Phobias are extreme, intense fears about certain things. A person having a phobia develops an unhealthy response pattern towards some things. These people tend to avoid fear-triggering events or go through with great distress if they face these events. The intense fear that people develop interferes with their day-to-day wellbeing. In serious cases, phobias can alter people's social lives, personal relationships, economic status employment, and education.

Understanding Phobias

Causes of Phobia

Research hasn't supported any one cause to be the determinant of phobia. Various factors are responsible for phobias. Past experiences and the trauma associated with those experiences may lead to the development of phobias. Chronic stress and other psychological conditions like anxiety, depression can also act as contributors to phobias. Certain genetic factors like heredity may also be the cause of phobia.

Types of Phobia

1. Specific Phobia: These are associated with irrational fear and responses towards a specific object like water, height, a particular animal, etc. It is not serious until and unless a specific phobia starts negatively affecting our lives. Here are some common types:
2. Animal Phobias: These involve fear of specific animals or insects. For example, arachnophobia (fear of spiders), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), and cynophobia (fear of dogs) are all types of animal phobias. These phobias can develop due to traumatic experiences with the feared animal or through learned behavior from observing others.
3. Natural Environment Phobias: These phobias involve fear of natural phenomena or elements of the environment. Examples include astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning), aquaphobia (fear of water), and acrophobia (fear of heights). Natural environment phobias may stem from past negative experiences or a general sense of vulnerability in the face of nature's power.
4. Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia: This type of phobia involves fear of blood, injury, or medical procedures. People with this phobia may experience fainting or a drop in blood pressure when confronted with blood or needles. It's unique in that the response can involve both fear and a physical reaction, such as vasovagal syncope (fainting).
5. Situational Phobias: These phobias involve fear of specific situations or activities. Examples include claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), aviophobia (fear of flying), and driving phobia (fear of driving). Situational phobias may develop due to past traumatic experiences or feelings of loss of control.
6. Other Specific Phobias: Numerous other specific phobias don't fit neatly into the above categories. These can include fear of certain foods (such as trypophobia, fear of clusters of small holes), fear of certain colors (chromophobia), or fear of certain sounds (misophonia). These phobias may develop due to sensory sensitivities, traumatic experiences, or cultural influences.

Some other Phobias are

1. Agoraphobia: In layman's terms, it is the fear and anticipation that comes from open spaces most commonly public places. Someone who has agoraphobia will avoid going out of the house even to buy medicines or groceries. Moreover, in severe cases, people may refrain from stepping out of their rooms. Sometimes, thoughts and feelings promoting agoraphobia may be linked to anxiety and panic.
2. Social Phobia: Arises from intense fear of social situations so much so that it impacts important day-to-day social engagement like education, work, and interpersonal relationships. It can be something as ignored as fear of speaking in front of several people to as evident as avoiding socialization even when it is necessary.

These are just a few of the types of phobias. Each type can vary in severity and may require different approaches to treatment, including therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Treatment often involves cognitive-behavioral therapy aimed at gradually exposing individuals to their feared objects or situations in a controlled manner to reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviors.

Symptoms

Phobias can manifest a variety of symptoms, both psychological and physical when a person encounters or even anticipates encountering the object or situation they fear. Here are some common symptoms associated with phobias:

1. Intense Fear or Anxiety: The primary symptom of a phobia is an overwhelming and irrational fear or anxiety in response to the phobic stimulus. This fear may be out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the situation or object.
2. Panic Attacks: Individuals with phobias may experience panic attacks when confronted with their feared object or situation. Panic attacks can include symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and feelings of impending doom.
3. Avoidance Behaviour: People with phobias often go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation that triggers their fear. This can include avoiding specific places, activities, or even social interactions where they might encounter the phobic stimulus.
4. Physical Symptoms: Phobias can also manifest physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, and numbness or tingling sensations.
5. Hyperventilation: Some individuals may hyperventilate (rapid breathing) when experiencing intense fear or anxiety, leading to symptoms like light-headedness, tingling in the extremities, and feelings of being disconnected from reality.
6. Feeling of Loss of Control: During a phobic episode, individuals may feel as though they have lost control over their emotions or actions. This loss of control can further exacerbate feelings of fear and anxiety.
7. Cognitive Distortions: Phobias often involve distorted thinking patterns, such as catastrophizing (assuming the worst possible outcome), overestimating the danger posed by the phobic stimulus, and underestimating one's ability to cope with the fear.
8. Anticipatory Anxiety: Even thinking about encountering the phobic stimulus can trigger anxiety and fear in individuals with phobias. This anticipatory anxiety can be distressing and may lead to avoidance behaviours to prevent future exposure to the feared object or situation.

It's important to note that the severity and specific symptoms of phobias can vary widely from person to person. Additionally, not everyone with a phobia will experience all of these symptoms, and individual experiences may change over time or in different situations.

Impact of Phobia

Not everyone understands why people have phobias. Some people don't understand that phobias and fears are quite different. Phobias are dangerous and impact the day-to-day life of individuals. Someone might not step out of the house due to the phobia they have of dogs. Another person with social phobia may risk academic success because of their intense fear of public speaking, and social situations. Phobias cause extreme worrying and feelings of danger.

Dealing with Phobias: Is online counselling a key?

In the busy streams of our lives, online therapy and counselling come as a respite. Online counselling is as effective as a conventional intervention. Research has proven that online interventions for psychological conditions like phobia, depression, anxiety, Relationship issues, loneliness , etc. As concluded by various research, online counselling is not only effective it has some benefits as well. Shifting online has made therapy accessible even in remote locations. Clients can have customized, personalized options while reaching out to therapists. They no longer have to be limited by geographical limitations when choosing the best therapist or counselor. Online therapy is more consistent as it remains unimpacted by weather changes, traffic, overtime at the office, etc.

Where can you seek online counselling for phobias?

There are numerous websites providing counsellors and therapists. You can also seek out a particular professional and ask them whether they provide online intervention. Moreover, if one is unaware of different professionals, their qualifications, specialties, and experience, they can visit websites like TalktoAngel. It not only provides quality mental health services but ensures best practices. They have numerous qualified mental health workers and all their details are available on their website.