A Look Into Phobias
The term phobia is not uncommon in everyday vernacular. In more official terms, phobia is a persistent and unreasonable fear of a particular object, animal, activity, or situation that poses little or no real danger but nonetheless causes extreme anxiety. Perhaps you or anyone you know has a phobia, such as irrationally fearing arachnids or clowns. Phobia is not always a disease in itself. It may be a symptom of another underlying cause - usually a mental disorder. The fear felt by people who have a phobia is completely different from the anxiety that is natural to humans. Fear by itself is a perfectly psychological and physiological reaction that arises in response to a possible threat or danger situation. Phobia, on the other hand, does not follow a logic itself, and anxiety in these cases is inconsistent with the real danger it poses. Phobia is often long lasting and causes intense physical and psychological reactions, thereby having the potential to seriously degrade the quality of life of those who have it.
There are several types of phobias, ranging from intense fear of social situations (social phobia) and fear of crowded places (agoraphobia) to fear of animals, objects or specific situations (simple phobia). The cause of many phobias is still unknown to doctors. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence that many people's phobia may be related to family history, leading to the belief that genetic factors may play an important role in the origin of persistent and irrational fear. It is also known that phobias can have a very direct link with past traumas and situations. This is because most emotional and behavioral problems are triggered by difficulties that a person has faced throughout their lives. Everyone has had a difficult time, but some of them may develop feelings of anxiety over time that may eventually turn into phobias.
Some types of phobia develop early, usually in childhood. Others may occur during adolescence, and some may also appear in early adulthood, up to around 35 years of age. The risk of developing a specific phobia may increase if you have a difficult temperament, are sensitive, and/or behave more inhibited and withdrawn than normal. Signs and symptoms depend a lot on the type of phobia you have. However, regardless of type, some characteristics are noted in all individuals with phobias: uncontrollable feeling of panic, terror or fear over a situation of little or no real danger; feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid a situation, something or someone you fear; and feeling an inability to lead your life normally because of illogical fear. Some physical and psychological reactions include sweating, tachycardia, difficulty breathing, feeling intense panic and anxiety, and/or knowing that the fear you feel is irrational and exaggerated, but still unable to control it.
Although some fears may seem easily conquerable, it is important to see it in the eyes of the individual. Everyone and their pasts are different, so what may seem easy for one is difficult for another. If you or someone you know is experiencing some kind of irrational, illogical or disproportionate fear, seek psychiatric help to address this fear, especially if the particular fear is severely impairing quality of life and work, study and/or relationships.
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