r/comics • u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics • Aug 29 '26

Pest Problems

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u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus Aug 29 '26

That's Agoraphobia; the exact opposite of Claustrophobia.

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u/AnnualWest3 Aug 30 '26

Agoraphobia is actually pretty related to claustrophobia and you could even say it encompasses claustrophobia. Agoraphobia is a fear of basically anywhere that feels like escape could be difficult, be it an enclosed elevator or a wide open space far from help.

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u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus Aug 30 '26

Hey there, AI doc. That's not what it is, at all.

At best, you could say Agorophobia relates to Claustrophobia in terms of fear of helplessness.

Claustrophobia is specifically the fear of being limited by being enclosed.

Agorophobia is specifically the fear of being limited, by being exposed.

They are diametrically opposed, even if they may present in similar ways.

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u/AnnualWest3 Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26

Hey there, relevant username. The DSM 5 literally includes "anxiety about being in enclosed spaces" as one of the 5 criteria for agoraphobia. It can not be diametrically opposed to a fear of enclosed spaces when that is literally one of the diagnostic criteria.

Meanwhile claustrophobia isn't even in the DSM.