Nearly all of us are afraid of something in life, whether it’s a fear of something like spiders and snakes or finding ourselves in a confined space or somewhere really high up. Sometimes people can have fears that can seem irrational, like being afraid of clowns or peanut butter and any number of seemingly random ordinary things.
We should not dismiss these fears because for the person in question they are real. We can all live with minor fears and even grow out of them, but when they start to cause extreme anxiety or negatively affect our daily lives then this is when they become a phobia.
So what is a phobia?
When we are born the only natural fear we have is of falling and of loud noises, these fears are a form of self-preservation and as we get older they diminish, unless they present themselves as an imminent danger. Phobias are an overwhelming and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual threat or danger to us. In fact for some people the thing that causes this fear doesn’t always need to be present. Seeing a picture, hearing or smelling a related sound or odour or just thinking about it can be enough to cause them anxiety.
Phobias fall into one of four categories these are:
Environmental
- Like being afraid of weather conditions, heights, germs, water or trees
Bodily phobias
- A fear of blood, being ill or physically sick or having injections
Animals
- Most commonly spiders, snakes, horses dogs and cats
Situational phobias
- Like being on a plane, in a car or going over or through bridges and tunnels
Living with a phobia can cause physical and psychological symptoms as well as behavioural changes which can be debilitating especially in extreme cases. This can result in people changing their lives and routines in an attempt to avoid triggering their phobias, as they fear other people’s responses to them. This can be very stressful and it can affect your work, family life and relationships.
Physical symptoms can include:
- Feeling like you skin is crawling
- A rapid heartbeat
- Feeling like you can’t breathe or are hyperventilating
- Feeling nauseous
- Sweating
- Chest tightness or pain
- Needing to use the toilet urgently
- Feeling light headed
Psychological symptoms such as:
- Thinking you might die
- Being scared that you are losing your mind
- Feeling like you are losing control
- Overwhelming feelings of panic and anxiety
- Feelings of detachment
- Knowing that your feelings are irrational but feeling like you can’t control them
Behavioural changes can result in:
- Avoiding people, places and situations
- Socialising less as you fear the reactions of other people
- Changing travel plans or your mode of transport
- Cancelling medical and dental treatments
- Avoiding heights or confined or open spaces
Seeking professional help
If you are struggling to manage a phobia you should see your doctor who can help you with your anxiety by prescribing medication or referring you for therapy. A therapist can help you to discover the root cause of your fear and overcome it by using therapies such as exposure and desensitisation therapy. Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK). For more free information click above link.
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