Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is anxiety about being in places or situations from which the escape may be difficult or embarrassing (i.e., traveling in a car or a bus, crossing a bridge, being outside the home, being in a crowd, being in an enclosed place, standing in line, etc.) In many cases, the person suffering from agoraphobia tries to avoid feared situations or endures them with great distress. In severe forms, a person may become completely homebound. 

The treatment of choice for agoraphobia is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Treatment includes identifying and if needed, modifying the thoughts that underlie and drive the person's fear. Additionally, it involves gradual step-by-step exposure to feared situations with the purpose of helping the person unlearn the conditioned fearful response. 

Most people with agoraphobia have other psychological conditions such as panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety, etc. It is very important to establish the correct diagnosis as it will guide the treatment.