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Spaces)
Fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia) becomes a phobia when it interferes with your
ability to function at work, school, or other daily activities. Common triggers include
tunnels, elevators, trains and airplanes. Behavior training is the main treatment. Other
coping methods include relaxation, deep breathing exercises and joining a support
group.
A PPOI N T
S & AC
C ON T A
Prevention
Outlook / Prognosis
Living With
OVERVIEW
What is claustrophobia?
Many fears seems reasonable. We all try to avoid things that make us feel uncomfortable. The
difference between a fear and a phobia is that a phobia is an intense and irrational fear toward
one or more things or situations. Also, with phobias, the level of your fear doesn’t match the
actual danger presented by the feared object or situation.
Phobias become a health issue when the fear interferes with your ability to carry out daily
activities. Phobias can limit your ability to work efficiently, put a strain on your relationships and
reduce your self-esteem.
Tunnels.
Elevators.
Trains.
Airplanes.
Small cars.
Caves.
MRI imaging machine.
Cellars.
Small rooms without windows or with windows that can’t be opened.
Thoughts about being in a confined space.
If you have claustrophobia, you feel anxious about being in an enclosed or tight-fitting space.
You may have trouble concentrating and functioning. You may be overwhelmed with thoughts
about being in a confined space. Your thoughts may keep you up at night.
About 12.5% of the population has claustrophobia. The average person with a specific phobia,
such as claustrophobia, fears three objects or situations. About 75% of people with a specific
phobia fear more than one object or situation.
Claustrophobia is more common in females than males. Although anyone, at any age, can
develop a specific phobia, most develop in childhood and adolescence.
Symptoms of claustrophobia are similar to symptoms of anxiety and a panic attack. You may
experience:
Physical symptoms
Sweating or shaking.
Tightness in chest or rapid heartbeat.
Trouble breathing or breathing fast.
Chills or flushing (red, hot face).
Choking feeling.
Upset stomach or feeling “butterflies” in your stomach.
Dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded.
Dry mouth.
Feeling confused or disoriented.
Numbness or tingling.
Ringing in your ears.
Crying, tantrums, freezing or clinging (symptoms of a specific phobia in children).
Emotional symptoms
What causes claustrophobia isn’t fully understood. Researchers believe causes might include:
Your healthcare provider will want to confirm that your fear is indeed a phobia versus a normal
fear and that it’s not the result of a medical condition or psychiatric disorder. Phobias
significantly interfere with your ability to live a normal life. Your provider may give you a
questionnaire to fill out or ask you directly how your claustrophobia has affected your daily life,
how intense your fear feels and how often you feel it, how it affects your interactions with your
friends and family and how you cope. Your provider may also ask you other questions about
yourself, including recent life changes, stressors, and any medications or supplements that you
take.
Your provider may make the diagnosis of claustrophobia if you have all of the following:
Your fear of enclosed spaces is intense and has been present for six months or longer.
Your fear or anxiety is about a specific situation or object — in this case, enclosed spaces
such as an elevator or small car.
Your fear and anxiety almost always happen as soon as you encounter your specific fear
or think about the feared situation.
You avoid your feared situation or endure it with intense fear or anxiety.
Your fear is out of proportion to the actual danger.
Your fear is causing you significant distress or significantly hampers your ability to
function.
Exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are the two main treatments for
claustrophobia.
In this type of psychotherapy, you are gradually exposed to your feared situation. With gradual,
repeated exposure, the goal is that you will feel comfortable in your specific feared situation.
This type of psychotherapy (talk therapy) focuses on managing your phobia by changing the way
you think, feel and behave.
In addition to therapy and coping strategies, medications are sometimes prescribed for a short
period of time to treat anxiety caused by claustrophobia. For example, your provider might
prescribe medications to treat anxiety when you’re flying. The two main medication classes most
often prescribed are:
PREVENTION
What can I do to better cope with claustrophobia?
In addition to seeing your primary healthcare provider or psychologist, you can try any of the
following that make you feel comfortable:
Talk to someone you trust: Having someone listen to your claustrophobic fears can be
helpful to you.
Learn strategies to relax: Try deep breathing exercises (breathe in slowly and deeply
through your nose, hold for three seconds, breathe out slowly through your
mouth), mediation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and relaxing
muscle groups) and other methods to relax. Visualize and focus your attention on
something that makes you calm.
Join a support group: Support groups can be helpful in knowing you are not alone and
for sharing tips and advice.
Check if an organization provides a course for overcoming your fear: For example, if
you’re afraid of flying, check if an airline or your local airport offers a class on fear of
flying.
Take care of yourself: Eat a well-balanced diet, follow good sleep
habits and exercise for 30 minutes at least five days a week. Healthy lifestyle choices can
decrease your anxiety.
OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS
What can I expect if I have a diagnosis of claustrophobia?
Without treatment, a phobia can last a lifetime and can isolate you from people and social
activities.
Fortunately, phobias are very treatable. Psychotherapy — exposure therapy in particular — helps
as many as 90% of people committed to practicing the techniques they learn. You may notice
improvements within weeks to a few months.
LIVING WITH
Having claustrophobia, what can I do to better prepare myself for an MRI
imaging test?
Tell your healthcare provider you have claustrophobia at your first medical appointment. They
may prescribe a medication to take shortly before your test to help calm your nerves. Depending
on the area of your body being examined, there may be other options during an MRI scan. Ask if
an open MRI machine is available and could be an option for your exam.
Know that a calming light breeze will blow on your face, a headset is available to block out noise
or to listen to music during your scan, and you’ll have a panic button if you feel uncomfortable
and wish to be removed from the machine at any time. Also, your technician will talk to you
throughout the scan. Other tips to keep yourself calm include:
It may be time to see your healthcare provider if your intense fear of enclosed spaces:
Interferes with your daily activities, including functioning at work or school.
Keeps you away from activities or special events with family and friends.
Consumes your thoughts most of the time.
Keeps you up at night.
It may be comforting to know that many people have phobias. Your healthcare provider is ready
to help you. The good news is that claustrophobia is a treatable condition. With treatment and
your commitment to practice the techniques you learn in therapy, you can learn to cope with
your triggers, manage your fear of confined spaces and enjoy your life.