Claustrophobia: Treatment Works!

You may have claustrophobia and want to seek treatment. Does the thought of entering an elevator set your heart to beating fast? Do you avoid flying because you panic at the idea of being unable to get out of a closed space? If so, you probably have claustrophobia, but don't despair, you can get successful treatment for it.

Claustrophobia is an intense and unreasonable fear of being in enclosed places. It seems to be a fear of not having an escape route. People who suffer from claustrophobia fear elevators, airplanes, rooms crowded with people, MRIs, and some car trips that go into tunnels and over bridges or where there is heavy congestion. Claustrophobia has a negative impact on daily life and this leads people to seek treatment.

When a person who suffers from claustrophobia is in an enclosed place he may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

*Sweating
*Fast heartbeat
*Hyper ventilation
*Shaking
*Light-headedness
*Nausea
*Fainting

There are a variety of treatments for claustrophobia. Treatment for claustrophobia is effective and usually brief-a matter of weeks, not months or years. The treatments do not involve trying to discover the cause of the claustrophobia because this may be impossible and even if the cause were discovered, the claustrophobia would still need treatment. Treatment for claustrophobia involves behavioral or cognitive types of treatments.

FLOODING
The patient is exposed to confined spaces where she will be certain to have an anxiety attack. She realizes that she encountered her most feared situation and nothing bad happened. Flooding is sometimes criticized for being cruel and its long-range effectiveness is in question.

COUNTER-CONDITIONING
The patient is taught relaxation and visualization techniques. She gradually relaxes as she imagines a beach or a mountain meadow. The phobic situation is introduced step by step as the person practices physical and mental relaxation. This treatment for claustrophobia is gentle and the patient determines the pace.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY
The patient learns what kinds of thoughts and attitudes are leading to his fears and he is taught to substitute new positive thoughts and attitudes.

MEDICATIONS
The patient is given either anti-depressant or anti anxiety medication. Results, especially with anti anxiety medications are very rapid.

The most successful treatment for claustrophobia seems to be a combination of all the above treatments, with the exception of flooding. There is controversy over the use of medication but it gives the patient immediate relief and the experience of success. The patient can be gradually eased off medication as the other treatments are introduced.

If you think you have claustrophobia do get treatment. Make sure the person you see is an expert in the treatment of claustrophobia.