Cleithrophobia is a fear of closed spaces or being locked in an enclosed places. ^[undefined] The origin of the word is from the Greek words κλείω cleio, which means to shut or to close ^[undefined] and φοβία ,(phobia in English) which implies a persistent fear. Cleithrophobia is additionally known as clithrophobia or cleisiophobia. ^[undefined] This phobia is at times confused with claustrophobia, which is a fear of being closed in small spaces.

Phobias are caused as a consequence of internal feelings combined with external stimuli, which induce a life-changing trauma in a few individuals.

^[undefined] Certain phobias occur as a consequence of specific events in an individual's life which act as a trigger and cause this deep-rooted fear over time.

Additionally, a few phobias don't have any specific cause.

In the same way, cleithrophobia could occur due to a few traumatic experiences in a person's life or could simply crop up, for no particular reason.

The focus of this fear is the feeling of being locked in or being unable to escape from a space.

^[undefined] The individuals suffering from this might be able to enter rooms calmly provided that the fear of being closed in and being unable to leave at free will, doesn't exist in their minds.

The symptoms which are manifested in an individual due to cleithrophobia can be divided into two types, i.e., physical and psychological symptoms.

The physical symptoms that occur can be sweating, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia (rapid heartbeats) etc. The psychological symptoms can be a feeling of dread, losing control or even dying.

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There are no complete treatments for any phobia as the process involves the person's psychological and behavioural patterns, a few of which can never be changed.

Notwithstanding it is possible to reduce the extent of the effects of any phobia by therapeutic treatments, like hypnotherapy, counseling psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) etc. ^[undefined] Though there are medicines and drugs which can suppress the phobia significantly, it could additionally lead to lifelong addictions which might never fade as well as withdrawal symptoms, which could affect normal day-to-day functioning and hence, medication should be avoided. ^[undefined] The best way to get over a fear like this is to understand its irrationality and grasp the concept of "mind over matter".