Agoraphobia is a complicated thing. Most people think it's the literal term, fear of open spaces, whereas the reality of those suffering it, is quite different.
It's a fear of something happening to them, or of panic making a fool of them, outside of the home. Assaulted by physical symptom most sufferers seek to "escape" to the sanctuary of their home, where the symptoms subside and they feel safe again.
Sadly, this reinforces the belief that only in one's own home are we truly safe. The truth is we carry what we feel "inside" of us wherever we go.
For instance, if an agoraphobic suffers a panic attack in the local shop, he associates that place with fear and thus avoids it. Then it happens, say, in the town. And the same thing occurs. A patter of fear sets in wherever an attack occurs. Suddenly horizons are narrowed where the agoraphobic feels the only safe place is home
Then he is truly trapped and despondant.
The only way out, literally, is out. Bit by bit, facing fears, walking slowly, breathing correctly, letting the symptoms wash over him until they subside.
Sometimes we fail. We rush home on trembling legs, gasping for air, feeling we might faint. Sometimes we succeed and that is a victory. But the most important thing is not to give up trying.
Agoraphobics exist all around us. Nobody ever passed out, ran screaming down the street, disgraced themselves in public or died of a heart attack.
When we come to terms with the fact that it is not visible to a;l and sundry, then we can remove some of the fear.