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Suffering from Phobia
- Do you have an extreme, irrational, persistent fear of a thing/place/person?
- Will you go out of your way to avoid whatever it is that you’re afraid of, even if it means sacrificing important things such as job opportunities, social events, and your health?
- Is this intense fear interrupting your daily life and your overall functioning?
If you identify with any of these statements, it’s possible that you are suffering from a phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder. You are not alone – it’s one of the most common mental illnesses amongst both men and women.
What’s The Difference Between Having a Phobia and Just Being Afraid?
Experiencing fear in a truly dangerous situation is a healthy, “normal” reaction, because it means your mind and body are alert and ready to protect you. Phobias, on the other hand, are strongly fearful reactions to situations that pose either very little threat, or none at all. For instance, it would be normal to be afraid of a snake if it were slithering on the ground a foot away from you. But if your fear of snakes is so intense that simply seeing one in a magazine paralyzes you, you might be suffering from a phobia. Normal fears don’t consume your life or inhibit you from functioning well, the way phobias do. I will explain more specific signs later on.
What Causes Phobias?
Research indicates that there are likely multiple factors involved in the development of phobias. Often, the combination of a genetic tendency and certain life experiences may trigger a phobia. For example, if you’re born with genes that are associated with fearfulness, and as a child, you’re chased around the block and knocked over by your neighbor’s growling dog, you may develop cynophobia (fear of dogs). The experiences that have led to the phobia may or may not be in your conscious awareness.
Sometimes, people develop phobias to things they haven’t personally experienced, but about which they’ve learned frightening information. For instance, even if you’ve never fallen from a high surface, you might’ve seen on the news when you were younger a tragic story about someone falling out of a window and dying. This could become ingrained in your memory, and cause you to develop an intense fear of heights (especially if you have a genetic inclination towards anxiety and fearfulness).
What Types of Phobias Are There?
There are hundreds upon hundreds of different phobias. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Fear of flying
- Fear of spiders
- Fear of germs
- Fear of becoming ill and/or dying
- Fear of public speaking
- Fear of needles/injections
- Fear of heights
- Fear of small, crowded spaces
Signs & Symptoms
To receive a proper diagnosis, it’s necessary to see a mental health professional. However, in the meantime, you can get a general sense of whether you may be suffering from phobia(s) by reviewing this checklist of symptoms. Signs may differ from person-to-person, but here are some of the common ones:
Racing heart
Difficulty breathing
Feeling nauseous or dizzy
Trembling or shaking
Stomach-ache
Sweating
Fear of fainting
Feeling detached from yourself
(Please note: This is for informational purposes only. It is not a scientific survey.)
Phobias can range from mildly problematic to very severe. Some people find that their phobias don’t affect their lives all that much (for example, someone who is terrified of clowns probably may not encounter clowns often enough for the fear to significantly impact her quality of life).
On the other hand, some people experience phobias that truly disrupt their everyday lives and make it difficult to ever feel relaxed. I encourage you to take a look at this list and check off the ones that apply to you (again, this is only a guide – it is not a diagnostic tool). The more that apply to you, the more strongly I’d recommend seeking treatment. I will discuss treatment options later.
Your phobia causes extreme fear, panic, anxiety, etc.
You avoid certain places because of your phobia.
Your social life is negatively affected by your phobia.
Your phobia causes significant distress on a regular, ongoing basis.
You recognize that your fear is illogical, but still can’t manage to reduce it.
You’ve had the phobia(s) for 6+ months.
Reducing Symptoms On Your Own
If you’re experiencing some of the signs listed above, there are some self-help methods you can try to alleviate your anxiety. These may not work for everyone, but they’re worth attempting.
- When you feel yourself getting anxious, challenge your fears. Here is an example of some questions you can ask yourself:
Negative thought: “I haven’t washed my hands in a half hour. If I don’t go and wash my hands right now, I’m going to be contaminated and get sick.”
Question: Is there evidence to the contrary?
Answer(s): “Plenty of people don’t wash their hands constantly and they don’t get sick all the time.”
“I’ve been in others situations where I couldn’t wash my hands for a couple hours, and I was fine.”
Question: Could I do something to fix the situation if it does occur?
Answer(s): “I’ve gotten sick before, and if I take a day or two to rest, I get better. My immune system does its job.”
Question: Am I thinking irrationally?
Answer(s): “I believe so. I have no proof that not washing my hands constantly will make me get sick.”
- Learn more about different phobias and the people who suffer from them. You will see that you are not alone, and you are not crazy. Phobias are highly treatable, and many people who previously suffered are now living with much less anxiety and fear. You can do the same, with effective treatment.
- Learn various relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation. You can use these methods to help calm yourself down when you feel anxiety and fear creeping in. The more you practice, the easier you may find it to relax when facing your phobia.
Seeking Professional Treatment
While the above strategies are a great starting point for decreasing your anxiety, they won’t necessarily work in all cases. If your fears are very intense and are preventing you from functioning in other areas of your life, it’s best to seek psychotherapy from a mental health professional. A qualified therapist may use treatment methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and EMDR to help you discover the root of your fears, lessen your anxiety, and take back control of your life.
Many people who once suffered from crippling fears have learned how to overcome their phobias. You deserve to experience the same. You can call Mark Dworkin LCSW at (516) 731-7611 if you’d like more information.
Sources
Phobias and fears, Helpguide.org. Retrieved Nov 1, 2010
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