What causes a person to develop agoraphobia and panic attacks?

Question

I am not referring to the trigger of the attacks but rather things in a persons past experience that would cause someone to develop the condition later in life.

I ask because my friend who I have known since childhood has developed both conditions. She had a very privileged up bringing as her parents were wealthy, I do not think she was bullied at school (I was in schools with her) and her family were kind to her. Her father was an alcoholic however, but I don’t know how that would have impacted her. She does not talk about her feelings. She has suffered from low self esteem and had bulimia when she was a teenager, however I do not think she has ever really recovered fully. What can I do to help?

Answer 1

my cousin got it after he was mugged

Answer 2

I can only answer this from my own personal experience.
A few years ago I became friends with someone I worked with. There were three of us including my housemate, and we went everywhere together, and hung out all together all the time. However, it was the most stressful friendship I have ever experienced, for reasons I will not go into.
After about 6 months of this friendship, I began to have panic attacks. At first they were nothing too bad, but after a while they became so severe that I would hyperventilate until I passed out.
The worst came as I was still working with this person, and my work life became unbearably stressful too and I was terrified that I would have a panic attack at work.
In the end, I handed in my notice and started a new job this September and have had no contact with this person since, and guess what? No more panic attacks.
So for me, they were definitely brought on by severe stress. I hope that I am not just susceptible to them as I don't want them to restart when I am under severe stress again, but I can't actually imagine being in a situation that stressful again!

Answer 3

All sorts can cause these conditions..

Usually a traumatic experience... no matter how small can cause the smallest of triggers...

Once someone experiences their first panic attack.. they then become afraid of any further attacks they may have.. the symptoms can cause someone to believe that something really bad is physically happening to them,..e.g. heart attack... if your friend had her first sign of a panic attack outside of the house in a public place she may become afraid of retuning to any other public place in case it causes the attacks to happen again.

I am not sure whether a person can become prone to panic later in life simply through the way they grew up. I have suffered them in the past and have learned to control them to a degree... i guess the only thing in my child that I would link to them is that I was brought up to be extremely sensitive to other's feelings almost to the point of dismissing my own.. This has made me incredibly oversensitive and I embarrass very easily.. Not sure if this is common in people with panic attacks or not though I'm afraid... just personal experience.
i would say that the agoraphobia is more linked to the fear of the panic attacks than a separate condition though so I would guess that the panic attacks came first.

Answer 4

What Causes Agoraphobia

Answer 5

I have been suffering with these two medical conditions since I was a young adult in my early 20's. However, mine began after having a traumatic event take place in my life. Truth is..it was probably several little events that caused it but I remember the one with the biggest impact on me. So, from what I can gather from other writers it seems to be the same case with them...stemming from some major conflict or trauma. Somehow when something so traumatic happens it desensitizes your nerves, emotions, thoughts, etc. You become weaker in your reactions of handling the problem. Some ppl process traumatic events better than others. Some ppl have weaker minds, but that's just the way they are "wired". I have struggled with this for many years and still do and I'm in my late 40's. I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder, and agoraphopia and have been treated with medications and therapy for it. While these things help alot to control it...there is no cure for it, and you have to always work at not going "overboard" with your emotions. Seeing a therapist and getting a diagnosis may help you alot, and maybe some meds. That would be the first step in getting control of the situation. I know it's miserable...but it can be brought under control. Good luck to you!

Answer 6

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 7

all sorts of things, if you're intersted theres a progamme on channel 4 next tues 19th at 10 i think, about agoraphobia and panic attacks that might be helpful

Answer 8

Start by joining some support groups for people such as yourself. These can be groups especially for people with agorophobia or general mental health support groups (call the National Institute for Mental Health in your area for info, or Google up Recovery Self-help mental health groups - both would have free resources). The other thing is to judge your former friends less harshly The number of people who would actually go out of their way for us is very few. Most 'friends and acquaintances' don't fall into that category - especially if we are waiting on them to reach out to us, rather than us making the effort to contact them. Hey, some people's spouses, siblings or children can fall into that 'don't make the effort to reach out' category. People are inherently selfish and lazy, by and large. Part of recovering from depression is learning to think in more nuanced and less black and white / either or ways. Good luck, dude. .

Answer 9

Agoraphobia is the secondary condition of Panic Disorder. It is really good that you care and are interested enough to want to help. Can i sugguest two particular articles on this website.

http://www.encourageconnection.com/articles.html

"Helping the recovering Agoraphobic in your life"
and
"The support person perspective"

I have experienced panic disorder with agoraphobia for 10 years in varying degrees and good friends and family have been vital in my recovery process. Your support and understanding will be most appreciated by your friend. i wish you both the best.

Answer 10

I know for me my anxiety came on after i gave birth to my first child well 3 months after she was born then for the next 2 years it was hell, thankgoodness i had to get my head around it and talk myself out of it was a struggle but in the end i did it.

Answer 11

Eliminate Social Anxiety Shyness - http://SocialAnxiety.uzaev.com/?ZFrM