What is Claustrophobia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

It is always good to know about phobias while dealing with one. For example, you might be dealing with claustrophobia if you are terrified of enclosed spaces and get uncomfortable in them. It is an anxiety disorder which affects you in a tight space, causing various symptoms and discomfort.

Are you concerned about claustrophobia and wish to know more about it? This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide regarding this disorder.

Claustrophobia refers to a problematic situation when you are scared of confined spaces. Here are some common confined areas that can trigger an attack of this phobia.

• Tunnels
• Elevators
• Trains
• Aeroplanes
• Small cars
• Cellars
• Crowded rooms without proper ventilation
• Inside an MRI machine
• Driving on congested highways

It is a common phobia which generates fear and panic among individuals. When suffering from this, your ability to function at work, school, or other daily activities can be restricted. You will have to avoid subways and tunnels while travelling. While having an attack, it becomes challenging to concentrate and function, and it can also cause insomnia.

The symptoms of claustrophobia are often similar to anxiety and panic attacks, as this phobia triggers these issues. While these might differ on an individual level, the following symptoms are generally seen in people with this phobia. There are two kinds of symptoms.

Physical Symptoms

Some of the physical symptoms are as follows -

• Tightness in chest
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Hot flushes with redness of the skin
• Chills
• Choking feeling
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Hyperventilating
• Numbness
• Headaches

Emotional Symptoms

Some of the emotional symptoms are as follows -

• Feeling vulnerable
• Fear of fainting
• Feelings of dread and terror
• Anxiety and panic feelings
• Feeling irrational fear
• Withdrawal tendencies
• Fear of death or illness

The clinical researchers are yet to understand the exact causes of claustrophobia. However, in their opinion, some possible reasons might include the following.

• Past Traumatic Events: If you ever faced traumatic events in childhood or younger days, they might contribute to developing a severe claustrophobic condition in adulthood. It might happen if you were trapped in an elevator or a bathroom or had turbulence in an aeroplane as a child, which caused trauma in your mind.
• Triggering Events from Childhood: If you had incidents with the usual triggers of claustrophobia in your childhood days, such events could also cause this phobia after you grow up. For instance, getting bullied or abused for a long time since childhood can be.
• Exposure to Parent’s Claustrophobia: Growing up watching parents and close family deal with this phobia can contribute to its development in future. It causes individuals to feel mentally disturbed and anxious about such incidents, which intensifies with time.

The diagnosis of claustrophobia is usually a simple and fast process. You must visit a healthcare professional or psychologist if you observe the above mentioned symptoms. The doctors will likely ask you about the signs and your medical history. They might ask you to fill out a questionnaire to directly ask detailed questions regarding your interactions and relationships with your family, friends and overall circle. The questions can be related to the following.

• Description of the symptoms
• Details of the triggers
• Severity and intensity of the attacks

It is essential to consider treatment of claustrophobia, as it can intensify the attacks over time. These attacks will gradually limit your activities and exposure to the world. The first step is to contact a psychiatrist or psychologist regarding the symptoms and issues. The treatment procedure might differ on individual levels. Commonly, the following methods are used here.

Exposure Therapy

This is a type of psychotherapy where you are allowed to expose your fears and vulnerability. With repeated exposure, you start feeling comfortable and capable of confronting these. This therapy might include facing the phobia in real time, recalling past traumatic experiences to get close to similar environments.

This therapy puts you in situations that frighten you and then help you overcome them with proper confrontation. Initially, you can look into your memories or visual illustrators, slowly allowing you to enter the space and confront the issues.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

This type of psychotherapy is often considered talk therapy. It focuses on managing the phobia by helping to change your way of thinking, feeling and behaving. During this procedure, the doctor will discuss your symptoms and ask about the details of your feelings. They will also try to throw light upon your responses.

Moreover, you will also learn the ways to recognise and re-evaluate your ways of thinking. It also improves your problem-solving skills and ability to cope with the situation. As a result, you can keep your body and mind calm while dealing with an attack.

Virtual Reality (VR)

This method uses computer simulations of tight spaces, such as elevators, MRI machines or rooms without ventilation. It helps you experience the tight space in a virtual world, where you can confront your fear without putting your health at risk. This way, you can slowly recover from this phobia.

Relaxation Methods

This method helps you calm your mind and relax your body muscles. Usually, in this phobia, your body and mind start feeling stress and tension, further intensifying this condition. It can result in a panic attack. With proper relaxation techniques like medication and music therapy, you can start managing your mind and controlling the level of stress.

Medical Treatment

While these therapies are the primary treatment procedures, doctors sometimes suggest medication if they fail to work effectively. For example, medicines can be effective in treating anxiety and stress that comes from claustrophobia. Commonly, these are provided if you do not have enough time for regular therapy sessions. Normally, the following drugs are prescribed.

• Benzodiazepines: These are anti-anxiety drugs which work on your mind. It helps you calm your mental state when you get anxious during an attack. Common OTC drugs include alprazolam, clonazepam and diazepam.
• Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Doctors often suggest selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which help prevent the possibility of depression in your mind. Common drugs include paroxetine and escitalopram.

Apart from seeking professional help through medication and therapies, you can also try to work on your phobia and conditions through some extra effort. These might help you feel more comfortable in an enclosed space. For example, the following tips can be helpful.

• Talk to Your Near Ones: It is essential to have people close to you to cope with a phobia that harms your mental well-being. So try to talk to them and discuss your feelings and paranoia in a tight space.
• Join Support Groups: There have been multiple support groups in support of people facing similar issues. Such groups encourage you to share your problems and get advice from people who meet identical phobias.
• Change Your Lifestyle: You should eat a well-balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables if you are taking medication. On the other hand, you should consider regular physical exercises, and get a proper sleep routine. These activities can help you improve your condition.

Hopefully, now you know all about claustrophobia and how to cope with it. This article pointed out that this phobia can cause anxiety and panic attacks. It is therefore essential to identify the problem and get proper treatment from the beginning. Moreover, you can change your lifestyle to avoid the intensity of such attacks.