What does cleithrophobia mean

I am sure that there were many of us in the past couple of years that were overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the lockdowns put in place due to the pandemic.

Cleithrophobia is the fear of being trapped, locked in, or unable to leave. It is categorized as a specific phobia, a classification of anxiety disorders in which people experience irrational fear in response to certain objects and situations that pose little or no real danger. Cleithrophobia can often be the result of traumatic experiences such as being locked in a closet, the trunk of a car, or getting trapped in a tunnel or stuck in an elevator. As with most phobias, cleithrophobia can elicit a panic-like response. Individuals can experience physical symptoms that include the following:. They may also experience intense feelings of dread when thinking about being trapped. Those feelings can elicit responses such as crying, freezing, getting angry or aggressive, or even trying to run or escape the situation.

What does cleithrophobia mean

But there are also people in the world who develop severe fears about places, things, certain animals or even imaginary situations. Cleithrophobia, also known as Cleisiophobia, is one such extreme fear which is the deep fear of being trapped in an enclosed or small space. The word Cleithrophobia is a combination of two Greek words namely kleisto meaning closed and phobos meaning deep fear or aversion. People with this phobia have an irrational fear of being trapped even though they know logically that such a situation is highly improbable. In this guide, we will study the fear of being trapped in detail. Nearly 19 million Americans are known to experience some kind of specific phobia and Cleisiophobia is one of them. Most phobias come out of the blue; they start off due to a traumatic event in childhood. Doctors also believe that a combination of genetic tendencies, brain chemicals and biological, psychological and environmental factors can all trigger a phobia. A full blown panic attack is no fun to experience-it can be very intense and the phobic may cry, scream, shiver, faint. This can further stress the phobic out and even lead to feelings of lack of control. The situation can sometimes spiral out of control becoming a vicious cycle of fear of loss of control to panic attack to fear of loss of control and so on. The good thing about most phobias is that they are treatable provided one takes the correct approach. Often an integrated treatment plan helps. Following are some steps that a phobic and his family members can take to get better and eliminate panic attacks:.

The panic can cause people to avoid situations that may trigger symptoms. For severe anxiety, medications may be used, but they should be used as last resort as most medicines have some side effects. Learn more.

Cleithrophobia is a well-understood and treatable problem. Learn more. Cleithrophobia is a fear of being trapped. Cleithrophobia can affect adults or children. The disorder involves significant symptoms of fear or anxiety when one is actually trapped, fears being trapped, or thinks about being trapped. These symptoms can include:.

Claustrophobia is a fear of confined spaces. It is triggered by many situations or stimuli , including elevators , especially when crowded to capacity, windowless rooms, and hotel rooms with closed doors and sealed windows. Even bedrooms with a lock on the outside, small cars, and tight-necked clothing can induce a response in those with claustrophobia. It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder , which often results in panic attacks. The onset of claustrophobia has been attributed to many factors, including a reduction in the size of the amygdala , classical conditioning , or a genetic predisposition to fear small spaces. One study indicates that anywhere from five to ten percent of the world population is affected by severe claustrophobia, but only a small percentage of these people receive some kind of treatment for the disorder. Claustrophobia is classified as an anxiety disorder.

What does cleithrophobia mean

Cleithrophobia is a well-understood and treatable problem. Learn more. Cleithrophobia is a fear of being trapped. Cleithrophobia can affect adults or children. The disorder involves significant symptoms of fear or anxiety when one is actually trapped, fears being trapped, or thinks about being trapped. These symptoms can include:. It can be quite challenging to tell the difference between cleithrophobia and claustrophobia.

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Exposure is an essential component of the therapeutic process. See Our Editorial Process. Free Personality Test. Most phobias come out of the blue; they start off due to a traumatic event in childhood. Modern methods have drastically increased the potency of some forms of marijuana, leading to higher risk of psychosis. A doctor or mental health professional will ask questions about your symptoms to make a diagnosis. Mil Med. I have this phobia. One can also try treatments like cognitive behavior therapy, neurolinguistic programming, exposure therapy etc. Trauma is another factor that can lead to a fear of being trapped. Read comments from others dealing with this phobia or share your own experiences below. National Health Service. The individual would be asked to engage in this activity, while practicing their relaxation and coping strategies. Cleithrophobia, also known as Cleisiophobia, is one such extreme fear which is the deep fear of being trapped in an enclosed or small space.

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cleithrophobia is a specific phobia involving the fear of being trapped. The root word for this phobia is from the Greek cleithro , which means to shut or close.

Greene, Ph. Understanding the phobia and seeking treatment can be the first steps toward living life more freely and without restrictions. In my panic, I threw my phone, and it cracked my windshield! While there is no singular gene nor cluster of genes related to phobias, there are genes related to anxiety. The situation can sometimes spiral out of control becoming a vicious cycle of fear of loss of control to panic attack to fear of loss of control and so on. This can lead to avoidance of situations that may trigger fear and have negative effects on quality of life, including avoiding some healthcare procedures. MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging is performed in a long, enclosed tube that induces claustrophobia in many people. Claustrophobia Fear of small spaces May cause panic when entering small spaces May cause anticipatory anxiety. A person who is claustrophobic experiences intense fear and anxiety when triggered. Hypnosis using a communication device to increase magnetic resonance imaging tolerance with a claustrophobic patient. Cleithrophobia is a well-understood and treatable problem. While to individuals who experience Cleithrophobia overcoming the phobia may seem impossible, it is not! Claustrophobia and Cleithrophobia.