claustrophobia
Dread of confinement
Claustrophobia is an intense fear of enclosed or confined spaces.
Someone with claustrophobia may panic in elevators, crowded rooms, or MRI machines.
The word extends loosely to discomfort in any restricting situation: I get claustrophobic in long meetings.
The adjective is claustrophobic; someone who experiences it is a claustrophobe.
Vertical conveyance between floors
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- airplanePowered flying machine
cave · basement · closet · attic · cellar · bunker · vault · crawlspace
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
desperation · unease · apprehension · distress · agitation · overwhelm · trapped · suffocation
Unable to escape
- enclosedSurrounded and sealed within
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
- narrowOf small width
restricted · confined · boxed-in · squeezed · compressed · hemmed-in · imprisoned · caged
Abnormally rapid respiration
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
shaking · faintness · disorientation · tingling · crying · screaming
Fear of flying
- trypophobiaAversion to hole clusters
- nyctophobiaMorbid dread of darkness
- thanatophobiaDread of perishing
- desensitizationReduced response over time
therapist · psychologist · treatment · coping · trigger · diagnosis
elevator
Vertical conveyance between floors
airplane · cave · basement · closet · attic · cellar · bunker · vault · crawlspace · coffin
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
helplessness · desperation · unease · apprehension · distress · agitation · overwhelm · trapped · suffocation · escape
trapped
Unable to escape
- enclosedSurrounded and sealed within
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
- tightFirmly stretched or fitting
narrow · restricted · confined · boxed-in · squeezed · compressed · hemmed-in · imprisoned · caged · cornered
hyperventilation
Abnormally rapid respiration
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
nausea · shaking · faintness · disorientation · tingling · crying · screaming
aviophobia
Fear of flying
- trypophobiaAversion to hole clusters
- nyctophobiaMorbid dread of darkness
- thanatophobiaDread of perishing
desensitization · therapist · psychologist · treatment · coping · trigger · diagnosis
- phobiasbibliophobia, aquaphobia, zoophobia, thanatophobia, coulrophobia
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- fearfear, dread, afraid, fright, frightened
- fearsspiders, snakes, falling, heights, death
- travel discomfortmotion sickness, airsickness, carsickness, seasickness, jet lag
- indoor conditionsroom temperature, climate control, stuffiness, freshness, warmth