Claustrophobia
Overview
Claustrophobia is the irrational fear of confined spaces.
Symptoms
People with claustrophobia can havepanic attacks. They can be very frightening and distressing. As well as overwhelming feelings of anxiety, claustrophobia can also cause physical symptoms, such as: sweatingtremblinghot flushesor chillsshortness of breathor difficulty breathinga choking sensationa rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)chest painor a feeling of tightness in the chesta sensation of butterflies in the stomachfeeling sickheadachesand dizzinessfeeling faintnumbness orpins and needlesadry moutha need to go to the toiletringing in your earsfeeling confused or disorientated If you have severe claustrophobia, you may also experience psychological symptoms, such as: fear of losing controlfear of faintingfeelings of being detached from your bodyfear of dying
Causes
Claustrophobia is often caused by a traumatic event experienced during early childhood. For example, adults may develop claustrophobia if, as a child, they: were trapped or kept in a confined spacewere bullied or abusedhad a parent with claustrophobia Claustrophobia can also be triggered by unpleasant experiences or situations, such as turbulence when flying or being stuck in a tube tunnel between stations. A child growing up with a parent who has claustrophobia may develop claustrophobia themselves by associating confined spaces with their parent's anxiety and feeling helpless to comfort the person they loved.