Your child may be a bit active or even mischievous compared to their peers. You may not be able to cope with this egg, and you may have punished him for a few hours by locking him in his room. But did you know that this situation can cause much bigger problems in the future?
With you today; According to studies, we open the claustrophobia file, which has a prevalence of up to 5% worldwide and can even result in death if not treated.
Origin and scientific definition of the word claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is translated into Turkish as the most common “fear of enclosed spaces”. The word originates from the French words “Claustrophobia” and the Latin words “Clastrum” meaning “closed place”.
Claustrophobia, popularly known as “fear of being in an enclosed space”, is scientifically defined as “anxiety disorder”. Individuals with claustrophobia are called “claustrophobic individuals”.
Origin and underlying causes of claustrophobia
Claustrophobia generally begins in childhood or adolescence. There are currently no clear explanations of science about the occurrence of claustrophobia. The theories put forward in general, on the other hand, sound logical, although they have not been proven yet.
The most important development proved so far about claustrophobia; The reason is that some parts of the brain of claustrophobic individuals are in excessive activation. Let’s examine together the scientific theories produced about the reason for this over-activation.
The main cause of claustrophobia: Childhood traumas
Many specialist psychiatrists state that as a result of the negative effects of individuals from their families or close circles in childhood, if there is a predisposition in their genes, they may become claustrophobic individuals in the future. For example, a child who is locked in a room for punishment in childhood, if genetically predisposed, may unfortunately become a claustrophobic individual in later ages.
near field perception
According to the theory; The brain neurons of claustrophobic individuals function differently than other people’s brain neurons. The difference is explained as follows; A claustrophobic individual has a wider perception of personal space, and the inability to have this space triggers reactions.
Genetic predisposition, as in many cases
In a study conducted in 2013, it was determined that the mutation rate in the GMP6A gene was more common in claustrophobic individuals.
Just a few of the situations that claustrophobic individuals have difficulty with
Claustrophobic individuals have great anxiety about being alone, especially in closed spaces. At the beginning of these closed areas are elevators, planes, caves and closed rooms. Maybe slim fit clothes, which are normal for most people, are one of the triggers for claustrophobic individuals.
Subways, trains, tunnels, narrow cars, every busy environment, video scanning rooms in hospitals, trial rooms in stores, revolving doors, dental clinic chairs and many other environments that we may not even think of are like torture for claustrophobic individuals.
What do claustrophobic individuals experience during the reaction?
While some claustrophobic individuals get great reactions when they stay indoors, some small reactions are received from some claustrophobic individuals. You see, there is no standard for response. reaction in some people; It can lead to panic attacks, heart attacks and, unfortunately, death.
Claustrophobic individuals in general at the time of reaction; may sweat, tremble, have difficulty breathing, have a high heart rate, experience chest tightness, or experience lightheadedness or fainting. If the reactions continue, it can result in a heart attack and, unfortunately, death.
Is it possible to treat claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia, although it varies according to the individual and conditions; It can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, exposure therapy, virtual reality therapy or personalized treatments. Medication and psychotherapy are the treatments we are used to, but we can briefly talk about exposure therapy and virtual reality treatment.
In exposure therapy, the individual is gradually left alone with the areas of phobia and is expected to overcome this phobia on his own. In virtual reality treatment; As the name suggests, the individual makes a virtual visit to the areas where he has a phobia and it is expected that the individual will overcome the phobia over time.
Have you ever heard of claustrophobia? Have you ever been in the same environment with a claustrophobic individual or witnessed a reaction? You can share your thoughts in the comments.
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