The fear of open spaces can be treated
Agoraphobia is a very real and overwhelming condition, but the good news is: it is treatable. If you suffer from the fear of open spaces or crowded places, there is fast and effective help available. In this article, you will learn what agoraphobia really is and how modern therapeutic approaches, including hypnotherapy and NLP, can help you overcome it.
What is agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that belongs to the group of specific phobias. Specific phobias are irrational fears triggered by very specific objects or situations.
Even the thought of the feared situation can trigger:
racing heart
trembling
dry mouth
difficulty breathing
muscle tension
People suffering from agoraphobia often fear being in situations where it would be difficult to quickly return to a safe place or where help might not be available. The word “Agora” comes from Greek and means “marketplace”.
Which situations trigger agoraphobia?
Typical situations and places that people with agoraphobia avoid include:
Large crowds (e.g., stadiums)
Public places (bus stops, shopping malls, train stations)
Traveling long distances, especially alone
Agoraphobia and panic attacks
Agoraphobia can appear on its own or in combination with panic attacks. Panic attacks may also occur independently.
When panic attacks are present, the person often fears experiencing another attack in the same location. This avoidance behavior strengthens the agoraphobia and leads to even more restriction in daily life.
How does agoraphobia develop together with panic attacks?
One important theory is called the “fear of fear” cycle. People with panic disorder often monitor their body closely, worrying about sensations like irregular heartbeat or dizziness.
The problem:
The body naturally reacts to fear with a faster heartbeat (fight-or-flight response).
Monitoring these changes (e.g., checking blood pressure) creates even more anxiety.
This fear leads to faster breathing or breath-holding, causing an imbalance of oxygen.
The result is a panic attack, often with dizziness and even fainting.
Agoraphobia therapy – why hypnosis works so well
In Agoraphobie Therapie, unconscious mental “movies” often play a central role. These inner images and memories are closely connected with anxiety and panic.
For example, one of my clients imagined himself walking down a long street, losing balance, and stumbling. This mental film was his unconscious trigger – and once we addressed it in hypnosis, his fear dissolved.
Hypnotherapy is effective because it accesses the unconscious mind through a trance state. In this state, clients often relive imagined experiences that feel real, but which can be transformed therapeutically.
How I use hypnotherapy and NLP in agoraphobia therapy
Together, we first explore your personal situation in detail, identifying conscious and unconscious triggers that fuel your fear spiral. Using NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) techniques, we can reframe and dissolve the negative mental movies that maintain your phobia.
In clinical hypnotherapy, we give positive suggestions to your unconscious mind, helping you reconnect with situations and places that used to cause anxiety – this time with calmness and a sense of safety.
⚠️ Important: This is not exposure therapy. You will not be forced to face your fears directly by revisiting anxiety-inducing places. Instead, we work on the root cause at the unconscious level, so that you naturally regain confidence and freedom.
Conclusion – Effective agoraphobia therapy Is possible
Agoraphobia and panic attacks can feel overwhelming, but they are not permanent. With the right therapeutic approach, especially with hypnotherapy and NLP, you can break free from the fear cycle and reclaim your independence.