Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Claustrophobia?SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Claustrophobia?
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Claustrophobia is a specific phobia of confined, tight, enclosed, or crowded spaces.
A person who is claustrophobic experiences intense fear and anxiety when triggered. This can lead to avoidance of situations that may trigger fear and have negative effects on quality of life, including avoiding some healthcare procedures.
This article discusses claustrophobia. It explores what it feels like to be claustrophobic and settings that trigger claustrophobia symptoms. It also explains how claustrophobia is diagnosed and treatments to help you overcome a fear of confined spaces.
Laura Porter / Verywell
Claustrophobia is a type of specific phobia. Specific phobias are classified as anxiety disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation that is out of proportion to the actual danger posed. The fear and avoidance cause significant distress or impairment.
For someone with claustrophobia, this means experiencing intense and irrational fear in a confined orcrowded situationthat is otherwise safe.
If you have claustrophobia, know that you are not alone. Approximately 7.4% of people will experience a specific phobia, such as claustrophobia, in their lifetime.
Anyone of any age can develop claustrophobia, but there are some factors that will heighten your risk. Specific phobias, including claustrophobia, are more common in women.A 1987 study of 40 people with claustrophobia identified 20 years as the average age of onset, but more research is required to confirm that.
What’s the Difference Between Claustrophobia and Cleithrophobia?Cleithrophobia, the fear of being trapped, is often confused with claustrophobia. While the two sound similar, cleithrophobia relates to situations, whereas claustrophobia relates to space. A claustrophobic person may feel trapped or locked in, even if they are free to leave. A cleithrophobic person, on the other hand, can handle tight spaces but will panic if confined or locked in, even if the location is spacious.
What’s the Difference Between Claustrophobia and Cleithrophobia?
Cleithrophobia, the fear of being trapped, is often confused with claustrophobia. While the two sound similar, cleithrophobia relates to situations, whereas claustrophobia relates to space. A claustrophobic person may feel trapped or locked in, even if they are free to leave. A cleithrophobic person, on the other hand, can handle tight spaces but will panic if confined or locked in, even if the location is spacious.
What Are the Symptoms of Claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia symptoms include:
People with claustrophobia typically understand that their response is irrational, but feel unable to control their reaction. They often feel compelled to look for the exits in any space they enter or stand near the door at a gathering.
They may begin to avoid situations that they believe trigger their claustrophobia, such as:
Over time, this avoidance, in addition to the physical and emotional symptoms, can have a significant impairment of daily life.
What Are the Causes of Claustrophobia?
Scientists are unsure of the exact causes of claustrophobia, which likely differ from person to person. There are, however, a few theories on the causes of specific phobias, and claustrophobia in particular.
Specific phobias, such as claustrophobia, are associated with overactivation of certain brain regions. These include theamygdala, left insula, right thalamus, and cerebellum.
Claustrophobia TriggersClaustrophobia triggers can include the following places:Locked roomMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Crowded elevatorWindowless roomCar washRoad tunnelPublic bathroomRevolving doorsAirplanes
Claustrophobia Triggers
Claustrophobia triggers can include the following places:Locked roomMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Crowded elevatorWindowless roomCar washRoad tunnelPublic bathroomRevolving doorsAirplanes
Claustrophobia triggers can include the following places:
Childhood Trauma
Mental health professionals believe that environmental factors, such as childhood trauma, can contribute to the development of claustrophobia.This could include experiences like being trapped in a confined space, bullying, or abuse.
Near Space Perception
Genetics
There also may be a genetic cause behind claustrophobia. A 2013 study found that a mutation of the GPM6A gene is more frequent in individuals with claustrophobia.
How Is Claustrophobia Diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will review any fear that:
To diagnose claustrophobia, your healthcare provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and your history. These questions can help identify or rule out related disorders such as social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or panic disorder.
There are no physical or laboratory tests for claustrophobia, but your healthcare provider might administer standardized evaluations and questionnaires. These could include the Claustrophobia Scale or the Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ).
To be diagnosed with claustrophobia, your healthcare provider must find that you meet the DSM-5 standards for specific phobia.
How Is Claustrophobia Treated?
It is important to seek treatment for claustrophobia in order to get back to living your life to its fullest. Treatment methods might include psychotherapy, medication, exposure therapy, virtual reality, and alternative therapies.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a common treatment for specific phobias like claustrophobia. In exposure therapy, you are exposed to the triggering stimulus, which for those with claustrophobia would be a confined, enclosed situation.
By gradually confronting the frightening stimulus with therapeutic support instead of avoiding it, you learn coping mechanisms. Through exposure, the brain may actually rewire fear pathways. A 2007 study found that exposure therapy normalized the over-activation in the amygdala among participants with specific phobias.
A randomized controlled trial found that not only was exposure therapy effective at clinically improving claustrophobia, but it was comparable to CBT (80% exposure therapy group clinical improvement compared to 79% CBT group).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a central treatment for claustrophobia and other specific phobias and anxiety disorders.In CBT, you are taught to become aware of your thoughts and reactions, and positively change your behaviors.
A 2000 randomized controlled trial found that five sessions of CBT were effective at clinically improving claustrophobia symptoms and that benefits were maintained at the one-year mark.A 2008 case study found that CBT helped a claustrophobic patient with cancer better cope with claustrophobic situations such as MRI and radiography.
Medication
In addition to CBT, medication is a treatment option for claustrophobia. Your healthcare provider might recommend anxiety medications, such asbenzodiazepinesorselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Paxil (paroxetine) or Lexapro (escitalopram).
Before starting a new medication, discuss your existing medications, vitamins, and supplements with your healthcare provider to identify and avoid any potential interactions.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is another way to engage in exposure therapy for claustrophobia. VR involves using a computer-generated environment to simulate a claustrophobic situation. One example is the “Claustrophobia Game,” developed and studied in 2018, which has both MRI and elevator scenarios.
Research does support the use of virtual reality in treating claustrophobia, although more research is needed. A 2000 study of four participants with claustrophobia found that after eight VR exposure sessions, all participants had reduced fear, reduced avoidance, and improved self-efficacy in claustrophobia situations.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis may be an effective alternative treatment for claustrophobia although it has not been widely studied.
Among people with claustrophobia, hypnosis has largely been studied in relation to MRIs. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is performed in a long, enclosed tube that induces claustrophobia in many people. Avoiding MRI use can have negative health consequences.
A 1990 study found that medical hypnosis enabled 10 patients with claustrophobia to complete an MRI procedure.A 1999 case study also found that hypnosis enabled a patient to complete an MRI procedure without claustrophobia.
Tips for Coping With Claustrophobia
If you only experience symptoms when exposed to a claustrophobic situation, you might think avoiding triggers is the easiest way to cope. Unfortunately, prolonged avoidance can actually worsen symptoms and have a profound negative impact on your life.
Instead, you can learn ways to calm your anxiety when faced with enclosed spaces. The following tips can help you cope with claustrophobic situations:
Summary
Claustrophobia is a fear of confined or crowded spaces. It is a specific phobia that causes panic when exposed to enclosed spaces, like airplanes, elevators, or tunnels. The panic can cause people to avoid situations that may trigger symptoms. In the long run, however, avoidance will only make it worse.
If you experience panic related to being in tight spaces, talk to your healthcare provider. If claustrophobia is stopping you from medical tests, like an MRI, short-term anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed. For long-term relief, exposure therapy, CBT, and hypnosis can help you learn to manage your anxiety and cope with claustrophobia.
Know that many people experience a phobia during their lifetime and treatment is available for claustrophobia. If your symptoms are impacting your daily life, talk to your healthcare provider about options.
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