Many patients who have agoraphobia have it as a result of a panic disorder. Agoraphobia is a fear of places or situations where a panic attack may occur. People with agoraphobia avoid being out alone, going to supermarkets, travelling in trains and planes, being at heights, in elevators or tunnels or crossing open fields, Many patients even experience panic when they are asleep.
Most people have felt anxious at times. But when someone suffers a panic attack they have such a high level of anxiety it can feel similar to a heart attack, going insane or losing control. During a panic attack you may have physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, tingling sensations, ringing in your ears, a sense of impending doom, trembling, and a feeling of choking, chest pain, sweating and heart pounding.

What are the causes of panic attacks and agoraphobia ?

In early human evolution, many situations that can trigger a panic attack were truly dangerous. For example, public places might have brought our ancestors in contact with hostile strangers. In any given year, 30% to 40% of the general population will have a panic attack. Those people who don't interpret their panic as a signal of danger or illness will not go on to develop panic disorder and agoraphobia.
Panic attacks are usually activated by stressful situations such as leaving home, relationship conflicts, surgery, new responsibilities or physical illness. The person therefore starts developing "hyper vigilance" (they focus excessively on physical sensations), which can result in an increase in the sensations and worry. This, in turn, may result in a full blown panic attack. The person may then develop anticipatory anxiety (fear that panic attacks will continue to occur) and begins to avoid situations that give rise to such anxiety. Once avoidance becomes wide spread the person has developed agoraphobia. The person's world may become smaller and smaller as they increase their avoidance behaviours and although they may not be experiencing a panic attack, they often live in constant fear of the next occasion when they have such an attack.
Panic disorder and agoraphobia are not related to deeper psychological problems. You may become depressed and self critical because you have panic disorder but panic in itself can be treated effectively without long term therapy which explores your childhood experiences.
Hypnosis is a wonderful cure for agoraphobia. I as the hypnotherapist will access your subconscious and find which part of your mind attains a 'satisfaction link' from your fear and redirect that link to a more beneficial area. I will then take you into regression where I will take you back to a time - probably your childhood - where you first experienced this sensation, this will help you to understand why you first had the problem. This is an essential part of your therapy and will help you to understand how and why you react in certain circumstances.