What is Phobia?

A phobia is an illogical and unrelenting fear of situations, activities, objects and persons. One tends to get worked up about them and avoids them, which is more than normal. If the fear is interfering with one’s life, then it requires professional help. The anxiety or fear levels may be very high.

Symptoms of Phobias

• Persistent and excessive fear which is unreasonable. It is caused by a feared object, person or situation
• Causes a panic or anxiety attack
• The person either avoids the given anxiety- prone fear or bears it with great difficulty
• Interferes with usual life routine. One cannot perform their daily tasks
• Rapid heartbeat, trembling, shortness of breath, a feeling to flee from the situation
• Extreme measures are adopted to avoid the situation, person or object

Major Types of Phobias

• Agrophobia – It is a fear of being in a place alone where one feels that it is difficult to get help when required or to escape from the place. Those suffering from it may avoid being on bridges, busy streets etc. Some are so distressed that they will not leave their homes, only with a friend or a family member
• Ergasiophobia- Fear of Work. Those suffering from it may be actually suffering from depression. It can be a persistent and debilitating disorder, causing dysfunction and psychological disability
• Ephebophobia- Fear of the Youths- Loathing teenagers and adolescence
• Social Phobias- They are afraid of being watched or humiliated while performing a task. Even signing a check or eating a meal is difficult for them
• Specific Phobia- People have fears of specific object, person or situation. For example, they could be afraid of a dog or a snake or perhaps a dance in a disco. Claustrophobia is fear of closed places and fear of heights, acrophobia, are some specific phobias.

Treatment of Phobias

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy- One learns to control the mental and physical reactions of the fear. Instead of fleeing one can confront the person or situation. Your thought processes do determine your behavior
• Medications- Medicines are available to control the panics and anxiety
• Seeking professional help- One should consult a psychiatrist

Irrational fears and unreasonable avoidance of persons, situations and places are some phobias among many which many people experience. Their life-styles are affected by these phobias. They can be treated. Those suffering from them should try to get over them.

• 5 Nerve Wrecking Phobias
• Top 5 really Scary Phobias
• About
• Top 10 Reasons Why Wine is Beneficial to Health
• Can hot dogs cause you cancer?