Before we make any sense with anything, let us first define what panic disorder and agoraphobia are:

Panic disorder is condition that often arises with or without warning. The person who experiences panic disorder would claim that he feels a surge of extreme anxiety, fear or nervousness. These episodes are often referred to as panic attacks wherein the actual cause may not be readily determined. Also, attacks may be frequent or may only happen once in a while.

What are the symptoms of panic disorder?

Panic attacks are typically associated with physical manifestations such as the following:

* Chest pain

* Chills

* Cramping

* Dizziness

* Feeling of choking

* Feeling of pounding heart

* Hot flashes

* Nausea

* Out-of-body feeling

* Shaking

* Shortness of breath

* Sweating

* Tingling or numbness in the hands

* Fear of dying

* Fear of losing control and embarrassment

Rarely, the person will show all the symptoms as suggested above. But a person can already be considered to have a panic disorder once he show 4 or more of the sings mentioned above.

It is also likely that the fear of showing the symptoms themselves may trigger the panic attacks. The more the person tries to suppress the symptoms, the more they rise to the surface. Often, agoraphobics find it hard to leave their homes and other comfort zones because of the fear that of public exposure or embarrassment. So there is no room for wonder why people with agoraphobia often do not leave the securities of their homes. Or even if they do, they need to be accompanied by someone whom they can associate security.

Agoraphobia on the other hand, is the condition for which the person is afraid of finding himself in situations and places where he must deal with embarrassment and lack of security. Contrary to what is popularly believed, agoraphobia is not fear of "open spaces". In fact, agoraphobics are more fearful in closed spaces where too many activities or too many people may be found and where their chances for embarrassment are obvious (for their own viewpoint).

Agoraphobia can be worsened once the person feels or expects that he cannot get away from an embarrassing situation when help cannot be found. It may also not be necessary if the place is packed with social gatherings or not, it may be enough that he associates the place (may it be open or not) to fearful situations.

While it is known that there are cases when agoraphobia is accompanied with panic disorder, quite a number of patients indicate that there exists a condition for which panic attacks are absent. Yet, the likelihood of developing fear for panicking is possible since many patients consider places as probable environments for panic attacks. This form of thinking then permits the individual from freer movements especially in public places. While some may face their fears, the vast majority broods in their self-developed fears. This condition accounts for 1/3 of all patients.

People with agoraphobia avoid situations, which may cause them embarrassment or too much fear or in which they will receive no help in case of panic attacks.

The bottom line is panic disorders and agoraphobia are two individual conditions that intertwine once any of them arises. Yet the majority (if not all) of agoraphobics typically experience panic attacks, not all panic disorder patients would necessarily show symptoms of having agoraphobia.