Agoraphobia 
and the Covid-19 Pandemic

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that approximately 1.3% of US adults will experience during their lifetime. People with Agoraphobia can have fear or anxiety about a host of situations. Some common situations people fear include using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line, being in a crowd, or in some very extreme cases leaving their home. 

Living with Agoraphobia looks different for different people. In most cases, someone with Agoraphobia would avoid situations that provoke anxiety wherever possible. If they are unable to avoid one of these situations, they may experience significant distress or anxiety, fear having a panic attack, have a panic attack, and require the presence of a trusted companion.

This fear, anxiety, or avoidance can be debilitating and often cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of life. Thankfully there are treatments to help people live with and overcome Agoraphobia so that anxiety no longer controls their life. Counseling and medication can be valuable tools for healing.

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