What is avoided?

What is agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a diagnosis given by a qualified professional, such as a licensed clinical psychologist, to a person who fears venturing into public places. The term - agoraphobia - derives from Latin and literally means "fear of the marketplace." This diagnosis requires the existence of at least one of two primary features:

1. anxiety about being in places from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where help with escape might not be available
2. avoidance of these situations or, enduring them

1. with marked distress or
2. with fear of having panic symptoms, or
3. only if a companion is present before entering the phobic situation.

Individuals who suffer from agoraphobia typically avoid one or more of the following:

• Social situations from which escape might be difficult (because of physical circumstances or the possibility of embarrassment) including checkout lines, restaurants, doctors' offices or examining rooms, theaters, hairdressers, and so on
• Travelling where escape is difficult, such as in strange cities, on bridges in tunnels, by airplane
• Travelling away from home
• Being home alone