What is it?
Claustrophobia is usually defined as the irrational fear of confined spaces. It can be rational to fear being trapped when circumstances carry genuine threat. However, in claustrophobia, people experience fear even when there is no obvious or realistic danger in a particular situation. People who experience claustrophobia generally go out of their way to avoid a long list of confined spaces, including lifts, tunnels, tube trains, revolving doors, public toilets, MRI scanners, and even don’t like to wear crash helmets. Unfortunately, avoidance may reinforce the fear. Claustrophobia may arise from a one-off trauma at any age, developed when the person was a child (for example growing up with one or more claustrophobic parents) or emerge as someone gets older. Around 10% of the population may experience claustrophobia during their lifetime.
Claustrophobia Fact Sheet
To find out more information about claustrophobia, click here to download a copy of our fact sheet.
DIY self diagnosis
If you can answer YES to most of the questions it is likely that you are affected by claustrophobia.
During the past 6 months:-
Did any of the following make you feel anxious:
- Being in a confined space such as being in a tunnel, on the underground etc.?
- Being in crowded places?
- Did you avoid being in any of the above situations?
How we can help
Anxiety UK is a user-led charity with more than forty years experience in supporting those living with anxiety. By becoming a member of Anxiety UK, you will have access to a range of benefits, including:
- Access to reduced cost therapy within two weeks of submitting your therapy request
- Access to our helpline (available Monday-Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm) staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety
- Receipt of four issues of Anxious Times, our quarterly members” magazine
- Access to the members only section of our website, featuring regular support surgeries facilitated by anxiety experts
- Access to specialist helplines, including the psychiatric pharmacy helpline and the psychology information helpline
And many, many other benefits that will help you manage your anxiety long term. To become a member of Anxiety UK click here or ring 08444 775 774 today.
Want to know more
The Anxiety UK site has information on a range of resources to provide more detailed information and help.
Recommended reading
“Claustrophobia: Finding Your Way” out is a self help book written by an individual who has lived with claustrophobia. It is available to purchase in the Anxiety UK online shop, you can access it by clicking here.
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Oasis Open MRI
Have you been referred for an MRI scan by your doctor? Is the thought of lying in a narrow, restricted scanning tunnel in a traditional MRI system causing you to feel intense anxiety and panic?
A significant milestone in the development of patient friendly MRI is the Oasis – the UK”s first High Field and Open MRI.
- “Open” means it provides a 270° angle of vision offering an unrestricted outlook and a more spacious environment.
- “High Field” means superior technology, ensuring first class image quality with fast scanning times keeping the study times shorter.
- Highly trained, sympathetic staff will gently guide you through the scan, taking time to explain the procedure helping to allay any concerns whilst ensuring that audio and visual contact is maintained for reassurance.
If you would like further information on Oasis High Field and Open MRI from Hitachi and how it can help the claustrophobic patient please email d.spencer@hitachi-medical-systems.com or telephone 0844 800 4294 or read an advertorial from the winter 2010 edition of Anxious Times.
This page has been sponsored by Hitachi.
Personal experiences
Do you suffer from claustrophobia and want to share your experience with other people? Post your personal experience in the comments box below where it will be sent to our moderator for approval. Many people find this part of the site very useful when trying to understand their disorder so your comments really do make a difference. Please note, all comments submitted to the Anxiety UK website may be used by Anxiety UK for (but not limited to) publicity and promotional material.
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Reading the above comments gives me some comfort that is just not me!
I cannot even think about getting in a lift – I will always opt for the stairs. I can travel on trains and planes but have weeks of anxiety before doing so and I am close to a panic attack on each occasion but so far have managed to control it – but only because no delays have occured or problems.
For me, this started when I was on my early 20′s – I use to use the lift, travel on planes and trains without even thinking about it and I so wish I could be the ‘old’ me. My partner and anyone I talk to cannot relate to it at all and I feel embarressed when I do talk about it cos my reasoning behind it is illogical and I can hear myself sounding ‘nuts’.
I have been to the doctor and was prescribed Valium for a recent plane trip – too be honest it made no difference! I have also tried the self medicating with a few drinks beforehand – not that I would recommend that!! Sometimes it has calmed me down, but dependant on state of mind, it has made me worse on some occasions! I had to do a plane trip yesterday – the actual flying doesnt affect me, but what does is when they close the doors for take off and I know then that I’m stuck until they re-open. The end of the flight is awful for me, due to the wait time of the door being opened and everyone standing up doesnt help. Luckily the plane yesterday had built in stairs so pretty much as soon as it landed, the doors were opened. I hate the planes, where the stairs have to be delivered because it’s more time just waiting for that knock and then they open the door. I thought I would logically read into how planes operate and this would probably help – boy was I wrong! I read about how if the plane is still pressurized after it has landed, the doors won’t open at all! So now I am thinking there will be a de-prezzurization problem after it’s landed and we won’t be able to get off – the chance of this happening is slim I know, but because I tried to learn the background to it to put my mind at rest, it’s made it even worse!! A lift also is a big no-no, because to me, if it does get stuck, you are completely reliant on someone else getting you out and there is nothing you can do. The very thought turns my stomach. Even writing this, I can hear myself and think, there is something really odd about the way I think but I just can’t help it.
People ask me what has happened for me to be like that and I honestly can’t remember any trigger. I was also stuck in a loo for a short period when I was about 7, but soon got out and I used planes, trains, lifts daily all the way up to my late 20′s and then it hit me like a ton of bricks and I haven’t been able to get back to the old me.
I have read books on clasutraphobia and anxiety and I’m afraid they were no help. Last thing for me to try is hypnotherapy – I am willing to try it because I want to get back to my old life and live without this fear.
For me, I am unsure if I am actually claustraphobic or just hate being out of control – probably a bit of both. Thanks for reading. At least we are not the only people in the world feeling like this, although sometimes when I look around on the plane / train, I feel I’m the only one!
Hi
I developed claustrophobia probably in my 40s. I do not not know why this developed except I do remember being stuck in a toilet cubicle when I was due to take an assembly! Fortunately , the walls weren’t floor to ceiling and I could climb up and attract attention over the top of the door! I have since been stuck for a short time in a fully sealed toilet and immediately started to panic ,turn red and perspire.
Since then I always avoided lifts and used the stairs but over the years I have forced myself to use lifts more regularly. As long as there is plenty of space I can cope reasonably well but it is waiting for the doors to open when I reach the required floor that makes my heartrate increase. What must seem like 2 seconds to most people, seems like forever to me. I was really tested recently when I went up the 150 plus floors of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. I approached the lift in a long queue ( leaving a space in front of me) feeling as positive as I could but when I reached the area closer to it and observed how many people were expected to be packed in ( in my opinion!) I felt sick and my husband said that I went grey! I had to really talk myself out of backing out but the fact that I had booked this from England on the internet weeks before prevented me from doing so. I went in and tried to leave as much space around me as possible and watched the numbers changing relatively quickly as we ascended. I made it and the views were fantastic. At the back of my mind, however, was the return journey! Fortunately, there were only 4 of us in the lift this time and I was fine. Still had the wait for the doors to open though.
I am fine on planes until the time you are waiting for the doors to open. When everyone leaps up to get their cases from the overhead lockers I have to stand up.
I really hope that I never have to have an MRI scan. I will have to find a way around that when/if it comes!!
I believe that you can overcome some of the problems but for me, when other people are crowding around you or you are indeed stuck in a confined space and have little control over the situation that is when the panic sets in.
Hi Marilyn
I understand your rationale and it’s not ideal to be stuck in a confined space. Perhaps I can help you understand the vicious cycle. Below is a link to a diagram that will help you understand your anxiety. I would like you to think of a time when you were really anxious and stressed out about using the toilet, and I want you to fill in these boxes.
http://www.gregdorter.com/toronto-therapist-blog/images/cbt-model.jpg
Once you have filled in these boxes, you can see that your thoughts, feelings, physical symptoms and behaviour are linked to each other. Avoidance will only reinforce the anxiety and make more difficult to treat in the future. You need to break this vicious cycle and encourage yourself to think and act more positively. I would recommend talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or Clinical hypnotherapy. You can find out more about them here http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/what-kind-of-treatment-is-best-for-me/
Best regards
Volunteer
Hi
I have also had a long time fear of confined spaces and I also work in London and have the same issues with the tube, lifts and most recently overland trains have become a problem, I do not however mind airplanes!!
Interestingly like one of the other comments made here I am also much better in situations where there are fewer people or there is no one with me at all and I then can then use a lift or the tube in these situations but not easily. However if a number of people get on the tube or into a lift I have to exit pretty quickly!!
Also no problem with the Tube or lifts when I have had a few drinks…..not suggesting this is a solution just an observation!
I am resolved to rid myself of this problem and I have started going to buildings with a lift, then sending the lift to the top with me still at the bottom and counting the time it takes for the lift to reach the top and then calling it back, I then get in the lift go to the top counting as the lift moves. The counting firstly acts as a distraction but more importantly helps me manage my stress as I know how long it should take for the lift to reach the top. Also I find the return journey down is much easier to deal with. I also try and do this a number of times and the whole process becomes much more pleasant.
You can of course just stand and watch the lift going up and down whilst others use it and from the floor indicator outside the lift and by counting see how long it takes to reach each floor before using it yourself. Through this process I have managed to move my problem on a phase and lifts are not the same issue they once were, it is not a complete cure but it has helped a lot.
But I am not sure if I would ever use a crowded lift or tube but who knows I am determined to try and get there.
One other point I also decided to be honest with people about my problem including colleagues, clients etc. and I have been amazed how accommodating many people are most people have their own phobias and can relate to your problem even if they don’t share it.
I hope some of this helps it is very debilitating but I do believe it can be controlled….good luck!