General

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.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo
Shankar

Shankar is a tech blogger who occasionally enjoys penning historical fiction. With over a thousand articles written on tech, business, finance, marketing, mobile, social media, cloud storage, software, and general topics, he has been creating material for the past eight years.

Recent Posts

From Standard Definition to Ultra-HD: The Streaming Journey So Far

It only seems like yesterday when people were ordering VHS, CDs, and DVDs from their… Read More

12 hours ago

SEO vs. Paid Ads: Which is better for Our Businesses?

Large, small, and mid-sized businesses are continuously looking for better ways to improve their online… Read More

1 day ago

Strategies for Incorporating Wellness Programs in Rehab Marketing

Are you ready to transform lives? As a rehab marketer, you hold the power to… Read More

1 day ago

Key Applications of VLSI in Today’s Tech Industry

VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology is at the core of modern electronics, enabling the… Read More

4 days ago

How to Align Your Financial Goals with the Best SIP Plan for Long-Term Returns?

Planning for the future can be challenging, but with the right strategy, you can steadily… Read More

6 days ago

The Role of Time Management in Overcoming Remote Work Distractions

Work distractions are estimated to cost U.S. businesses around $650 billion annually. Unlike in an… Read More

1 week ago