Summarize the following:
The main feature of agoraphobia is feeling anxiety about situations and places that you fear you may not be able to escape.  When you are in these situations (most often outside of your home) you may experience a sense of dread, as if something terrible is about to happen. You must have had these feelings for a minimum of six months to receive a diagnosis of agoraphobia. Some people also experience panic symptoms or panic attacks in situations that trigger anxiety.  During a panic attack, one may experience a combination of chest pain, numbness, dizziness, trembling, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling unreal or disconnected from oneself, feeling like you are losing control or going crazy, feeling like you are dying, or feeling chilled or hot. The types of fear that someone who has agoraphobia experiences are quite specific. To be diagnosed with agoraphobia, the DSM-V indicates that the patient must experience fear in two or more of the following situations:  being in a large crowd or waiting in a line being in an open space, such as a marketplace or parking lot being in a closed space, such as a coffee shop or movie theater using public transportation, such as the bus, train, plane, or a ferry going outside of your home alone If you dislike being alone because you might panic and experience the shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, and confused thoughts that happen during an agoraphobic attack, then you might have agoraphobia.  Make note of any heightened feelings of fear that you experience when you are alone. There are two kinds of fears that may emerge when people are alone.  One kind is related to agoraphobia.  The other kind of fear is one that develops because the person is alone and feels vulnerable to attack from predators.  This is not symptomatic of agoraphobia.  Correctly identifying one’s own feelings is important to identifying whether they have agoraphobia. Women and those who are under the age of 35 are at a higher risk of developing agoraphobia. Other risk factors for agoraphobia include:  having another disorder, such as panic disorder or another type of phobia feeling nervous or anxious much of the time going through something stressful, such a losing a parent, being attacked, or being abused having a family history of agoraphobia (such as a blood relative) having depression having a substance abuse problem
Watch for persistent anxiety. Identify the situations that make you feel fearful. Recognize when you fear being alone. Consider your risk factors for agoraphobia.