RP392 Trapped in a Small Space

RP392 Trapped in a Small Space
Were you ever trapped in a small space as a child? Did you ever find yourself accidentally locked in a dark room or fall into a deep pool with no way out? For many people, these kinds of terrifying childhood experiences do not fade away with time. Instead they can leave behind a sometimes crippling condition called claustrophobia.
Claustrophobia is the irrational fear of confined spaces. Sufferers can become extremely panicked at even the thought of entering such a small space. Entering an elevator, taking the subway, or sitting on an airplane are all situations that can fill sufferers with a deep sense of terror. It is estimated that six percent of the world's population suffers from claustrophobia, though only a small number see any kind of treatment.
Claustrophobia occurs because the mind associates small spaces with that terrible childhood memory of being trapped, triggering a hysterical reaction whenever a confined space is encountered. This usually results in a panic attack which can cause the sufferer to sweat, feel light-headed or sick, begin to shake, and sometimes even faint.
For extreme sufferers, this condition can cause serious problems in their social lives, and often results in the sufferer deliberately avoiding certain situations because he or she fears experiencing a panic attack. Sufferers can also become depressed, feeling their lives are dominated by fear. They can become afraid of being in a crowded room at a party, and in some very extreme cases even fear a closed door.
One branch of research has suggested that claustrophobia is, in fact, a fear that's hidden in all of us. Fearing dangerous confined spaces was actually an important evolutionary advantage in early humans, and so we are now naturally prone to this kind of phobia.
The most effective treatment for claustrophobia has been exposure therapy. This kind of therapy gradually exposes the sufferer to the thing that they fear. The first session may introduce the subject to an elevator, convincing them that there is nothing to fear at being inside. Then the therapist gradually exposes the patient to smaller and smaller spaces until the subject is completely comfortable in even the most confined spaces.