Tpic PHOBIAS (Student name) (Department name) (Prfessr name) (Date)
Phbias: hw peple develp phbias and why? What is a Phbia? Phbia may be defined as an irresistibly unreasnable feeling f fear anything r situatin that may prvke avidance and trigger anxiety abut the fears in a persn. It is unlike the shrt-lived anxiety that smene may feel while standing in frnt f public r giving speech, it is a lng-lasting sense f fear that may affect an individual bth physically and psychlgically, as a result halting ne s abilities t functin prperly in the nrmal life r scial settings. A phbic persn tries t avid the bjects r situatins that prmpt a rapid anxiety e.g. sme peple have sheer fear fr dgs, height r water, r they are afraid f scial event that is the fear f crwd. Simplistically, the abslute fear t smething transfrms that fear in Phbia if nt vercame sn in early stages. Hwever, a lt f studies and researches have been cnducted n the cause f phbias, yet the exact cause cannt be stated cnclusively due t the reasn that the type f cause varies with the type f phbia that a persn pssess. Phbias usually ccur alng with ther anxiety disrder. Nt every type f phbia needs a treatment, but in case when these fears start affecting the nrmal curse f life, then several therapies are suggested by the psychlgists that can help a persn vercme their thughts and feelings ften permanently (Fritscher, 2017). Types f Phbias Phbias have been classified int three majr categries depending upn their nature and causes as belw: Simple (Specific) Phbias This type f phbias invlves irratinal and cnstant fright f specific bject, event r situatin that is ut prprtined t the actual danger r risk, fr instance, abslute
fear f animals r insects (such as dgs, lizards, cckraches); situatins (such as riding a hrse, darkness r airplanes); bld r injury (such as medical prcedures, injectins, knives); nature (such as water, height, thunderstrm); r ther phbias (such as clwns, puppets, sharp nises) etc. There a many ther kinds f fears that are nt limited t the stated types f phbias. They ften develp during the childhd r adlescence but in mst f the case, they start t reduce as the persn grws up. A persn may experience mre than ne type f phbia at the same time. The ccurrence f these phbias als depend upn the nature f incidents, sme f the peple are afraid f the things they encunter very ften, while n the ther hand, there are peple wh may nt ever g thrugh sme specific cnditin but yet they feel frightened even while hearing abut it e.g. peple may feel sick even hearing abut a medical prcedure, skydiving r slaughtering an animal. Cmplex Phbia These types f phbia tend t have mre disturbing and disabling effect n an individual as cmpared t specific (simple) phbia. These kinds f phbias mstly develp in childhd and in sme cases adulthd as well. The tw kinds f cmplex phbia are as fllws: Scial Phbia It is accumulative feeling f excessive self-cnsciusness, shyness and a fear f public scrutiny r embarrassment in a scial setting. An individual with this type f phbia fears the being negatively judged r rejected in a scial event. It can happen while addressing t a crwd f peple, using restrms in public etc. This cnditin may appear as very debilitating and make it hard t engage in daily rutine activities like ging t the ffice, meeting friends r ding the everyday jbs i.e. ging t shpping r bank. It can als make it difficult t
seek fr help and supprt particularly if a persn feel hesitatin t meet r call the peple wh can assist him. Agraphbia (Fear f pen spaces) It ccurs are a result an anticipated r actual situatin, fr instance, being in enclsed space like elevatr, standing in public, being alne utside the hme r while using the public transprtatin etc. It happens when a persn develps a feeling f n assistance r easy escape if the anxiety level increases, resulting in a panic attack. Mstly, agraphbia is develped when a persn experiences such anxiety r panic attacks ne r mre times. It can be s intense fr sme peple that they may avid leaving the rm r hme which they perceive as their safe space. Causes f Phbias Factrs which may increase the chances f the develpment f phbia can be: Cultural Factrs Sme f the types f phbias exist in certain specific cultural grups r setting. Fr instance, Taijin Kyfush is a type f phbia that nly prevails in the Japanese. In this cnditin, a persn fears t ffend r harm thers in scial situatin. It is different frm the traditinal type f scial phbia in which the suffering persn afraid being humiliated. Thus, a culture can play sme rle in the develpment and mdificatin f a phbia. Genetic Factrs Studies have prved that certain types f fears r phbias are pssible t run in the families. Fr example, twins brught up apart frm each ther in different life settings
and lcatin may develp same type f phbias. On the ther hand, many peple may nt have any relative ging thrugh the situatin as they d. Life experience Mst f the phbias are develped thrugh real life incidents that may r may nt be remembered cnsciusly. Fr example, fear f big vehicles may develp if a persn has witnessed any accident, a fear f dg may stem t being attacked by ne in the childhd. A scial phbia is usually seemed t be caused by childhd bullying r any humiliating event during the teenage. Hwever, it is pssible that a cmbinatin f these factrs may be in line t prduce a phbia. Apart frm these three factrs there may be sme ther reasns that cause phbia: Certain accident r trauma e.g. if a persn gt burnt in his childhd, he might later fear the fire r ht bject. And that is nt just limited t childhd Learned respnses, adpted uncnsciusly in the early life. Mstly peple deal with the situatins later n in their life in the way they witnessed their elders reacting t the situatin. Respnse t panic, a persn tries t avid r feel extremely anxius in a situatin r place in which he has reacted in panic befre. Lng term stress can als cause depressin and anxiety the further diminishes the ability t deal with the nrmal situatins. Symptms f a phbia If a persn knws that it is safe and secure utside the balcny f a high dwelling building but still feels scared t g ut r please frm the scenic view even while staying inside the building, likewise, a persn may knw that a lizard is harmless, but yet he cannt cntrl his anxiety and stand its presence in the rm, it can be said in these situatin that these peple
are phbic t such situatins. Many peple may have fears f small things, that is cmpletely nrmal, but the researchers state that a fear becmes phbia if lasts mre than size mnths and starts affecting the individual s day-t-day life. The mst cmmnly nticed symptms f phbia are as fllws: Physical symptms Feeling like chking Feeling dizzy and shivering Feeling lightheaded and faintness Excessive sweating Overreacting due t inability t cntrl the fear Accelerated heart beat High bld pressure Ht/cld flashes Tightness in the chest r chest pain Numbness r tingling sensatin Invluntary trembling Shrtness f breath Nausea r diarrhea Chumming stmach Other symptms Fear f lsing cntrl and ging crazy Feeling like yu are abut t die r pass ut Feeling an intense urge t leave the place
These symptms can trigger a panic attack if they intensify. Experiencing such acute situatins is highly unpleasant and in sme cases may be frightening. It can make a persn feeling ut f cntrl, weighed dwn r stressed. This is the main reasn why peple with phbias start aviding such settings instead t facing their fears. Preventive measures There are many ways t address the different types f phbia and lessening its effect n an individual s life. Managing the panic and anxiety If a persn learns t manage his panic as a result his phbia, it can help him t cntrl the situatin and his behavir. There are many relaxatin techniques that remedy the affects the f fear and anxiety i.e. meditatin, yga, breath cntrl practice and stretching. One can als learn a mindfulness technique which is fcusing n the present mment with full attentin withut letting the ther thughts t vercme the mind. Jining a supprt grup These types f grup prvide the pprtunity t share the experiences and learning hw the ther peple cped up with the similar situatins. It gives a cmfrting feeling that a persn is nt the nly ne ging thrugh the hardship. Other grup mates can als prvide suggestins abut dealing with the difficult times. It usually plays a very imprtant rle when a persn is hesitant t g ut in public r face the ther peple. One can als access an nline supprt grup if the situatin is severe. There are fficial scial supprt grups such as Anxiety UK s frum r Mind s Elefriends cmmunity, benefiting the peple ging thrugh the fear and anxiety.
Self-help resurces There are self help resurces like nline prgrammes r published bks based n cgnitive behaviral therapy principles that can help the peple t prduce a regime f reducing their anxiety and t handle their fears. When shuld a persn get treatment? It is hard t cnfigure that when shuld a persn lk ut fr help. When the avidance f bjects r situatins starts interfering with the everyday life, it is the time when the help shuld be sught. Treatment f phbia shuld be cnsidered if: It starts t intensify the panic and anxiety Fear gets excessive and perverse Avidance starts causing severe distress It resists yu t get help fr ther health issues It has been mre than six mnth since the issue aruse. Cmmn treatments available There are mainly three kinds f treatment prcedures that are suggested by the Natinal Institute f Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as fllws: Talking treatments Cgnitive Behavir therapy Hyntherapy Cmmunity services Medicatin Beta-blckers Tranquilizers Anti-depressants
Self-help supprt Hw can Family and Friends prvide help? The attentin family and friends play an enzymatic rle fr a phbic persn in vercming his fears. They can supprt the sufferer by Being supprtive and sympathetic Finding ut helps that can calm them dwn and feel safe Cmfrting them withut applying mental pressure r frcing them Encuraging them t get apprpriate treatment
References Fritscher, L. (2017, March 5). What Causes Phbias? Retrieved frm https://www.verywellmind.cm/what-causes-phbias-2671511 Anxiety Disrders. Natinal Institute f Mental Health. (2008, February 13). Retrieved frm http://www.nimh.nih.gv/health/publicatins/anxiety-disrders/cmpletepublicatin.shtml#pub5. May Clinic. Phbias. (n.d.)retrieved frm http://www.mayclinic.rg/diseasescnditins/phbias/basics/definitin/cn-20023478. Anxiety Disrder Assciatin f America, Scial Anxiety Disrder (n.d.) Retrieved frm http://www.adaa.rg/understanding-anxiety/scial-anxiety-disrder