Klaustrophobie

Claustrophobia symptoms

As is always the case with anxiety, the feeling of being trapped in certain spaces leads to avoidance behavior. Claustrophobic people generally avoid confined, enclosed spaces such as elevators, from which they cannot “escape” at any time. Larger rooms such as theaters can also be avoided out of fear because the rows of seats create a cramped feeling. The object of the fear of enclosed spaces is therefore spaces in which you cannot move freely and which you cannot leave unhindered. Crowds of people can therefore also trigger claustrophobia. When crowds of people block the way because groups of people and individuals are criss-crossing, their own freedom of movement is also restricted, which leads to claustrophobic fears in those affected.

If a person with a fear of confined spaces does find themselves in such a “dangerous” situation, they are overcome with fear or, in the worst case, panic. Palpitations and sweating are typical symptoms of anxiety physiology. The person affected will also try to leave the situation as quickly as possible. This is because the anxiety is often coupled with a tight feeling in the chest. Those affected often report a feeling of not being able to breathe and the fear of suffocating.

The perceived tightness on the outside is thus transferred to the body. In addition, anxiety naturally goes hand in hand with a constricting feeling and has a restrictive effect of its own because it prevents us from moving forward and instead drives us to flee or hide. We therefore feel cornered. Against this background, claustrophobia can be described as the fear that most clearly characterizes fear itself.

Even if the person affected knows that their fear is actually exaggerated because there is no real danger from the specific situation, claustrophobia naturally restricts the life of the person with claustrophobia. Wherever they would feel uncomfortable, those affected no longer go. Some are ashamed of their fear and try to disguise it. However, fear of confined spaces such as elevators or of many people is still a fear that is largely comprehensible to other people. Fear of heights, for example, even if it is easier for others to relate to. Nevertheless, stigmatization generally plays a role in the lives of anxious people, which they also have to deal with.

The fear of being locked up or enclosed, whether by walls or people, arises from a shift in the actual fear of being confined from an interpersonal level to a visual one. We do not choose the type of anxiety as a symptom at random. For example, people who suffer from claustrophobia often live in a relationship environment that restricts their own autonomy. This makes them feel safe. However, they are not aware of how much they are actually clinging to others. There may even be an underlying fear of autonomy. On the other hand, unalterable external circumstances can ensure that you cannot escape the restrictive environment that dictates so much. The person affected secretly harbors anger against the restrictions. However, this does not provide the liberating push if the fear of losing the protective constriction is greater. So they prefer to endure the subliminal discomfort of the restrictions. However, a physically constricting situation then brings the problem to a head and thus the barrel overflows. Situations like this make it clear to the person what a tight grip they are in. The person clearly feels the fear of constriction, but without understanding the actual cause.