Begin Overcoming Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is an extreme fear of enclosed spaces. It is an anxiety disorder and can cause panic attacks. The fear is often treated as irrational but to the person who suffers claustrophobia, it is extremely real and painful. People who suffer often cause a person to avoid taking part in many events where they know it will be crowded. This also causes avoiding public transportation. Levels of claustrophobia vary, it is important to understand the level of the disorder to specify treatment.

Steps

 * 1) Accept that fears and anxieties are part of life. Everyone is fearful or anxious of something at some point in their lives.
 * 2) Know when to seek medical help. Discomfort in closed spaces isn't always a sign that you need to see a professional. Yet, if your fear of closed spaces begins to disrupt your professional and social life, you should consider getting help.
 * 3) Consult your family doctor of psychiatrist. Your doctor can perform an evaluation and rule out other possible causes for your anxiety. Be ready to describe your symptoms to your doctor, along with how often they occur and what causes them. Since physical disorders can coincide with anxiety disorders like claustrophobia, expect to undergo a physical exam.
 * 4)  Have an MRI (Magnetic Reasonance Imaging) to see if you have a fear of suffocation, fear of confinement, or a combination of both. Sometimes you will be placed in a long narrow cylinder. This will flare your symptoms and that will show on your scan. Relax.
 * 5) Fill out a questionaire and fill it out truthfully, they are basing your answers on a level of claustrophobia on which you will need treatment on.
 * 6)  Try cognitive treatment One form of cognitive treatment is you will be placed in a large dark room. The walls are soundproof so yelling is NOT an option. Then, you are placed in a smaller room. High levels of anxiety may be eperienced, however in most cases a 72% reduction of fear will be felt.
 * 7)  Take a self efficiacy test. In 8-10 sessions, you will be placed in three settings. The first setting is a small garden or balcony mesauring 2x5. The second setting is a 4x5 room with a door and a big window which can be opened and closed. The third and final room is a 3x3 square room with no furniture or windows. There is a door that CAN be locked if the patient wishes. As each session passes, the symtoms of claustrophobia are reduced dramatically.

Tips

 * If you can not afford a good therapist. Call round to see what psychologists offer free or low cost cognitive behavioral therapy. Also some licensed social workers who specialize in CBT can be less money. Generic counseling will not work!
 * Do understand that when you are under stress, your symptoms will flare up.

Warnings

 * Avoid any people who want to try extreme 'cures' on you such as tying you into bathtubs. This will most likely make you have a panic attack and worsen your symptoms.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Bring Severe Social Anxiety Under Control
 * How to Overcome Fear

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.goldenessays.com/free_essays/3/psychology/claustrophobia.shtml
 * Booth, R; Rachman, S.: The Reduction of Claustrophobia.