Definitely, claustrophobia has the capacity to disturb someone's mental health. Mental disorder is referred to various mental conditions that affect our behavior, thinking or mood. Examples of mental disorder are depression, behavioral disorder and anxiety disorder, under which claustrophobia or fear of enclosed spaces can be found. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder which usually results to an irrational and intense fear of enclosed spaces.
The effect of claustrophobia can be very dangerous most times. The first thing that will happen to an claustrophobic person when confronted with situations that usually prompt his fear is a kind of mental apprehension and uneasiness which can be very dangerous to mental health as it can lead to a sudden change in behavior, thinking and mood, for example, the person might start crying, the person might not be able to control himself. Extreme fear of an object or situation can cause panic attack which can be very dangerous to mental health.
Yes, claustrophobia can disturb mental health. Claustrophobia in itself is a form of anxiety disorder which is a mental disorder. If a claustrophobic person finds himself or herself in en enclosed space or crowded place, there exhibits symptoms and signs which shows that this anxiety disorder affects the mental health of the affected person. The signs such as panic attacks, fear, confusion, and disorientation show that indeed, claustrophobia affects the mental health of an affected person.
Treating claustrophobia requires psychological methods. This also shows that claustrophobia disturbs mental health and to treat it, mental health of the affected person must be addressed.