What is claustrophobia?
Disease description:
My child is five years old. I've noticed that while other children enjoy playing with cylindrical slides and crawling through small playhouses, my child starts crying uncontrollably as soon as he enters them. I did a quick search online and found that this might be claustrophobia. I'd like to consult a doctor about what exactly claustrophobia is.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Claustrophobia, also known as closed-space phobia, is a specific anxiety disorder that falls under the category of phobias. This condition commonly involves fear of enclosed, dark, or crowded environments such as basements, elevators, airplanes, trains, and ships. Individuals with claustrophobia may experience anxiety, tension, or fear upon entering these spaces. These reactions go far beyond the discomfort that most people might feel and can trigger intense psychological and physical responses, such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, nausea, dizziness, or even panic attacks. These symptoms are primarily caused by psychological fear, leading patients to hyperventilate and feel as if they are suffocating. Additionally, patients may feel fearful because they cannot quickly escape such environments, further intensifying their anxiety.
The causes of claustrophobia are diverse, involving multiple factors including personality and genetic traits, environmental influences, psychological factors, biological elements, and family upbringing. For example, individuals with sensitive, suspicious, or introverted personalities are more prone to panic, while prolonged exposure to confined spaces or adverse developmental environments may also increase the risk of developing claustrophobia.
