How interesting Harrison - just had a quick look at the origins of
the word - apparantly derived from the Greek word 'agora' meaning
'market place'....so it literally means 'fear of the market
place'...and, would you believe, 'agoraphobics are not afraid of open
spaces themselves, but of having panic attacks as a result of being
in certain locations' (according to wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraphobia,
and 'another misconception is that agoraphobia is a fear of "crowded
spaces". Once again, an agoraphobic does not fear people: he or she
rather fears an embarrassing/dangerous situation with no escape. Some
people with agoraphobia are comfortable seeing visitors, but only in
a defined space they feel in control of. Such people may live for
years without leaving their homes, while happily seeing visitors and
working, as long as they can stay within their safety zones. The
safety zones can vary, from not being able to leave home, or not
being able to make eye contact. If the person leaves their 'safety
zone' they can have an anxiety attack.
Furthermore...."agoraphobia can be successfully treated in many cases
through a very gradual process of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Graduated_exposure_therapy>graduated
exposure therapy combined with
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Cognitive_therapy>cognitive
therapy and sometimes
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Anti-anxiety>anti-anxiety or
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Antidepressant>antidepressant medications."
So - what do I make of all that.....
agoraphobics are afraid of losing control of their self-constructed
safety zones - and are susceptible to the onset of panic
attacks.......entering an Open Space market place provides them with
'graduated exposure therapy', through an embodied experience, coupled
with cognitive awareness of the freedom to 'escape' from situations
that might cause such anxieties...and voila - the cure!
I wonder what the Psych Professor will make of this...
Cheers
Brendan
At 05:35 AM 4/04/2007, you wrote:
After all there is already a psychological name for it -- probably
even a diagnosis and
treatment. Last time I checked it was called "Agoraphobia." Yep -- we're in
the books as a clinical phenomenon. And maybe we even have the cure...???
Whoever said this was a sane group of people?????
*
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