Socio-Cultural Implications of Agoraphobia: An Evidence From Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Every disorder affects the social life of an individual in its own way. Agoraphobia is a psychological disorder in which an individual fears being in situations where escape might be intricate. Some individuals also fear closed spaces, while others fear open spaces. This study is about the problems that arise in the everyday life of individuals affected by Agoraphobia. The objectives of the study were to i) Find out the changes in the social life of a person affected by Agoraphobia, ii) The complications faced by the family of an affected person during the period of illness, and iii) The relationship fluctuations between pre and post disorder. The data is collected through in-depth interviews, a qualitative form of research. Data is collected from 21 affected individuals, so the study's sample size is 21. Data is collected from Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad. Additionally, patients affected by Agoraphobia are sporadic, so some of the data is collected on a referral basis with the help of doctors, family members, and friends. Data were transcribed and analyzed through thematic analysis techniques by coding and extracting themes from the collected data. Similar codes were summed up under the relevant themes The results of the study are based on the data I collected from mentioned hospitals during my thesis. The findings of this study depict that agoraphobia badly affects the social lives of affected individuals in different ways. Individuals can only perform their daily life activities with the help of others, and they become dependent on others for their outdoor schedule. In the selected population, most people do not understand mental illnesses and their unwanted effects on social life. Arranging social seminars regarding ―mental illnesses and their overall impact concerning the agoraphobia on individuals‖ is recommended. It is required to advocate for a more effective and empathetic support system for those affected by this condition. It is important to change the concept of people regarding mental health issues spread awareness about the importance of mental health and normalize general counseling with mental health professionals.