Phobia
A
phobia can be termed as excessive or irrational fear reaction. It is an
overwhelming and debilitating fear of a place, situation, object, feeling or
animal.
we
can find people around us who are afraid of clowns, heights, enclosed spaces,
needles, water or fire. Characterized by
an excessive or irrational fear of situation or an object, phobia affects
millions of people worldwide. It is a state of mind that freezes you and stops
you from undertaking any change. It feels like a chain around your ankle and
often freezes you at the time of taking any action.
Signs and Symptoms of Phobia
A
person with a phobia will experience the following symptoms in presence of fearful
object or when in a fearful situation. These are common across the majority of
phobias:
- A sensation of uncontrollable anxiety when exposed to
the source of fear
- A feeling that the source of that fear must be avoided
at all costs
- Not being able to function properly when exposed to
the trigger
- Acknowledgment that the fear is irrational, unreasonable, and exaggerated, combined with an inability to control the feelings
A
person is likely to experience panic attack and intense anxiety when exposed to
the object of their phobia. The physical effects of these sensations are as
follows:
- Feeling dizzy or like you’re choking
- Abnormal breathing
- Sweating
- Confusion and disorientation
- Dry mouth
- Trembling
- Hot flushes or chills
- Pounding heart
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Inability to speak
- Smothering sensation
- Numbness
Types of phobia
phobias
can be categorized in three broad
categories: specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.
1. Specific Phobias
Specific
phobias, also known as "simple" phobias, are those that are triggered
by a specific object or situation.
Specific
phobias are can be classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-5) into the
following categories:
• Animal type that includes dogs,
spiders and snakes. etc.
• Natural environment type that
includes storms, heights and water. etc.
• Blood, injection, and injury (BII)
type that includes needles, blood, and invasive medical procedures.
• Situational type that includes a fear
of particular situation like enclosed spaces and a fear of flying etc..
• Other types: Any phobia that does not
fit into one of the other categories falls into this category.
People often develop specific phobias when in
their younger age. reports also suggests that phobia becomes less severe with
age, but this is not always the case.
2. Social phobias
A
social phobia is an excessive fear of being in social situations that may
result in humiliation or embarrassment.
A
fear of public speaking is an example of a social phobia.
3. Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia
is a fear of being trapped in crowded places where there is no easy way out.
People with agoraphobia become housebound in extreme cases because they are
afraid to leave their safe space.
Because
the situation or thing that causes the phobia is much more difficult to
prevent, social phobias and agoraphobia are more likely to cause life
impairment.
Myths and Facts about Phobias
If
you have a phobia, you are "crazy."
Fact: Using the term “crazy” to describe
someone experiencing a psychiatric condition can increase the stigma of
phobias, and act as a barrier to treatment. For the one who has experienced them, phobias are
logical and extremely real, and diminishing the legitimacy of specific phobias
can do more harm than good in addressing the distress experienced by people
with phobias.
Phobias are simply
exaggerated fears.
Fact:
Phobias are linked with an extreme biological and psychological fear response.
Phobias
can’t be overcome.
Fact: Phobias can be overcome and there are
several treatments available.
How do you know you need Counselling/Therapy?
One can find out if they need counselling or therapy by checking the following points:
- You often feel angry.
- You feel that your anger seems to be out of control.
- Your anger is impacting your relationships.
- Your anger is hurting others emotionally.
- Your anger causes you to say or do things you regret.
- You're verbally or physically abusive.
How do you know you need counselling/Therapy?
One
can find out if they need counselling or therapy by checking the following
points:
-You
want to bring a change, but you’re unable to do so on your own, you might want
to seek counselling.
-You’re
experiencing disturbances which impact your day-to-day life like work, social
engagement etc.
-You’re
experiencing disturbances which impact your overall wellbeing.
-Your
phobias is not letting you live your life fully
-Avoiding
situations has become your habit
-You
want to overcome your fears
-You
want improve your life hence want to boost your confidence to face challenges
(phobia related) in life
How does TalktoAngel help you in overcoming your Phobia?
TalktoAngel
is an online platform that provides quality therapy and other mental health
services online. We have qualified and experienced professionals working with
us. Phobia is one of our areas of expertise. We have experts and specialists
who have successfully worked previously on cases of addictionphobia. Studies
have proven that online mental health services are as effective as the
conventional mode. Furthermore, at TalktoAngel, we put your needs first. We can
help you with flexible appointments, personalized and customized intervention
plans all at the tip of your fingers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
How can I deal with my Phobia?You can include following strategies in your life style to help you manage the anxiety that accompanies specific phobias • Regular exercise • eating regular, healthy meals • getting enough sleep • reducing or avoiding caffeine and other stimulants • Relaxation techniques – a series of physical exercises that help you relax and control your breathing • Visualization – combines relaxation and breathing techniques with mentally visualizing how you'll successfully deal with a situation that could cause anxiety • Mindfulness practices You should also take help from professional, they can help you overcome your specific phobia or manage it effectively • Facing your fears in graded manner- slowly slowly facing your fears • Self-help groups – a useful way of meeting others with similar experiences and sharing ways of coping
-
Is Phobia a mental illness?Yes, Phobia is a mental disorder, phobia is a type of anxiety disorder.
-
hy am I suffering from Phobia?Phobia can be caused to due to a number of reasons. Heredity is one of the factor, if you have family history of phobia, it’s likely that you might develop the same. There are other causes too past incidents or traumas learned responses from early life, reactions and responses to panic or fear experiencing long-term stress and genetic factors. Studies suggest that stress is one major cause and it can also be a result of an underlying mental health condition.
-
What medication is best for Phobia?Medications may be prescribed by the psychiatrist in some cases. Medication is used in combination with therapy to treat phobias, although it is not always a part of the initial treatment. You cannot take medication for it, without the consultation of a psychiatrist. It is unprofessional and ethically wrong for us to disclose any medication in this manner. You can consult with one of our professionals. Moreover, medication is only effective in the long term if coupled with effective psychotherapy.
If you want to overcome your fears and get unstuck, talking to a phobia counselor can help.
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