Are you afraid of a particular situation, happening or object, well you are one among many. Phobias are associated with many causes, though the good news is, phobias are preventable and treatable. Some phobias annoy us, but others completely put us off. Phobias are common disorders for many people whereby women are the most affected. However, to understand how to contain, manage, and extinguish phobias, we should start by asking ourselves this question: what is phobia disorder?
Phobia disorder is uncontrollable fear ailment that comes into play as one encounters the cause of the fear. However, for phobia to become a real threat to your health, it should be a continuous occurrence for over six months. Phobia disorder can lead to other forms of health hazards such as panic attacks, anxiety or depression disorder if left unmanned for an extended period.
Phobia comes in three main clusters, social, agoraphobia, and common phobias. Let us go through some common phobias,
- Agoraphobia category
Have you found yourself in a situation or place you cannot avoid? Did it frighten you? Agoraphobia is the term that best describes this type of fear. Most people with this kind of fear often tend to stay indoors and avoid social gatherings. Most agoraphobic people often suffer from panic attacks when they come across their most significant concerns.
- Social phobia category
This is a common type of phobia, which is related to social gatherings or social anxiety. This fear can cause a person to suffer from panic attacks because of simple things like answering your phone in public, asking for direction, ordering of food in hotels, chatting with others and showing people direction. Social phobia causes the victim to stay behind closed doors to avoid a sudden panic attack.
Below are the common types of phobias,
- Acrophobia
This is an excessive fear associated with heights, having a fear of tall buildings, trees, mountains, and ladders. This may cause lack of concentration, sweating, trembling, vertigo, dizziness, loss of breath and excessive heartbeat.
- Nyctophobia
Have you been experiencing excessive fear as you approach dark areas or when night falls? Then you might be having Nyctophobia. This type of phobia can be gradual, meaning from childhood to adulthood.
- Homophobia
Any form of injury or oozing blood could trigger this form of fear. A severe condition can lead to passing out or fainting. It does not matter whose wound or blood it is, even if it is yours, you will react abnormally.
- Aviophobia
This is fear of taking flights. One fears boarding flights to the extent of vomiting, urinating, or even avoiding at all cost air travel.
- Glossophobia
This refers to having no confidence to speak before a big crowd or performing before a gathering. This may result in avoiding social or public meetings for fear of being called upon to speak. This may trigger trembling, anxiety, sweating, and uncontrollable heartbeat.
- Claustrophobia
This is the fear of enclosures or isolated areas. This could have serious complications when it comes to traveling or boarding on lifts. Visiting caves or tunnels becomes very irritating and disturbing.
- Dentophobia
This is the fear that comes with dental complications. It is triggered by a past bad experience at the hands of a dentist. This can prevent someone from seeking dental medical attention in the future.
- Aquaphobia
Having excessive fear of waters is what we term as aquaphobia. This could be lake, ocean, pond, or dam water. Even though the waters may have no immediate harm to the victim, the sight of the waters always frightens the victim.
The above phobias are the most common ones. There are also other types of phobias, which may not be too frequent. Let us look at some of them,
- Arachnophobia– Are spiders a scare to you, then start suppressing it or seek early treatment before it becomes a nightmare to you.
- Ophidiophobia– Do you fear snakes? Then you might be suffering from ophidiophobia.
- Cynophobia- Many people love dogs, but others who fear dogs very much; They are scared by dogs to hell, then early treatment is essential.
Causes of phobia
- Having a close genetic bond with someone with a phobia may result in a child having the phobia.
- Persons who have gone through torture, abuse, depression, or brain disorders may develop phobia.
- Being exposed to extreme origins of phobia can trigger phobias.
- Animal attacks
- Drug abuse
- Other unknown causes of phobia- there are other causes of phobia that cannot be associated with any other source of phobic disorders.
Phobia symptoms
There are several symptoms of phobic disorders.
- High blood pressure
- Unwarranted trembling
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Not able to breathe well
- Lack of courage and confidence
- Vomiting and stomach upsets
Treatment of phobia
When phobia starts hindering your usual activities or body functioning, then it is time to seek medical attention.
- Therapy
- This entails confiding your fears to health personnel. As the treatment continues, the patient may start viewing pictures of their worst fear sources. Once the patient has enough courage, they can confront their worst fears.
- One can also talk to relatives, friends, or spiritual leaders thereby gaining confidence.
- Joining support groups also lessens the burden of fear by sharing with others.
- Soothing and teasing the body through regular exercises
- This brings calmness to the brain/whole body hence enabling the patient to focus and develop some confidence to face their fears.
- Use of anxiety disorder medication and antidepressants
- These medications help to stabilize or calm the mind at times of despair. However, combining both medicine and therapy produces the best results.
Fear of a place, something, or an occasion is reasonable and healthy. This means that your body senses are live to the fact that there is an imminent danger before you. However, when that feeling goes beyond a regular occurrence and starts hindering normal body functioning or activities, it stops being fear and becomes a phobia. There is no cause for alarm since phobias are manageable and treatable. It is not easy to break forth from fear. However, if you seek the right treatment, you will surely overcome it.
