Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person is afraid of being in places that are difficult to leave quickly and where one may be left without help. A person suffering from agoraphobia is often afraid of public transport, traveling in a car, especially in traffic jams, theater halls, and supermarkets. Agoraphobia is characterized by panic attacks in frightening situations. In severe cases, the person is afraid to leave the house. Avoidance behavior is very characteristic of agoraphobia - a person does not go to places where he is afraid, and if he goes, it is not alone, but accompanied by a reliable, strong loved one. It is characteristic of many agoraphobic patients that the presence of a loved one seems to provide a guarantee of safety and greatly alleviates the symptoms. Accompanied by a loved one, a person usually copes well with all frightening situations. As a result, a person leads his social life in close interaction with someone close to him. For example, a husband accompanies his wife whenever she leaves the house on business. It would seem that this creates a lot of problems for the family - it is not always easy to find the opportunity to accompany a loved one everywhere, and you don’t always want to go where he needs to go. A person with agoraphobia suffers from a lack of autonomy, from the inability to independently solve their problems and the problems of their family. It seems that a patient with agoraphobia is a heavy burden for the family. But is this always the case? And if you imagine - and this very often happens - that for a healthy spouse it is very important to constantly feel important and irreplaceable? Or is constant control over your significant other very important? If he is jealous and does not feel safe with a healthy, confident, independent wife? Is this how he wants her to be cured? Will it promote her autonomy and support her overcoming avoidant behavior? After all, a spouse with agoraphobia is guaranteed to be either at home or with him. Moreover, when she is with him, she feels gratitude for the fact that he accompanies her. On the other hand, a family member suffering from agoraphobia may be in dire need of care, for example, having experienced a lack of care in childhood. The symptom allows you to “legally” receive this care. Often a symptom of a mental disorder cements a family. Spouses complement each other complementarily - one feels constant support, care and support, and the other feels his importance, irreplaceability and strength. In the case when a family member suffering from agoraphobia nevertheless goes for treatment and is cured, this can be a serious test for the family, which loses its usual ways of interacting. Sometimes family psychotherapy helps to find new grounds for interaction and overcome anxiety. Even more often, family therapy is necessary at the first stage of treatment, otherwise the family may unconsciously or consciously interfere with the therapeutic process. I would be glad to see any discussion and comments! You can make an appointment with me for a consultation by phone (Whatsapp)8-916-150-88-30