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What is a
phobia?
by Chris Williams, MD
You
may have friends or relatives who are very scared of animals such as
spiders, or of situations such as heights, or you yourself may have
such fears. Sometimes we may become so fearful that even just thinking
about the feared situation can result in strong feelings of panic.
We may avoid anything to do with
that situation as a result. This can lead to an increasingly restricted
lifestyle, lack of confidence and additional long-term distress. When
this occurs, we are described as having a phobia. Phobias, worry,
depression and panic attacks commonly occur together.
Definition: A phobia
describes problems of high anxiety (often with panic attacks) that
regularly occurs in a particular situation.
We become overly aware of any
possible threats relating to our fear and try to avoid or quickly leave
any situation, people or places that cause us to feel anxious. We often
know logically that the situation will not harm or kill us, yet we
experience the anxiety anyway.
There are many different types
of phobia:
Avoidance of specific situations or objects. For example, a common
phobia is a fear of heights. Almost any object can become a cause of
phobic fear, for example insects, wasps, or spiders.
Avoidance of one to one and other conversations with people. This is
called social phobia where there is excessive shyness and very high
anxiety in social situations. Sometimes there may be a more focused
fear of public speaking to a large group of people. For example, a
teacher may become anxious leading a class.
Avoidance of specific places. You may have heard of people who have
panic attacks on buses or in shops or other crowded situations where it
is difficult to escape. This is called agoraphobia - one of the most
common forms of phobia.
Virtually any situation, places or people can become the focus of a
phobia. Each phobia has a specific name however, the description above
summarises the main types that occur.
Virtually any situation, places or people can become the focus of a
phobia. Each phobia has a specific name however, the description above
summarises the main types that occur.
Phobia checklist:
Q. Do I notice strong feelings of anxiety or panic when I face
particular situations, people or places?
Q. Does even thinking about these situations, places or people make me
feel
nervous?
Q. Have I become overly sensitive to anything to do with the phobic
fear?
Q. Am I downplaying my own ability to overcome these fears?
Q. Am I avoiding these situations, places or people?
Q. Overall, am I living an increasingly restricted lifestyle as a
result?
If you have answered Yes to any of these questions, then you may have a
phobia. Talk to your health care practitioner about this.
If you have answered Yes to any of these questions, then you may have a
phobia. Talk to your health care practitioner about this.
Next step: To find out more you could read Workbook 3: Understanding
panic and phobias in the book Overcoming Anxiety: A Five Areas Approach.
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article source: Living Life to
The Full site by Dr. Williams
Chris Williams, MD is a Psychiatrist and Cognitive Therapist, and
author of the books:
Overcoming
Depression: A Five Areas Approach
Overcoming
Anxiety: A Five Areas Approach
I'm
not supposed to feel like this: A Christian self-help approach to
depression and anxiety.
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