Claustrophobia

 

Claustrophobia is a terror of being trapped in small spaces. It is caused by a variety of conditions and stimuli, including packed elevators, windowless rooms, and hotel rooms with locked doors and sealed windows. Even bedrooms with a lock on the outside, compact cars, and clothing with a tight neck can trigger claustrophobia. It's usually categorized as an anxiety disorder, and it frequently leads to panic episodes. Many factors have been linked to the start of claustrophobia, including a reduction in the size of the amygdala and classical conditioning.

According to one study, severe claustrophobia affects 5-10% of the global population, although only a small number of these people obtain therapy.

For most anxiety disorders, cognitive therapy is a commonly regarded treatment option. It's also regarded to be particularly beneficial in treating problems where the patient doesn't fear the circumstance itself, but rather the consequences of being in it. Cognitive therapy's ultimate goal is to change distorted thinking or misconceptions about whatever is being feared; the theory is that changing these thoughts will reduce anxiety and avoidance of particular situations. For example, cognitive therapy can try to persuade a claustrophobic patient that elevators aren't scary and can actually help you get where you want to go faster. According to a study conducted by S.J. Rachman, cognitive therapy reduced fear and negative thoughts/connotations by roughly 30% in claustrophobic patients examined, demonstrating that it is a reasonable successful treatment.