Claustrophobia: Definition, Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Phobias are anxiety disorders that can develop with some frequency, and one of the most common is claustrophobia. Scientific studies affirm that between 2% and 5% of the population suffers from this type of phobia, which is the intense, irrational fear of being trapped in a closed place and from which the person thinks they will not be able to get out.
Phobic disorders can cause great discomfort in the person who suffers from them, and can affect their daily life in different ways. For example, not being able to get on the elevator, not taking the subway to work, or not being willing to undergo a CT scan. People who suffer from this condition avoid situations that trigger the phobia and cause intense anxiety.
In this article we will analyze claustrophobia with the help of Ignasi Llorach, general health psychologist at the Mensalus Institute in Barcelona, one of the most prestigious clinics in Spain, and experts in the treatment of phobic disorders.
Claustrophobia belongs to the group of specific phobias which also include other irrational fears such as aerophobia (or fear of flying) or arachnophobia (or fear of spiders).
“It is an anxiety disorder that affects the person when exposed to closed spaces: small rooms without ventilation, elevators, basements, tunnels, etc. In general, people who suffer from claustrophobia experience irrational fear in any situation that involves closure, restriction or confinement, because they think that they will not be able to go out or they will be left without air, that is, they will not be able to breathe. People with claustrophobia can also feel great discomfort in places where there are a large crowd of people,” explains Llorach.
Although some specific phobias are not necessarily disabling because people who suffer from them tend to avoid what causes them fear, or it is difficult for them to encounter the feared stimulus in their usual environment (for example, coulrophobia or fear of clowns ), other phobias can cause situations that generate discomfort more frequently as in the case of claustrophobia.
Some individuals may reject a job because of the inability to travel by train or car for relatively long periods or may avoid going to the movies with their partner because of the discomfort they feel when they find themselves in a dark room, where they automatically and compulsively look for Departures.
Causes of this phobia
“The majority of phobias occur as a consequence of a traumatic event that occurred in childhood,” says Llorach, “although the onset can occur at any time in life, in which the person learns by association (classical conditioning) that closed spaces They cause negative consequences.”
A famous investigation carried out by Lars-Gran found that claustrophobia usually begins in childhood, and common experiences that can trigger this pathology are: being locked in a dark room and not finding the door or the light switch, putting your head between two bars and then not being able to get it out, locking yourself in a closet, falling into a pool full of water without knowing how to swim, or getting lost among a crowd of people and not finding your parents.
Now, “learning does not always occur through direct experience, but it is also possible for it to occur through observation,” says Llorach.
On the other hand, according to Seligman’s preparation theory we are biologically predisposed to suffer phobias, since we more easily associate certain stimuli with negative responses because these favored our survival.
Phobic disorders are made up of primitive and non-cognitive associations, which are not easily modifiable by logical arguments. This theory does not assume that phobias are innate, but rather that the individual has a innate ability to learn phobic reactions.
Symptoms and signs
Claustrophobia can manifest itself in different situations , and the person who suffers from this phobia may have different reactions. For example, enter a room and check the location of the exits to be close to them. You can also avoid driving your car during rush hour to avoid getting stuck in a traffic jam.
When a person suffers from a phobic disorder, avoidance behaviors are present to reduce the discomfort and anxiety that characterizes this disorder.
In summary, people with claustrophobia have the following symptoms:
Treatments and therapy
If you suffer from claustrophobia or any type of phobia, Ignasi Llorach reminds you that “it is possible to overcome the phobia with the correct psychological treatment, and it is important to know that you are not alone, but that many people experience this type of phobia at some point in their lives and They manage to overcome it. Also, you don’t have to suffer it alone. Communicate your fears, because talking about it is very important to accept that you are suffering from this fear.”
Psychological therapy is the best option to leave this irrational fear behind. There are many types of psychotherapy, but research has concluded that one of the most effective is cognitive behavioral therapy, which aims to intervene focused on changes in mental processes (thoughts, beliefs, emotions…) and the behaviors that occur. the person performs and that can be maladaptive and cause suffering.
Relaxation techniques or exposure techniques They are two widely used methodologies in the treatment of phobic disorders. Specifically, the most commonly used exposure technique is systematic desensitization, which consists of gradually exposing the patient to the phobic stimulus and encourages the most useful coping skills. Mindfulness has also proven to be highly effective in treating all types of anxiety disorders.
In extreme cases, pharmacological treatment (mainly anxiolytics) can be applied; However, never as the only therapeutic option but in combination with psychological therapy.
If you wish to receive psychological assistance for the treatment of a phobia or any other problem related to mental health and well-being, you can find the contact details of the Mensalus clinic by clicking here.
