Guest Author - Jim Lowrance

Agoraphobia:
This disorder can result from other severe anxiety disorders that reach the level of becoming disabling to the sufferer. Panic attacks however, that are frequent enough to be termed "Panic Disorder", is probably the most common cause of agoraphobia. It is a condition of avoidance behavior, that can become very restricting to the person who has it.

Agoraphobia involves intense fear and anxiety of any place or situation where escape might be difficult, leading to avoidance of situations such as being alone outside of the home; traveling in a car, bus, or airplane; or being in a crowded area.

Approximately 1.8 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 0.8 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder.

The median age of onset of agoraphobia is 20 years of age.

People with more advanced anxiety-avoidances, are termed as having "Agoraphobia". This is the point at which the person is fearful of leaving their home, in order to avoid anxiety reactions to numerous things and places they have developed fears (phobias) of.

Agoraphobia also referred to as "fear of the marketplace", can restrict its sufferers to a severe extent. In addition to causing them to be unable to leave their home, due to severe anxiety responses to many things out in the world, it may also disable them from being able to work. As with all anxiety disorders, it may also restrict their ability to experience enjoyment and positive pursuits in life.

Specific Phobia:
Specific phobia involves marked and persistent fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation.

Approximately 19.2 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 8.7 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have some type of specific phobia.

Specific phobia typically begins in childhood; the median age of onset is seven years.

Phobias, are fears of just about anything. There are the obvious ones that are more common, such as "fear of spiders" (arachnophobia) but there are the less-common ones as well, such as people who fear looking into mirrors etc... The list is extensive.

All types of anxiety and phobias can be successfully treated with therapy or medications or a combination of both.