Agoraphobia Test

Category: Agoraphobia Online Therapy | Last updated: October 11th, 2018 | Reviewed and approved by:
Dr. Steven Gans, MD

Signs and symptoms of Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by irrational fears of public or open spaces. The fear comes from the dread of having a panic attack in a situation where you feel it is embarrassing, humiliating and difficult or impossible to escape. In many cases, agoraphobia causes the person to fear leaving home. Some people may drive two blocks away from their homes and begin to panic intensely from the fear of being outside their comfort zone.

It is common that people who suffer from agoraphobia fear places and situations like:

Wide-open spaces
Big crowds
Going to places where making an exit is not easy (e.g. cinema/restaurant/church)
Public transportation like bus/train/boat/airplane
Being in stores
Riding the elevator

Agoraphobia usually occurs when a person has experienced some sort of panic attack in one of the above situations. Even just the thought of having another panic attack in public is too distressing to handle. This is why a person suffering from agoraphobia avoids difficult situations that can provoke a new panic attack.

Agoraphobia often starts in your teens or early adolescence and is probably caused by an inherited emotional sensitivity, combined with inner and outer stress that provokes the anxiety feelings.

Here are some of the most common emotional, behavioral and physical signs and symptoms of agoraphobia:

Emotional and behavioral symptoms of agoraphobia

Avoiding situations and places that can provoke anxiety or a panic attack
Avoiding situations and places where there appears to be no escape
Constantly worrying and often feeling tense and stressed
Being afraid of losing control in public places and situations
Being afraid of spending time alone
Experiencing feelings of unreality
Experiencing a deep-seated fear
Problems concentrating
Isolating yourself

Physical symptoms of a panic attack

Shortness of breathing or hyperventilating
Rapid heartbeat
Chest pain
Disorientation
Nausea or abdominal distress
Dizziness and nausea
Blackening in front of the eyes
Fear of dying due to the physical symptoms

Agoraphobia can understandably have a severely negative impact on your daily life, if you cannot handle public spaces and public transportation and instead start to isolate yourself at home. With the right treatment, you can get better so that you can live life free of your fears.

Further reading: Overcome your agoraphobia with online therapy.

If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above, we recommend that you take this test. Evaluate the statements and select the option that you feel best reflects the way you have felt for the past two weeks. The test is, of course, anonymous and free (see our privacy policy).

This agoraphobia test is not to be seen as a final diagnosis. If you are uncertain about your result, we suggest that you get professional help as soon as possible.

True
Partly true
Not true
1. I have previously experienced one or several panic attacks (see symptoms above).
2. I have previously experienced a panic attack or severe anxiety in a public situation or place.
3. I avoid situations or places that remind me of where I have experienced panic attacks in the past.
4. I avoid situations and places that are crowded and that I feel are difficult to escape (such as cinemas, churches, elevators or stores), because I am afraid that I will panic.
5. I avoid going by public transportation (such as by bus, train, boat or airplane) because I am afraid I will panic.
6. I feel that being in situations or places that may cause anxiety or panic attacks, will cause embarrassment.
7. I am afraid of losing control in public places and situations.
8. I feel there may not be immediate help available if I go into a public place.
9. I avoid fearful public places and situations and isolate myself at home.
10. I avoid fearful public places and situations, because I am afraid that I will panic, which makes me miss out on important parts of life (such as traveling, social and work events).
11. I tell myself that my panic attacks mean that I am losing control/going crazy/having a heart attack/having a serious disease etc.
Generating result...