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What are PANIC, AGORAPHOBIA, & CLAUSTROPHOBIA? Agoraphobia often, but not always, coincides with Panic Disorder. Agoraphobia is characterized by a fear of having a panic attack in a place from which escape is difficult. In a mild form, sufferers are uncomfortable or nervous about something bad happening to them (like getting severely ill, fainting, losing control, or embarrassing themselves) in situations where they can't escape or get help (like traveling alone to a far away unfamiliar place, or claustrophobia such as trapped in a crowd, elevator, subway, traffic jam, or driving on an express highway, tunnel or bridge, or a wide open mall or empty park, or home alone, or nomophobia--being outside of mobile phone service area). They may limit their traveling alone or require that a partner accompany them