Agoraphobia and Addiction

 

Anxiety disorders are mental health disorders where the primary issue is the presence of unrealistic, inappropriate, or atypical manifestations of anxiety. Anxiety is now defined as a lesser expression of fear and often experienced in individuals as extreme nervousness, dread, and other unpleasant physical symptoms that can include increased heartbeat, increased breathing rate, sweating, hyperactivity, mental confusion, etc.

The primary issue in individuals who are diagnosed with agoraphobia is fear or anxiety that is associated with being in a situation or place where the person perceives that escape is impossible. The diagnostic criteria for the disorder specify that the person must demonstrate this extreme fear in at least two of five potential circumstances that include:

• An enclosed place or situation, such as a building, market, theater, etc.
• An open space, such as a field, parking lot, walkway or bridge, etc.
• Public transportation, such as airplanes, taxicabs, trains, ships, buses, etc.
• Outside of one’s home
• In a crowd

The diagnosis of a formal mental health disorder requires a number of specifications that must be met. In order to receive a formal diagnosis of agoraphobia, the anxiety associated with being in the above situations must be extreme and unrealistic in relation to actual dangers associated with the situations. Thus, the anxiety is out of proportion to the normal types of anxious behaviors individuals may experience in these situations. The person’s anxiety must have been ongoing for at least six months and that must result in significant functional impairment for the person or significant distress; otherwise, the behavior cannot be diagnosed as a mental health disorder. In addition, the anxiety cannot be better explained by the presence of some other mental health disorder, the use of drugs, or by some other medical condition.

Individuals who have anxiety disorders, particularly disorders like agoraphobia, often suffer from significant anticipatory anxiety. Anticipatory anxiety is not a formal diagnosis but refers to the occurrence of fear or anxiety as a result of anticipating some particular event or set of circumstances. A good portion of the dysfunction that occurs in anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia and panic disorder occurs as a result of this anticipatory anxiety. For instance, a person afraid of being in a situation that is not safe and where they cannot escape will often not venture very far from very familiar and perceived “safe” environments. Thus, most readers are familiar with reports of individuals who have not left their home for years because of issues with anxiety. This represents a potential example of extreme impairment or dysfunction occurring in the individual as a result of their behavior.

The actions associated with sequestering oneself in a safe environment work via a mechanism that is often labeled negative reinforcement. This term comes from behavioral psychology and refers to the notion that behaviors that result in a significant reduction of noxious or unpleasant feelings are often repeated. What this means in practical terms is that an individual who suffers from significant anticipatory anxiety as a result of thinking about leaving their home will be more likely not to leave their home (be more likely to remain home) in order to avoid feeling fearful or anxious. Such an individual will continue to remain in their safe environment and not attempt to venture far away from it in order to avoid feelings of anxiety and dread.

Likewise, an individual with severe issues with anxiety who begins to drink alcohol to deal with these feelings is using a combination of both negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement when they repeat their use of alcohol. The mechanism of negative reinforcement works by diminishing the unpleasant feelings of anxiety when one uses alcohol, whereas positive reinforcement occurs as a result of the feelings of euphoria and relaxation that alcohol can induce. Both of these mechanisms can increase the probability that such a person will repeat their use of alcohol.

 

Anxiety disorders often are accompanied by the presence of one or more other mental health disorders. Agoraphobia is known to be comorbid with a number of other conditions. These most commonly include:

• Other anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder or other stressor- and trauma-related disorders
• Major depressive disorder and other depressive disorders
• Substance use disorders

Agoraphobia can be comorbid with any form of substance use disorder; however, the most common substance use disorder that co-occurs with agoraphobia is an alcohol use disorder. Other types of central nervous system depressant drug abuse are also relatively common, including issues with prescription medications and cannabis; however, agoraphobia can also be comorbid with stimulant use disorders. The relationship between agoraphobia and different comorbid disorders suggests that there may be a causal connection between certain types of mental health disorders and the presence of agoraphobia, although this cannot be totally substantiated based on the timeline that these disorders often develop in relation to each other.

In general, it has been observed that the presence of agoraphobia often occurs:

• After the development of another anxiety disorder
• Before the development of a co-occurring substance use disorder
• Before the development of a comorbid major depressive disorder

 

Based on the above information, many individuals will be tempted to conclude that individuals who have agoraphobia may self-medicate their anxiety with the use of substances. The research suggests that between 15 percent and 25 percent of individuals diagnosed with agoraphobia will use drugs and/or alcohol as a form of self-medication. It is obvious from the research that not everyone with a diagnosis of agoraphobia develops a co-occurring substance use disorder; therefore, the notion that agoraphobia causes the development of a substance use disorder is not firmly founded.

There must be other variables involved that result in a percentage of individuals diagnosed with agoraphobia turning to alcohol and other drugs to deal with their anxiety. However, it is far less likely that a person will first develop a substance use disorder and then develop true agoraphobia (although this does happen). The use of certain types of drugs may result in psychological states that resemble agoraphobia. When the behavior is better explained by use of drugs or alcohol, it cannot be diagnosed as agoraphobia.

Individuals who have co-occurring diagnoses of agoraphobia and a substance use disorder require a treatment approach that addresses these situations at the same time. Attempting to treat either the substance use disorder or the agoraphobia alone is not a sound strategy. Instead, the research suggests that co-occurring disorders need to be treated together in order for any significant progress to be made in addressing either disorder.

Agoraphobia is most often treated by the use of therapy, medication, or combination of both.

• The types of therapy that are often used in the treatment of agoraphobia are based on cognitive behavioral principles. Techniques involve using cognitive therapeutic techniques to address irrational beliefs, methods of inducing relaxation such as muscle relaxation or breathing techniques, and exposure techniques that actually put the individual in the particular feared situation and teach them to effectively deal with the anxiety that the situation produces. Exposure techniques are often used after an individual has mastered relaxation training, and this skill allows them to reduce the anxiety that the particular situation produces. These techniques are particularly effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Therapy can be performed on an individual basis, a group basis, or combination of both. Because some individuals with agoraphobia are unable to initially leave their home or safe place, it may be appropriate in some cases for therapists to initially begin treatment in the individual’s home and then make part of the treatment goals to get them out of the home.

• There are a number of specific medications that can be used in the treatment of agoraphobia. These can range from anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines to antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Because there is a risk for abuse and for the development of significant tolerance to benzodiazepines, they should be used with discretion, particularly with individuals who have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not carry a significant risk for abuse and may be more appropriate for the long-term management of issues with anxiety in agoraphobia than benzodiazepines.
• There are some social support groups that can be used to assist in treatment for individuals who are diagnosed with agoraphobia. These include 12-Step groups like Emotions Anonymous.
• Complementary and alternative approaches can be used to increase the effectiveness of therapy and/or medication use. A number of complementary and alternative techniques are appropriate for addressing the symptoms of agoraphobia. These include yoga, meditation, exercise, and therapies like wilderness therapy, music therapy, art therapy, etc. These techniques are not designed to be a primary approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders, but they can be useful additions to a sound treatment program.

When there is a co-occurring diagnosis of agoraphobia and a substance use disorder, the substance use disorder will also require a specific treatment approach in conjunction with the treatment being used for the agoraphobia. This approach can include:

• An appropriate physician-assisted withdrawal management program for individuals with substance use disorders to drugs or alcohol that have resulted in the development of physical dependence
• Individual or group substance use disorder therapy
• Participation in social support groups, such as 12-Step groups
• Other specific interventions as required by the specific case