Posted by WHAT IS CLAUSTROPHOBIA?
Claustrophobia is an intense fear of confined or enclosed spaces.
Since we always attempt to avoid situations that make us feel uncomfortable, most fears are seen as pretty natural. Furthermore, a phobia is an extreme and unreasonable fear towards one or more objects or circumstances, as opposed to a fear. Also, with phobias, the level of your fear doesn’t match the actual danger presented by the feared object or situation.
Phobias will become a health problem when it starts to hinder basic tasks. Intense phobias can cause problems to your productivity, ruin relationships and lower your confidence.
WHAT SITUATIONS WOULD TRIGGER CLAUSTROPHOBIA?
- Tunnels.
- Elevators.
- Trains.
- Airplanes.
- Small cars.
- Caves.
- MRI imaging machine.
- Cellars.
- Small rooms without windows or with windows that can’t be opened.
- Thoughts about being in a confined space.
Related link: WHAT IS ACROPHOBIA?
WHAT DOES CLAUSTROPHOBIA FEEL LIKE?
Claustrophobia makes you feel anxious about being in an enclosed or tight-fitting space. You may have trouble concentrating and functioning because you will be overwhelmed with thoughts.
HOW COMMON IS CLAUSTROPHOBIA?
Around 12.5% of people experience claustrophobia where a normal person with a specific phobia, such as claustrophobia, will have three fears. About 75% of people with a specific phobia fear more than one object or situation.
WHO GETS CLAUSTROPHOBIA?
Women experience claustrophobia more frequently than men. Despite the fact that anyone, at any age, might develop a particular phobia, the majority do so throughout childhood and adolescence.
WHAT CAUSES CLAUSTROPHOBIA?
What truly causes this phobia is not fully known but researchers believe it may be:
- A traumatic event as a child: Some adults with claustrophobia report one or more events where they were trapped or confined to a tight space as a child.
- A triggering event after childhood: You may have had a triggering event such as you got stuck in an elevator or experienced severe turbulence on an airplane.
- Childhood exposure to a parent’s claustrophobia: You may develop claustrophobia if you feel the anxiety of one of your parent’s reactions to confined spaces.