Brenda hogan (2nd edition, 2017)
overcoming panic and agoraphobia:
a self help guide using
cognitive behavioural techniques
panic attacks: what they are,
why they happen and
what you can do about them christine ingham (2000)
overcoming worry and
generalised anxiety disordermark freeston (2nd edition, 2015)
overcoming anxiety: a self help
guide using cognitive behavioural therapy helen kennerley (2014)
mind over mood:
change how you feel by changing the way you think dennis greenberger and christine padesky (2nd edition, 2015)
mindfulness, a practical guide:
finding peace in a frantic world mark williams and danny penman (2011)
anxiety uk – national charity helping people with anxiety
top uk – the ocd and phobia charity
the reading agency.
We often wrongly think of agoraphobia as a condition that prevents someone leaving their house. As with other phobias, the full story is a little more complicated.
Agoraphobia: Fear of Public Places
these phobias often surround more everyday activities and can impact a person’s life more than specific phobias.
They tend to develop when we’re adults and stem from deep-rooted anxiety about a particular situation or circumstance. Two of the most common complex phobias are:
agoraphobia - this is when someone feels anxious about being in a certain place or situation where it’s difficult for them to escape if they have a panic attack. This can lead them to avoid busy or crowded environments, travelling on public transport or even being alone. Social phobia - also known as social anxiety disorder, this phobia centres around social situations and interactions.
People with agoraphobia feel an intense fear of situations or public places from which it might be difficult or embarrassing to escape, or where help might not be available. Most people with agoraphobia also have panic attacks − sudden severe attacks of anxiety, during which they fear that something dreadful is going to affect their physical or mental health. People fear having these attacks and avoid places where they might have them, such as shops and other public places, cars or other forms of transport. They also fear being away from safety or help in case something goes wrong.