We've all heard of phobias, haven't we? Some of us may have some, while some of us may know people who have a phobia; I'd be lying if I said phobias aren't a common thing now.
So, what are phobias? Why is there such a thing?
Before that, let's talk about fear. Fear is a natural emotion that comes with a person; it isn't made up or built up. It's an emotion we feel from time to time that is directly proportional to its effect on our body.
When we confront a seeming threat, our bodies respond in specific ways; they include increased heart rate, sweating, shivering, high adrenaline levels that make us extremely cautious of our surroundings. On the other hand, our emotional response varies highly and includes negative thinking, blindness, panic, etc.
What are phobias?
The textbook definition goes as 'Phobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an individual to experience extreme, irrational fear about a situation, living creature, place or object.'
That pretty much defines it, but in simple words, it's when your mind reacts in a distressed manner to a certain entity or a situation.
There are various ways in which a person responds to a phobia, most intense and needing medical attention. At the same time, some of them are mild and can be resolved with a few activities depending on the types of phobias.
Speaking of types of phobias, they're majorly classified into 3 types by the American Psychiatric Association (APA); they are
1. Social Phobia
2. Agoraphobia
3. Specific Phobia
Social Phobia: Also called social anxiety is the fear of the public or people, as in having a very hard time socializing with people in fear of being humiliated, singled out, or judged by others in a group or gathering.
Agoraphobia: This type of anxiety disorder makes you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic, be helpless, or be embarrassed. People who have agoraphobia tend to have difficulty feeling safe in any public space with crowds. The fear can be very intense that you may avoid leaving your home.
Specific Phobia: specific phobias are linked to an identifiable cause that isn't a daily occurrence, such as snakes or blood. These are hence not to affect daily living in any certain way.
Symptoms of Phobias:
A person with any phobia will experience the following symptoms, which are common across the majority of phobias.
1. A sensation of intense anxiety in the presence of the source of fear.
2. A feeling to escape the source of the ear at all costs.
3. Shivering and uncontrolled breathing.
4. Chills or face flushes
5. Accelerated heartbeat and chest pains
6. Nausea and dizziness
7. Confusion and blurred vision
These symptoms might be caused just by the thought of the entity of fear; some can be mild where some are not; in such cases seeking medical help is suggestable.
What Causes Phobias?
They do not have a specific cause, but several related factors are:
The Phobia may be associated with a particular incident.
It may be a learned response that a person develops early in life from a parent or sibling.
Phobias can also be natural, as a person can naturally fear heights.
Most common phobias
Phobias can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, place, etc.
Some of the most common phobias are:
1. Claustrophobia- fear of closed spaces.
2. Social Phobia- fear of socializing and social situations.
3. Agoraphobia- Fear of open, crowded, and public spaces.
4. Arachnophobia-fear of spiders.
Diagnosing Phobias
Phobias are generally not medically diagnosed; most people with a phobia are aware of the problem.
Sometimes, people choose to not treat their Phobia by trying to avoid their source of fear for a longer-term; this particularly helps them for a certain amount of time but not in the long run. If you have a phobia, continually trying to avoid it may only worsen your fear and not treat it.
Ask a health professional for help if you have a phobia; they may refer you to a specialist or therapist based on the intensity of your Phobia.
Treating Phobias
In treating the fear, both behaviourist and evolutionary aspects lean on the behaviourist perspective on how phobias are learned.
Exposure therapy is a commonly used therapy for many phobias, whether evolutionary or behaviourist.
Exposure therapy involves gradual exposure to the feared object or situation, as in here a situation in a safe and overlooked environment; this is done so that when coming in contact with their feared aspect, people learn that they are not in any kind of danger and no longer experience the symptoms they were experiencing
Treating complex phobias usually takes longer and involves therapy like:
Counselling
It is a form of talking therapy that allows people to discuss their problems with professionals in a calm and safe ambiance.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy:
It is a treatment approach that helps you identify and explore the ways your emotions and thoughts can affect your actions. Once these patterns are noted, you can begin learning to reframe your thoughts more positively and helpfully.
Psychotherapy:
It is a form of counselling for psychological, emotional, or behavioural disorders in which a professional establishes a relationship with a patient to remove or modify existing symptoms of a disorder
Most times, victims are given medications not only to help treat phobias but to also cope with the effects of anxiety.
Medicines that are usually prescribed:
Antidepressants: These are taken to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety or seasonal affective disorder, or mild chronic depression.
Beta-blockers: These are medications that reduce blood pressure, they work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.
Tranquilizers: these are minor tranquilizers that have an immediate calming effect and eliminate both the physical and psychological effects of anxiety and fear.
To everyone out there with any kind of Phobia, or to the ones figuring out if they have one, you all are not alone. Phobias are common and are present in one of five people. If your Phobia is a threat to your daily life, then it is suggestable to consult a health professional ASAP.
We all live multiple emotions and a very complex mind, fear being one of them. Feeling fear towards something is not strange; it is okay to feel fear and every other emotion our minds can.
excellent explanation. keep it up🙌