Definition

1. Noun:
   • A morbid fear of open spaces (as fear of being caught alone in some public place): Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, irrational fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often involving open or crowded spaces.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Her agoraphobia became so severe that she was afraid to leave her house.
  • Therapy can help people manage the symptoms of agoraphobia.
  • He developed agoraphobia after a panic attack in a crowded market.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical context: In psychology, agoraphobia is often discussed in relation to panic disorder, as it frequently develops from a fear of having a panic attack in an inescapable situation.
  • The diagnosis specified agoraphobia with panic attacks.
• Cultural reference: The term is sometimes used more loosely in non-clinical contexts to describe a general aversion to crowded or public places.
  • After years of working from home, he joked about having a touch of agoraphobia.

Variants and Related Words

• Agoraphobic (adj): Relating to or suffering from agoraphobia.
  • She felt agoraphobic anxiety in the vast, empty plaza.
• Agoraphobic (n): A person who has agoraphobia.
  • Support groups can be very helpful for agoraphobics.

Synonyms

• Fear of open spaces: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Anxiety disorder: A broader category to which agoraphobia belongs.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• "Prisoner in one's own home": This phrase is often used to describe the severe, limiting effect of agoraphobia, though it is not an idiom containing the word itself.
  • Severe agoraphobia can make a person feel like a prisoner in their own home.

Noun

1. a morbid fear of open spaces (as fear of being caught alone in some public place)