Medically Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on November 09, 2022
Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an intense fear of enclosed spaces. If you get very nervous or upset when you're in a tight place, like an elevator or crowded room, you might have claustrophobia. Some people have claustrophobia symptoms when they're in all types of closed-up areas. Others notice the problem only when they're in certain cramped spaces, like inside an MRI machine. No matter where claustrophobia pops up for you, you can overcome it with the right treatment. Claustrophobia is different for everyone. The anxiety can range from mild nervousness to a full-blown panic attack. For doctors to diagnose the anxiety as a phobia, it has to be serious enough to affect your ability to live a normal life. Being inside an enclosed space can trigger symptoms such as: You may also feel a sense of doom, like you're going to die or the world is going to end. These feelings can be very frightening, even if you're not really in danger. And though you might realize that the fear isn't rational, you may not be able to stop it. Panic attacks are intense and can last 5-30 minutes. Along with shortness of breath and sweating, you may also have chest pain and tightness. These are also the symptoms of a heart attack. If you're not sure whether your problems come from anxiety or a heart problem, get medical help. Claustrophobia is what is classified as a "specific phobia." That's a fear of certain objects, people, or activities. Fear of needles and heights, for example, are two other specific phobias. If you have one, your amygdala, the brain regions that are involved in the fear response, are overactive. Your genes may play a role in claustrophobia. Researchers have found a defect in a gene called GPM6A that they suspect may cause it. If one of your parents has claustrophobia, you're more likely to have it, too.
Sometimes, the fear of enclosed spaces starts after you've had a traumatic childhood event, like: Having another anxiety disorder raises your chances of having claustrophobia, too. Triggers Any confined area can set off your fear, including things like: Just being in a room or a car with the windows shut can set off anxiety in some people. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history, and they’ll give you a physical exam. They’ll take into account any fear that may: Without treatment, you might find that you deal with claustrophobia by avoiding the object of your fear. You might stay away from tight places, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of riding the subway. You might scan every crowded room for the exits or stand close to the door. Some people, if their anxiety is severe enough, may be afraid to leave their homes. Avoiding tight spaces won't make your phobia go away. The first step in getting treatment is to see a psychologist or other mental health specialist. Several types of therapies can help. Support is key when you're trying to overcome a phobia. Talk to your partner, other family members, and friends. You can even ask them to come with you to therapy sessions.
If you're so afraid of enclosed spaces that it affects your daily routine, get help from a mental health professional. You can see a psychologist, therapist, or an anxiety specialist. With the right treatment, you can learn how to control your response to situations you once feared. Claustrophobia can be treated and cured. There are different ways to treat your fear and symptoms so you can have an active and healthy life.
Not sure if this is exactly the place for this post but figured I’d give it a try. I sometimes get this feeling that’s hard to describe, the best thing I can think of is that is feels like I’m claustrophobic in my own skin. I feel very antsy and like I wish I could just take off my skin. It first started a few years ago and would happen mostly when I was trying to go to sleep but sometime it just happens randomly. The last week or two it's been happening every single night and often throughout the day.
When I google this the most common result I get is that it is a symptom of anxiety or a panic attack. I'm not sure though, I'm not generally feeling anxious or worried when it happens, mostly I'm just doing whatever and all of a sudden it hits me. Has anyone experienced this, does it sound like anxiety? If anyone has experienced this do you have a way of dealing with it? It's really starting to drive me crazy.
- What is claustrophobia?
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Causes
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Claustrophobia is a form of anxiety disorder, in which an irrational fear of having no escape or being closed-in can lead to a panic attack.
It is considered a specific phobia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5).
Triggers may include being inside an elevator, a small room without any windows, or even being on an airplane.
Some people have reported that wearing tight-necked clothing can provoke feelings of claustrophobia.
Share on PinterestClaustrophobia is the fear of a closed-in place from which escape would be difficult or impossible.
The word claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means “a closed-in place,” and the Greek word, phobos meaning “fear.”
People with claustrophobia will go to great lengths to avoid small spaces and situations that trigger their panic and anxiety.
They may avoid places like the subway and prefer to take the stairs rather than an elevator, even if many floors are involved.
Up to 5 percent of Americans may experience claustrophobia.
Symptoms may be severe, but many people do not seek treatment.
A psychologist or psychiatrist will ask the patient about their symptoms.
A diagnosis of claustrophobia may emerge during a consultation about another anxiety-related issue.
The psychologist will:
- ask for a description of the symptoms and what triggers them
- try to establish how severe the symptoms are
- rule out other types of anxiety disorder
To establish some details, the doctor may use:
- a claustrophobia questionnaire to help identify the cause of anxiety
- a claustrophobia scale to help establish the levels of anxiety
For a specific phobia to be diagnosed, certain criteria need to be met.
These are:
- a persistent unreasonable or excessive fear caused by the presence or anticipation of a specific situation
- anxiety response when exposed to the stimulus, possibly a panic attack in adults, or, in children, a tantrum, clinging, crying or freezing
- a recognition by adult patients that their fear is out of proportion to the perceived threat or danger
- employing measures to avoid the feared object or situation, or a tendency to face the experiences but with distress or anxiety
- the person’s reaction, anticipation or avoidance interferes with everyday life and relationships or causes significant distress
- the phobia has persisted for some time, usually 6 months or longer
- symptoms cannot be attributed to another mental condition, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder. Symptoms usually appear during childhood or adolescence.
Being in or thinking about being in a confined space can trigger fears of not being able to breathe properly, running out of oxygen, and distress at being restricted.
When anxiety levels reach a certain level, the person may start to experience:
- sweating and chills
- accelerated heart rate and high blood pressure
- dizziness, fainting, and lightheadedness
- dry mouth
- hyperventilation, or “over breathing”
- hot flashes
- shaking or trembling and a sense of “butterflies” in the stomach
- nausea
- headache
- numbness
- a choking sensation
- tightness in the chest, chest pain, and difficulty breathing
- an urge to use the bathroom
- confusion or disorientation
- fear of harm or illness
It is not necessarily the small spaces that trigger the anxiety, but the fear of what can happen to the person if confined to that area.
This is why the person fears running out of oxygen.
Examples of small spaces that could trigger anxiety are:
Share on PinterestClaustrophobia can stem from a feeling of being trapped, and what could happen if they stayed confined to that area.
- elevators or changing rooms in stores
- tunnels, basements, or cellars
- trains and subway trains
- revolving doors
- airplanes
- public toilets
- cars, especially those with central locking
- crowded areas
- automatic car-washes
- some medical facilities, such as MRI scanners
- small rooms, locked rooms, or rooms with windows that do not open
Reactions include:
- checking the exits and staying near them when entering a room
- feeling anxious when all the doors are closed
- staying near the door in a crowded party or gathering
- avoiding driving or traveling as a passenger when traffic is likely to be congested
- using the stairs instead of the elevator, even if this is difficult and uncomfortable
Claustrophobia involves a fear of being restricted or confined to one area, so, having to wait in line at a checkout may also cause it in some people.
Share on PinterestCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used to reduce the frequency and potency of the fear reaction’s triggers.
Following a diagnosis, the psychologist may recommend one or more of the following treatment options.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): The aim is to retrain the patient’s mind so that they no longer feel threatened by the places they fear.
It may involve slowly exposing the patient to small spaces and helping them deal with their fear and anxiety.
Having to face the situation that causes the fear may deter people from seeking treatment.
Observing others: Seeing others interact with the source of fear may reassure the patient.
Drug therapy: Antidepressants and relaxants can help manage symptoms, but will not solve the underlying problem.
Relaxation and visualization exercises: Taking deep breaths, meditating and doing muscle-relaxing exercises can help deal with negative thoughts and anxiety.
Alternative or complementary medicine: Some supplements and natural products may help patients manage panic and anxiety. Some calming oils are available for purchase online, such as lavender oil or “rescue remedies”.
Treatment often lasts around 10 weeks, with sessions twice a week. With appropriate treatment, it is possible to overcome claustrophobia.
Tips for coping
Strategies that can help people cope with claustrophobia include:
- staying put if an attack happens. If driving, this may include pulling over to the side of the road and waiting till symptoms have passed.
- reminding yourself that the frightening thoughts and feelings will pass
- trying to focus on something that is not threatening, for example, the time passing or other people
- breathing slowly and deeply, counting to three on each breath
- challenging the fear by reminding yourself that it is not real
- visualizing positive outcomes and images
Longer-term strategies may include joining a yoga class, working out an exercise program, or booking an aromatherapy massage, to help cope with stress.
Information video
In this video, Stella Lourency, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Emory University, explains that people with higher levels of claustrophobic fear tend to underestimate distances.
Past or childhood experience is often the trigger that causes a person to associate small spaces with a sense of panic or imminent danger.
Experiences that can have this effect may include:
- being trapped or kept in a confined place, by accident or on purpose
- being abused or bullied as a child
- getting separated from parents or friends when in a crowded area
- having a parent with claustrophobia
The trauma experienced at that time will affect the person’s ability to cope with a similar situation rationally in future. This is known as classic conditioning.
The person’s mind is believed to link the small space or confined area with the feeling of being in danger. The body then reacts accordingly, or in a way that seems logical.
Classic conditioning can also be inherited from parents or peers. If a parent, for example, has a fear of being close in, the child may observe their behavior and develop the same fears.
Possible genetic or physical factors
Other theories that may explain claustrophobia include:
Having a smaller amygdala: This is the part of the brain that controls how the body processes fear.
Genetic factors: A dormant evolutionary survival mechanism causes reactions that are no longer needed in today’s world.
Mouse studies have indicated that a single gene may cause some individuals to have a greater degree of “resident-intruder stress.”
One group of researchers has suggested that people who experience claustrophobia perceive things as being nearer than they are, and that this triggers a defense mechanism.
Last medically reviewed on June 23, 2017
- Depression
- Mental Health
- Anxiety / Stress
- Psychology / Psychiatry
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