subject: Tips and Tricks to Treating Claustrophobia [print this page] Tips and Tricks to Treating Claustrophobia
Are afraid of being confined in narrow spaces? Do you tremble every time the elevator closes? Then perhaps you have claustrophobia. Millions of people all over the world are affected by this condition. Dont be ashamed because this affects every person from all walks of life even professionals like doctors, soldiers, and lawyers. Every person with this condition looks normal like everybody else but once the elevator or bathroom door closes, panic attack occurs. This condition can sometimes bring embarrassment especially when you are not alone in that confined space. Panic attacks can cause a person to hurt others making them close to danger. Certain panic attacks are not like this but panic attacks due to this fear of confined spaces can cause a person to lose to control and injure other people because of the intense desire to get out. How can you treat claustrophobia? It is best to consult a professional immediately since this causes serious threats not only to you but to other people as well. Like any phobia, the symptoms are similar to this condition like rapid heartbeat, trembles, weakness, extreme fear, muscle tension, and difficulty breathing. All these symptoms may happen at once or not. The fact is, when you experience this feeling of fear, you may lose control as if your existence is in danger. Cubicles, elevators, telephone booths, and bathrooms are the places you will most likely avoid when you have this irrational fear. When you consult a doctor regarding this matter, he/she will give you psychological treatments to alleviate the symptoms and then thoroughly remove that fear you experience. While you are under treatment, you should prevent any circumstance that will lead to aggravation of your illness. Try to take deep breaths regularly. Oxygen helps relax the muscles and aids in nerve impulse. This will also aid in enhancing blood circulation. Experts suggest this to every person experiencing fear of confined spaces. It is effective especially if you master this technique. Do this technique at home. Start by relaxing and slowly imagining yourself confined in a small space. When you feel the panic starts to emerge, take a deep breath through your nose from 1-5 seconds. Hold your breath then slowly release counting down from 5-1. In order for this to work effectively, perform deep breathing exercises prior experiencing panic attacks. You will be definitely amazed of how this technique works. If you have claustrophobia, the probable treatment a psychologist would give is systematic desensitization. This treats the fear by working out the mindset. Control is the key action in alleviating fear of any substance or circumstance. This is done through levels of exposure on the feared object. Your mind will receive signals that this object should not be feared, as it will give no harm to you or to anyone. Cognitive behavioral therapy is another way of treating this fear. Similar to systematic desensitization, this also helps condition the mind of the irrational fear. This will help you get through situations of being confined in small and narrow spaces.
