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Overview
Claustrophobia is the irrational fear of confined spaces.
People affected by claustrophobia will often go out of their way to avoid confined spaces, such as lifts, tunnels, tube trains and public toilets. But avoiding these places may reinforce the fear.
Some people with claustrophobia experience mild anxiety when in a confined space, while others have severe anxiety or a panic attack.
Symptoms
People with claustrophobia can have panic attacks. They can be very frightening and distressing.
As well as overwhelming feelings of anxiety, claustrophobia can also cause physical symptoms, such as:
- sweating
- trembling
- hot flushes or chills
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- a choking sensation
- a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- chest pain or a feeling of tightness in the chest
- a sensation of butterflies in the stomach
- feeling sick
- headaches and dizziness
- feeling faint
- numbness or pins and needles
- a dry mouth
- a need to go to the toilet
- ringing in your ears
- feeling confused or disorientated
If you have severe claustrophobia, you may also experience psychological symptoms, such as:
- fear of losing control
- fear of fainting
- feelings of being detached from your body
- fear of dying
Causes
Claustrophobia is often caused by a traumatic event experienced during early childhood.
For example, adults may develop claustrophobia if, as a child, they:
- were trapped or kept in a confined space
- were bullied or abused
- had a parent with claustrophobia
Claustrophobia can also be triggered by unpleasant experiences or situations, such as turbulence when flying or being stuck in a tube tunnel between stations.
A child growing up with a parent who has claustrophobia may develop claustrophobia themselves by associating confined spaces with their parent's anxiety and feeling helpless to comfort the person they loved.
Triggers of claustrophobia
Many different situations or feelings can trigger claustrophobia. Even thinking about certain situations without exposure to them could be a trigger.
Common triggers of claustrophobia include:
- lifts
- tunnels
- tube trains
- public toilets
- rooms where the doors have to be locked
- cars
- hotel rooms with sealed windows
- planes
If you have felt anxious in the last 6 months about being in a confined space or crowded place, or you have avoided these situations for this reason, it's likely that you're affected by claustrophobia.
Treatment Options
Many people live with claustrophobia without having it formally diagnosed and take great care to avoid confined spaces.
But getting help from a GP or a specialist with expertise in behavioural therapy, such as a psychologist, can often be beneficial.
Treatments are available for claustrophobia and can include:
- talking treatments, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy
- self-help - find out more about phobias and self-care on the Mind website
- medicines, such as antidepressants or tranquilisers
CBT is a talking therapy that explores your thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and develops practical ways of effectively dealing with your phobia.
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