2024-05-10 10:54:49
After a serious traffic accident, Tagesschau spokesman Jens Riewa suffers from claustrophobia, as he revealed in a TV program. What is the phobia all about?
The most important things at a glance
Tagesschau speaker Jens Riewa has now opened up in the NDR format “Käpt’n’s Dinner” about an anxiety disorder that makes life difficult for him in certain situations. “I have massive claustrophobia,” Riewa confessed to moderator Michel Abdollahi right at the beginning. The problem: “Captain’s Dinner” is filmed on board a submarine in the port of Hamburg. A big challenge for the 60-year-old (read all about Riewa’s confession here).
But what exactly is claustrophobia? Or is this a different anxiety disorder?
Definition: This is claustrophobia
Experts refer to the pathological fear of being in an elevator or other enclosed spaces as claustrophobia or spatial anxiety. The term “claustrophobia,” however, stands for another form of anxiety disorder: agoraphobia. Strictly speaking, Jens Riewa suffers from a fear of space. Both diseases have differences, but also similarities.
Both claustrophobia and agoraphobia are phobic disorders. These are mental illnesses that are characterized by a pathological fear of certain, actually harmless situations or objects.
Phobic disorders can be divided into subgroups:
- Agoraphobia,
- social phobia and
- specific phobias.
The most important difference between claustrophobia and agoraphobia
Claustrophobia (“fear of space”) stands for the fear of narrow/enclosed spaces. Agoraphobia (“claustrophobia”) refers to the fear of not being able to escape in certain situations (e.g. large places, crowds, etc.) in the event of a panic, of not being able to get help or of attracting attention.
Claustrophobia: Fear of space, not claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is a so-called specific phobia. This is characterized by an unreasonably strong fear of certain situations or objects that are actually harmless.
A specific phobia can refer to many different things. Well-known examples include the fear of spiders, heights or going to the dentist – or of narrow spaces, as is the case with Jens Riewa’s claustrophobia.
People with claustrophobia are afraid of being in closed and/or confined spaces. Typical locations or situations that can cause fear include:
- Subway train
- elevator
- narrow corridors
- MRI examinations in narrow, “closed” machines
- Solarium
- Toilets
- crowded rooms
Claustrophobia has nothing to do with claustrophobia in the sense of a fear of large places. The term “space anxiety” would be more correct. You can read more about claustrophobia here.
Difference from agoraphobia
In contrast to claustrophobia, people with agoraphobia (“claustrophobia”) are afraid of situations in which, in the event of severe fear or panic, escaping would (supposedly) not be so easy or could cause a stir. Or they fear that they will not get help in an emergency in these situations. Those affected usually prefer to be at home.
Examples of frightening situations include:
- staying in crowds
- staying in shops
- staying on public streets and squares
- driving/traveling on public transport such as buses, trains or planes
The term “claustrophobia” is more likely to apply to agoraphobia.
Claustrophobia and fear of space – these are the similarities
But there are also similarities. Both anxiety disorders are accompanied by similar symptoms. These are:
- Heart palpitations, heart palpitations
- Sweats
- the feeling of fainting
- cold hands and feet
Those affected often fear that they will go crazy, die or otherwise lose control. Just the thought of the situation in question can cause them severe anxiety.
Both disorders are often treated with behavioral therapy. If necessary, medication can also be useful.