Phobias and How They Can Affect You
The post is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.
Many people will go out of their way to avoid a situation or object, but if the mere thought of something like spiders or heights gives you anxiety and fear, this could mean that you have a phobia. Find out what this means and how it can affect you in this article.
What is a phobia?
A phobia occurs when an individual has a fear of something. In most cases, this fear is rather intense and will cause them anxiety or induce panic attacks. This is why phobias are considered to be an anxiety disorder. Something else that you may want to know is that the fear associated with these phobias is usually not based in reality, meaning there is no true threat to an individual. There are many different types of phobias that a person may experience.
To learn additional info, look at this webpage. There are articles to read that discuss specific phobias.
Symptoms
There are a few symptoms that are associated with phobias.
- Feeling disconnected
- Chills
- Sweats
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Pain in chest
- Being unable to catch breath
- Queasiness
- Feeling faint
If you note these symptoms in a loved one or experience them yourself, you should do your best to take deep breaths and stay as calm as possible. In some cases, the symptoms of a phobia might make you feel like you have a serious medical condition.
When you think this is the case, you can speak with a doctor to ensure that there are no physical health concerns that need to be treated.
Causes
The cause of a person’s phobia will be different, depending on what the phobia involves and when they developed it. In some cases, an individual was traumatized or frightened during childhood, and this led to them experiencing a phobia.
Treatment
When you have a phobia that is impacting your life or causing you to have to avoid certain situations, it may be time to work with a therapist. There are a few ways that they can make a difference.
One way is that they could help you determine what caused this fear in the first place. If you are able to break down the first time you were scared by a specific object or situation, it may be easier to understand that fear and lessen it.
Another technique that a therapist may use is exposure therapy. This type allows you to be exposed to your phobia in small doses, so you may be able to lessen the anxiety and fear you experience when you are around it.
A professional should provide other tips, advice, and guidance when it comes to lessening the symptoms of your phobia, or helping you overcome it completely. Some may not see their phobias go away fully, but they may begin to experience less anxiety and other symptoms if they are exposed to something they are fearful of. This could lead to less avoidance and the impact to your life could be minor as well.
You might even be prescribed medications to alleviate certain symptoms that are severe, if this is necessary. Be sure to talk to your therapist about medications, if you feel like you would be able to benefit from them.
Common Phobias
There are many phobias that a person may experience and here are a few of the most common ones.
- Social phobia: Fear of being around others or in a social setting.
- Zoophobia: Being afraid of animals.
- Claustrophobia: Being afraid when in small or closed-in spaces.
- Aerophobia: Intense fear of flying in an airplane.
- Trypanophobia: A fear of getting an injection or needles.
Conclusion
A phobia can cause intense fear of a situation or an object. It can also have a great impact on your life. If you are unable to get through your weeks without having to avoid people or places, it may be time to talk to a therapist. They should be able to provide you with the assistance you need to lessen some of your symptoms and could also lend a hand when it comes to your anxiety.
