start small and then gradually increase until they’re controlling your life. In this case, you might not even realize how bad your phobia has become since you’ve been adjusting to it for so long. Knowing the most common causes and symptoms of agoraphobia can help you gain perspective on your own mental health. Then, you can recognize when it’s time to reach out for help from an expert who specializes in counseling for seniors.
What Is Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an intense fear of leaving home or going out into public places. If you have agoraphobia, simply the idea of going to a shopping mall or using public transportation might cause anxiety. You may go out of your way to avoid the places or situations that scare you, and you may spend much more time at home than the average person.
A common misconception about agoraphobia is that the disorder prevents you from leaving your house at all. While some people may suffer from severe agoraphobia that keeps them housebound, it is absolutely possible to have agoraphobia and still venture outside your house. For many people with this disorder, their fears are triggered by specific locations or environments.
Causes
One of the most common causes of agoraphobia is panic disorder, another type of anxiety disorder that causes recurring panic attacks. Panic attacks are extremely frightening and distressing experiences, and having one in public can be particularly traumatic. When you have a panic attack in public, you might start to associate your panic with public places and become fearful of the experience happening again. Over time, your fears can grow until you find it difficult to leave home.
Some seniors who have agoraphobia develop the disorder after having panic attacks. However, agoraphobia in most older adults is somewhat different than agoraphobia in younger adults. Research shows that late-onset agoraphobia is not usually associated with panic disorder and that depression, anxiety, or other traumatic events may be responsible instead.
If you experienced a dangerous or highly stressful experience in public, such as a fall or an assault, you could be at an increased risk of developing agoraphobia. Some seniors feel more vulnerable in public due to a decline in mobility, memory issues, or other changes that are natural with aging. Your increased anxiety combined with your fears of experiencing another trauma could make you fearful of being in public places.
6 Signs of Agoraphobia in Seniors
Phobias can be irrational or exaggerated, but our minds are talented at justifying our behavior. If you have agoraphobia, you may not even realize how much your fear affects your life. You’ve gotten used to staying home and steering clear of public places, and you might forget that this behavior is unhealthy.
Here are six signs and symptoms to help you recognize agoraphobia in seniors:
1. You stay away from certain public spaces at all costs.
At the heart of agoraphobia is a fear of locations where you might feel panic or embarrassment. For most people with this disorder, the fear mostly revolves around public places like shopping centers, public transportation, school campuses, or busy downtown areas.
You might be fearful of certain types of environments or of specific locations, or you may fear being around strangers in any public space. No matter the nature of your phobia, you do everything in your power to stay away from these areas.
2. You feel uncomfortable going anywhere alone.
Seniors with agoraphobia often enlist the help of others when they need to go out in public. It can be much easier to face public places when you have a friend or family member by your side who will help you in the event of an emergency.
You might find yourself calling a loved one to accompany you whenever you need to run errands or go out in your community. Even if you don’t need assistance with driving or navigating public spaces, you may feel like you need someone with you for emotional support.
3. You look for escape routes when you’re in public.
While it’s wise to always know where the exits are in a public building, excessively planning escape routes is a common sign of agoraphobia. If your first impulse when you go out in public is to plan a detailed route out the door or away from crowds, you may be struggling with a phobia. This is especially true if you start to panic or become agitated when you can’t identify a good escape route.
4. You worry about being embarrassed or judged by strangers.
Agoraphobia in seniors isn’t always triggered by embarrassment in public, but it can be a factor for many older adults. Most people are minding their own business and aren’t paying much attention to those around them, but your anxiety issues may make you feel as if everyone is watching you or judging you. You might be intensely aware of what you’re doing and what you look like at all times, and you may feel extremely worried that you’ll have a panic attack or a medical emergency in front of strangers.
5. You have physical symptoms in public.
Although anxiety is a mental experience, it can cause severe physical symptoms. The following are some of the common symptoms of anxiety and panic that you might experience if you have agoraphobia:
- Racing heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
6. You have a history of panic attacks.
In older adults, agoraphobia isn’t always linked to panic attacks. If you have a history of panic attacks, though, you should be particularly watchful for the signs and symptoms of agoraphobia. When you have recurring panic attacks, it makes sense to be cautious about avoiding your triggers. However, if you find that you’re dramatically altering your daily routine out of fear of a panic attack, you may be developing agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia can make it difficult or impossible for you to live your senior years to the fullest. You deserve to live without fear, and you do have the ability to overcome your agoraphobia. Counseling for seniors is the best resource for treating phobias and other anxiety disorders as it equips you with tools and skills that can last a lifetime. By attending counseling for seniors, you can address your fears in a safe, supportive environment until you feel ready to tackle them head-on.
Blue Moon Senior Counseling provides therapy for seniors who are struggling with agoraphobia, panic attacks, and other mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is interested in counseling for seniors, you can contact us today.