I had the opportunity to see a very heartwarming stage production of A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Orlando Family Stage last weekend. I am reminded of my favorite sketch where Lucy, for 5 cents, sits at her psychiatric booth and runs through a laundry list of phobias to help Charlie Brown figure out which one is to blame for his lack of holiday spirit. Her list includes climacophobia- a fear of staircases, hypengyophobia- a fear of responsibility, and Charlie Brown’s ultimate diagnosis, pantophobia- a fear of everything.
While this cute little sketch pokes light fun of “phobias” that as many as 9% of us have, such as gephyrophobia- the fear of crossing bridges (have you ever driven across the Sunshine Skyway bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida?!), emetophobia- the fear of vomiting, or hemophobia- fear of the sight of blood, true phobias can absolutely paralyze an individual to the point where they impact daily functioning, and this requires treatment.
Perhaps the most common life-altering phobia is agoraphobia- an intense fear of being in places or situations that may cause feelings of panic, entrapment, hopelessness, or embarrassment. In the most severe cases, people who suffer from agoraphobia are incapable of leaving their homes and doing so results in severe anxiety and panic attacks. As many as 1.3% of individuals suffer from agoraphobia.
The good news is that agoraphobia and other phobias are treatable conditions, but it takes some dedication and willingness to confront your fears. Through therapy, and sometimes medication management, many people are able to get back to doing the things they love after years of reclusive behaviors. If you think you may have agoraphobia, please seek help. There is a lot of life to be lived beyond your front door.