Trapped The word claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means ‘a shut in place’ and Greek phobos meaning ‘fear’ (“What is Claustrophobia? . . .”). Although claustrophobia has a variety of causes and symptoms there are triggers which may aggravate the condition; however, different treatments exist for this common affliction. Natural and behavioral evidence shows that we treat space that is within arm’s reach differently from space that is farther away (Emory University). Like many other fears, claustrophobia shows up at varying levels from just a general dislike and anxiety in smaller spaces to a full blown panic at even the thought of being confined to something as simple as a specific chair. The exact symptoms of claustrophobia vary from person to person, but if they appear, getting a proper diagnosis is very important so that treatment can be sought (“Claustrophobia” GoMentor.com)
During Victorian times it was common that parents punished their children by locking them in dark, confined places like coal bins, closets, and basements. Thus causing many people to grow up suffering from claustrophobia (Filson 35). Other causes may be that the child fell into a deep pool not knowing how to swim, or being in a crowded area such as an amusement park and getting separated from their parents or the group they were with, or crawling into a closet and getting locked in. Another theory behind the cause of claustrophobia is a smaller amygdalae- a tiny part of the brain that is used to control how the body processes fear (“What is Claustrophobia? . . .”). In a study published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Fumi Hayano and colleagues discovered that people who suffered from panic disorders had smaller amygdalae than average. This smaller size could interfere with how the body processes panic and anxiety. There is also a theory that the phobias develop on the genetic level rather than psychologically. The research behind this theory suggest that claustrophobia and some other phobias are dominant evolutionary survival mechanisms (“What is Claustrophobia?. . .”).
People with claustrophobia know that their fears are unreasonable, but they cannot prevent the symptoms. Physical symptoms include: sweating, trembling, hot flashes or chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, choking sensation, rapid heartbeat, chest pain or tightness in the chest, ringing in your ears, sensation of butterflies in the stomach, nausea, headaches and dizziness, feeling faint, numbness, dry mouth, and a need to go to the toilet (“Claustrophobia” NHS.uk). Since claustrophobia is closely related to anxiety, the symptoms are closely related and may include: hot flashes, increased blood pressure, panic attacks, tension, sweating, hyperventilation, nausea, and fainting (“Natural Remedy to Alleviate . . .”). Psychological symptoms include: fear of losing control, fear of fainting, feelings of dread, and the fear of dying (“Claustrophobia” NHS.uk). The person might attempt to get out of the situation by any means possible, even if that means putting themselves in harm’s way (“Claustrophobia” About.com Phobias).
A person who suffers from claustrophobia may panic or feel very afraid when they go into an enclosed space. They may feel the same when they think about going into an enclosed space. These feelings can be very upsetting. Places where this might happen are: lifts, tunnels, tube trains, revolving doors, public toilets, MRI scanners, cars with central locking, car washes, changing rooms, hotel rooms with sealed windows and air planes (“Claustrophobia” NHS.uk). Other triggers include: elevators, auditoriums, theaters, bridges, and any place where a large crowd is gathered (Williams). There are common situations that the site Epigee.org says that can cause anxiety in claustrophobia sufferers that include: being inside a room- the individual will automatically check for the exits and they will stand near the exits and will also feel alarmed when all doors are closed, being inside a vehicle- the individual will avoid driving on the highway or major roads with heavy traffic, being inside a building- the individual will avoid taking elevators even if that means they will be sweaty and out of breath, being at a party- the individual will stand near a door. (“Claustrophobia” Epigee.org)
The first step to treatment is making an appointment with a psychologist. The psychologist will ask for a description of the claustrophobia symptoms, their severity, and the situations that trigger them. As with other phobias, claustrophobia often occurs along with other disorders and so your psychologist will also try to rule out any additional problems such as another category of anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse before a diagnosis is made (“Natural Remedy to Alleviate . . .”). Surprisingly, only a small percentage of phobias ever seek treatment, a pity, because effective treatments do exist. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is perhaps the best known, its premise being that though you may not be able to unlearn a fear, you can learn new responses to it. “Its quick and it’s effective” says Jerilyn Ross, M.A., LICSW, director of the Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders in Washington D.C. “We see results in as few as ten to twenty sessions.” (qtd. in “Feeling Trapped?”). Flooding is a type of exposure treatment in which the individual is exposed to a situation until the anxiety attack passes; a less extreme form of exposure treatment is counter-conditioning (“Claustrophobia” Epigee.org). If the person is far too fearful to attempt flooding, then counter-conditioning can be an option. The person is taught to use specific relaxation and visualization techniques when experiencing phobia-related anxiety. The phobic trigger is slowly introduced, step-by-step, while the person concentrates on attaining physical and mental relaxation. Eventually, they can confront the source of their fear without feeling anxious. This is known as a systematic desensitization. Modelling is when the person watches other people confront the phobic trigger without fear and is encouraged to imitate that confidence (“Claustrophobia” Betterhealth.vic.gov) Treatment can also include medication or a combination of several treatments. Medications prescribed to help treat claustrophobia include anti-depressants and beta blockers, which help to relieve the heart pounding often associated with anxiety attacks (“Claustrophobia” Epigee.org). Other phobias are given tranquilizers, but often must take them for long periods of time in order to be effective (Porterfield). Benzodiazepines can also be prescribed because they are known to have a calming effect, but they may only be used in a short term, because the can become too dependent (“Claustrophobia” DD-Database.org). Jim Wilson, L.P.C., director of Dallas’ Phobia & Anxiety Center of Southwest said, “If panic sets in, sometimes prescribed medications such as Xanax can be used. Under the tongue, it works in about five minutes. If you swallow it, it takes longer” (Smith). Long term, claustrophobia can be a serious condition that affects your mental and even your physical health. With the increased stress a constant problem for more severe sufferers of this condition, it is possible to eventually evolve into an extreme agoraphobic, with a person confining themselves to the only place they feel comfortable – their own home. Psychologically, without treatment the panic attacks associated with claustrophobia can become increasingly worse over time, and can even lead to heart problems down the line due to the constant stress on the body.
Works Cited
“Claustrophobia.” About.com. Phobias. 21 September 2009. Web. 26 March 2014.
“Claustrophobia.” Betterhealth.vic.gov. Better Health Channel. Web. 18 March 2014.
“Claustrophobia.” DD-Databases.org. Drug Discrimination Database, 13 March 2013. Web. 18 March 2014.
“Claustrophobia.” Epigee.org. Epigee Women’s Health. Web. 18 March 2014.
“Claustrophobia.” GoMentor.com. Go Mentor. Web. 18 March 2014.
“Claustrophobia.” NHS.uk. NHS Choices, 22 June 2012. Web. 16 March 2014.
Emory University. “Psychologist Closing in on Causes of Claustrophobic Fear.” ScienceDaily. Science Daily, 13 April 2011. Web. 18 March 2014.
Filson, Brent. There’s a Monster in your Closet! Understanding Phobias. New York. Julian Messner, 1996. Print.
“Natural Remedy to Alleviate Claustrophobia Signs and Symptoms and Overcome Claustrophobic Fear.” Nativeremedies.com. Native Remedies. Web. 18 March 2014.
Porterfield, Kay Marie. “Phobias.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 5. Detriot: Gale, 2004. 3041-3042. General OneFile. Web. 24 March 2014.
Smith, Nancy F. “Feeling Trapped?” Town&Country. June 1999:108. General OneFile. Web. 26 March 2014.
“What is Claustrophobia? What Causes Claustrophobia?” MedicalNewsToday.com. MNT. Web. 18 March 2014.
Williams, Dawn. “Learn To Overcome The Effects of Claustrophobia.” Lifescript.com. Lifescript Healthy Living for Women, 28 February 2008. Web. 18 March 2014.