Specific Phobias

Specific Phobias

Definition

A Specific Phobia is an intense, persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, activity or event that significantly interferes with an individuals ability to function normally. The fear experienced is usually much greater than the actual danger involved. Common phobias include fear of heights, highway driving, flying insects, snakes, and needles. People with Specific Phobias try to control their anxiety by avoiding the object or situation in question.

• Though Specific Phobias can also develop in adults, in most cases Specific Phobias begin during childhood and if left untreated, can persist throughout ones life.

• Specific Phobias are the most common form of Anxiety disorders.

• They are twice more prevalent in women than in men.

Symptoms

1) The person usually realizes that the fear is irrational and out of proportion and that his/her behavior makes no sense.

2) An immediate and extreme feeling of unexplainable, fear, anxiety or panic when exposed to the feared object or situation.

3) Physical symptoms in presence of the feared object or situation may include headaches, dizziness, crying, trembling, difficulty breathing or stiffening.

4) The person experiencing the phobia goes to extreme lengths to avoid the phobic situation or endures it with intense anxiety or distress.

5) The symptoms are persistent and last for at least six months.

6) Even the anticipation of fear often causes great anxiety.

7) The avoidance of the fear-inducing situation or object interferes significantly with the persons normal routine or daily life.

8) The fear or anxiety is not a typical response in the persons social or cultural context.

Causes

1) Past Negative/Traumatic Experience

Specific Phobias can be a result of an unusually traumatic event involving the feared situation or object. For example, a person who has been previously trapped in an elevator runs a greater risk of developing a phobia of elevators, whereas, someone involved in a car accident might develop a fear of driving.

2) Learned behavior

Observing a family members phobic reaction in the same situation can cause a child to develop the same reaction.

3) Personality

Certain personality traits like being over-sensitive or more inhibited are thought to increase the risk of developing Specific Phobias.

4) Family history

Many types of phobias run in families, so having a parent or sibling with a Specific Phobia can mean being at a higher risk. However, not much is known about the genetic factors that cause and maintain Specific Phobias.

5) Displacement of Anxiety

A phobia may represent a displacement of anxiety from an external threat that elicited it to some other object or situation. For example, a Specific Phobia may be connected to an individual's conflict about aggressive thoughts and feelings. A phobia protects individuals from realizing their emotional issues (Jackson, 2002).

Types

Common types of Specific Phobias

• Animal phobias: Animal phobias are the most common Specific Phobias. Examples include the fear of dogs, snakes, insects, or mice.

• Situational phobias: These are fears of particular situations, such as driving a car, going to school or fear of enclosed spaces like elevators.

• Natural environment phobias: Examples include the fear of storms, heights, or water.

• Blood-injection-injury phobias: These include fear of seeing blood, of being injured or fear of injections and medical procedures.

• Other phobias: These include fear of falling down, fear of loud sounds or fear of clowns.

Effects

Disruption of normal life:

Specific Phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce self-esteem, and place a strain on relationships. (ADAA)

Embarrassment:

The anxiety involved or the decisions taken to avoid phobic situations may cause embarrassment.

For example, a person forced to change career because of their inability to overcome a fear of flying.

Isolation:

Some phobias can lead to complete avoidance of social situations.

For example, people with severe phobias about being in crowds, or closed places may become complete recluses in their efforts to avoid such situations.

Depression:

Inability to cope with the phobia and feelings of helplessness and inadequacy can lead to severe depression.

Substance abuse:

The stress of living with a severe Specific Phobia may lead to abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Treatment

Most Specific Phobias can be successfully treated with one or a combination of :

1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on changing the negative thoughts and dysfunctional beliefs that cause distress.

CBT involves techniques that assist in learning ways to cope with the feared object or situation differently.

2) Exposure Therapy

Exposure Therapy involves gradual, repeated exposure to the source of Specific Phobia and the related thoughts, feelings and sensations. Exposure Therapy is often paired with relaxation exercises.

3) Relaxation

Relaxation techniques such as breathing-retraining exercise can help individuals cope effectively with the stresses and physical reactions related to their Specific Phobias.

4) Medication: There is little research on the use of medication for Specific Phobias. However, medications such as sedatives and antidepressants are sometimes used to reduce the severity of the panic symptoms, especially if the situation feared is necessary or unavoidable.

Coping

Phobias are usually very treatable without medications or long psychotherapy.

Other steps that could help in coping with Specific Phobias include:

1) Talk openly about fears with friends and family.

2) Reach out to self-help or support groups.

3) Avoid caffeine, as it can make anxiety worse.

4) Get adequate sleep.

5) Practice Meditation.

6) Practice Deep Breathing and other anxiety-relieving techniques.

7) Exercise.

Discussion Questions:-

1) Have you or anyone you know been diagnosed with any Specific Phobia? If yes, what are the symptoms?

2) When did you first notice the symptoms?

3) How does the phobia affect your life and those close to you?

4) Have you noticed anything that seems to makes the symptoms better or worse?

References

https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/specific-phobias#1

https://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/phobias/phobias-articles/

https://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/phobias.html

adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/specific-phobias

For list of phobias:

http://phobialist.com/#A-