Phobia
is actually the Greek word for fear. A phobia is simply a fear but
it is a fear that is so strong and intense it can cause a panic
or anxiety attack. A person suffering from such fear may experience
the symptoms of panic attacks such as heart palpitations, extreme
nervousness, rapid pulse, pounding heart, tightness in the chest,
cold clammy hands and sometimes profuse sweating. They may feel
faint and have difficulty breathing. People that experience anxiety
attacks of this sort for the first time may fear they are having
a heart attack or believe they are dying.
Not
all people who suffer from a type of phobia experience these symptoms.
The severity of the phobia can range from average fear to extreme
anxiety. People that have a severe phobia may exhibit signs of paranoia
stemming from their irrational fear.
Most
people are familiar with common phobias such as Acrophobia
(fear of heights) or Claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces
or confinement) but there are many different types of phobias that
some people would have never imagined. For instance, Ablutophobia
is the fear of bathing and Melophobia is the fear of music.
There are many other seemingly odd phobias. Fear is a normal emotion
or reaction in many cases but it is only when a fear is so overwhelming
that it prevents us from living life to the fullest or causes illness
to manifest in our bodies that fear becomes abnormal. The irrational
fears of phobias can border on terror.
It
is also common to suffer from multiple phobias. People that are
phobic usually become filled with a sense of dread at the approach
of certain activities that may trigger their phobia such as social
phobia. They may make excuses to avoid attending a social function
and may actually exhibit physical symptoms of illness if their reaction
is severe enough.
Any
fear can be a phobia; it is the intensity of the reaction that makes
it so. Most often children outgrow irrational fears but some fears
can become deeply ingrained phobias that are carried into adulthood.
Even many of the fears that most of us would consider irrational
such as Acousticophobia (fear of noise) or Syngenesophobia (fear
of relatives) can have deep-seated roots that are hidden in the
subconscious mind. In some cases the reason for a particular fear
is quite clear while in others it remains obscure.
The
best way to conquer a fear is to confront it but when a person is
unwilling or unable to do so, it becomes necessary to take other
steps. Seeking the help of a psychologist is the first and best
step. A trained professional can help one to work through intense
fears making them easier to live with and helping one to function
normally in daily situations that can be stressful or trigger phobias.
They can also help those afflicted with phobias to locate the source
of the fear and confront it. Techniques such as behavior modification
and hypnosis can be employed if deemed necessary. Fear may be a
natural human reaction but don't let phobias keep you from living
life to the fullest. There is help.
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