How Agoraphobia is Different from Related Anxiety Disorders and Phobias

Agoraphobia is both an anxiety disorder and a phobia, therefore it has features in common with other anxiety disorders and phobias. If you suspect that you have agoraphobia, it is helpful to learn about other anxiety disorders and phobias and how to distinguish them from agoraphobia so you know you are treating the right disorder.

Most anxiety disorders are characterized by an abnormal presence of anxiety and/or panic, avoidance behavior, or both - similar to agoraphobia. However, you can usually distinguish agoraphobia from these other anxiety disorders either by the source of anxiety or the nature of avoidance behavior.

You have obsessive-compulsive disorder if your anxiety symptoms come from obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors.

You have post-traumatic stress disorder if your panic attacks and avoidance behavior come from re-experiencing an extremely traumatic event from the past.

You have separation anxiety disorder if your avoidance behavior is limited to the avoidance of leaving home or relatives.

You have generalized anxiety disorder if you experience persistent and obsessive worry or anxiety but are not experiencing full-blown panic attacks.

Many phobias also feature panic attacks and avoidance behavior similar to agoraphobia. However, closely related phobias can be distinguished from agoraphobia by the object of fear.

You have social phobia (sometimes called social anxiety disorder) if your panic attacks and avoidance behavior have to do with being afraid of social or performance situations.

You have a specific phobia if your panic attacks and avoidance behavior have to do with being afraid of a specific object or situation. Examples of specific phobia are claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), hydrophobia (fear of water), and insectophobia (fear of insects).

For more precisely detailed descriptions of these and other anxiety disorders and phobias, consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).

Article Source: http://www.agoraphobia.net

Stephen Price is a recovered agoraphobic with a master's degree in psychology. His informational website on agoraphobia can be found at: www.agoraphobia.ws

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