A 47-year-old member asked:
how does one overcome claustrophobia?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Phobias: Cognitive behavior therapy with a trained counselor/therapist can help. Also behavior modification using exposure-response prevention-desensitization technique is helpful. Meditation & imagery work is also of help. Discuss all such options with the therapist.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Agree with Dr. Ali: For Phobias consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Psychotherapy, Exposure therapy (imaginal exposure therapy, systematic desensitization, flooding, prolonged exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy) or hypnosis as possible options. Psychotropic medications are some times indicated as well.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 36-year-old member asked:
Can claustrophobia be turned off?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Missid Ghanemanswered
Clinical Psychology 25 years experience
YES!: Treatment for claustrophobia can be very successful... It usually involves psychotherapy & medication.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
How can I help my claustrophobia using meds?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mary Efremovanswered
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
Behavior therapy: This is a phobia and cognitive therapy with antianxiety medicines can help. It is done by many psychiatrists. Sometimes antidepressants are used as well for this condition.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
What causes claustrophobia?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Chavezanswered
Clinical Psychology 37 years experience
Being enclosed: Claustraphobia is a fear of being enclosed usually is small places. Classical conditioning theory helps explain. It is likely you had a prior experience of being enclosed in a small place such as a closet, elevator, etc. That elicited an intense fear response. As such, this fear response reoccurs whenever you feel trapped or in any enclosed space. Claustraphobia is usually easily treated.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
What are the main causes of cclaustrophobia?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Trauma: Many cases of claustrophobia can be tracked back to one of more childhood experiences involving enclosed spaces.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
How does claustrophobia first develop?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Claustrophobia: Exact cause is unknown but theories are;
1. Classical conditioning from earlier traumatic experiences.
2. Amygdala (structure in brain for fight-flight response) is malfunctioning.
3. Genetic predisposition.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Aug 4, 2014
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