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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Agoraphobia
Message-ID: <484@shark.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Feb-84 12:54:07 EST
Article-I.D.: shark.484
Posted: Wed Feb  8 12:54:07 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 09:06:16 EST
References: <955@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 17


Actually, though it has been adapted to mean "fear of open places"
the real condition of Agorophobia is the fear of the marketplace.

Agoros (Greek, y'know) means "marketplace" and there is a specific
syndrome of being afraid of going out into the crowded marketplace.
This nasty neurosis has paralyzed many women (who seem to suffer
more often than men) and keeps tham completely afraid to go out in
public.  However, they have NO fear of open spaces per se.  As long
as they don't have to MEET a crowd they are fine.  They also feel
just fine with meeting a single stranger.  Real strange syndrome.

The term "vertigo" better describes the sensation one suffers from
when afraid of open places, since it is (reportedly) like a clutching
fear that one will fall into the open.

Hutch