Fear of being closed in

Claustrophobia is usually described as a fear of enclosed places. A more accurate description might be 'a fear of not having an easy escape route' because for anyone who experiences this phobia this is the predominating feature - you feel a need to be able to get out or get home, quickly.

Let's get something quite clear at the outset - this is not an illness and it can be eradicated.

A 'learned response'

It is a learned response to being in certain situations. A response that is powerful, uncomfortable, embarrassing, inconvenient, debilitating at times, perhaps even seriously debilitating - but still a learned response. And just as you can learn to have a particular response you can un-learn it.

What's more, it's likely that you can do this for yourself without professional help. Good professional help is likely to make things easier and a lot quicker but, for most people, it is not essential.

Yes, this is a sweeping statement - that you, yourself, can resolve your fear. But, as you'll read below, the 'mechanics' of the condition are relatively straightforward and once you have recognised these in yourself you can begin changing them and dissolving the fear.

So how do we 'learn' to fear not having an escape route?

There are many different ways in which we can learn to have this concern - the following are a few examples:

Many people develop the condition as a result of being 'trapped' in an uncomfortable situation such as a stalled lift (elevator), an uncomfortable or frightening airplane journey, an overcrowded room, etc.
Some, additionally, were experiencing panic attacks at the time when they were trapped - which added to their fear.
Some people who go through a period of having panic attacks begin to become very focussed on the need to be able to get home quickly so they begin avoiding any situation where the route home will not be quick and easy.

What's it like to have this fear?

It's a constant search for escape routes...
On entering a room, hallway, lift read more