When this happens, the symptoms appear to be more severe than if one of these conditions were present.
What’s the Connection?
Agoraphobia and social anxiety are closely related conditions but have some important differences in the causes of the symptoms.
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Agoraphobia isn’t exclusively anxiety about being around people.
Whereas a person with agoraphobia often welcomes a companion, this is not the case with social anxiety disorder.
In addition, people with agoraphobia may fear leaving the house alone.
Most people with agoraphobia are better able to cope if in the company of a trusted companion.
Agoraphobia most often occurs in conjunction withpanic disorder.
For example, being on an elevator alone or in a car alone would not be uncomfortable.
Morerecent studieshave found that majordepressionis often a comorbidity as well.
This underlines the importance of an accurate diagnosis and the care of apsychotherapistwith whom you feel comfortable.
2017;29(2):186-194. doi:10.24869/psyd.2017.186
