What Are Phobias?

Phobias are persistent, irrational fears of certain objects or situations. A person who has a phobia is often so overwhelmed by their anxiety that they go to great lengths to avoid the feared object or situation. Nearly 5% of the nation''s population are affected by phobias.

Those who suffer from phobias avoid whatever they fear because with it comes a number of troubling symptoms such as:

·        Anxiety.

·        Rapid heart beat.

·        Sweating.

·        Hot or cold flashes.

·        Choking, feelings of being smothered.

·        Shaking.

·        Dizziness, faintness.

·        Extreme need to flee the situation.

·        Feelings of panic.

Children with phobias often express their anxiety by:

·        Crying.

·        Clinging.

·        Tantrums.

·        Freezing in place.

Types of Phobias
There are three types of phobias: specific phobia, social phobia and agoraphobia.

Specific Phobia

Specific phobia (sometimes called simple phobia) is the irrational fear of specific objects such as small animals, insects, snakes, closed-in spaces, heights or flying in an airplane.

Most of the time, specific phobia develops during childhood, although, it can occur in people of all ages.

Social Phobia

Social phobia, (also called social anxiety) is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in every day social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions.

The disorder typically begins in childhood or early adolescence and rarely develops after age 25. Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men, although a higher proportion of men seek help for this disorder.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is commonly referred to as a fear of social situations. A person with this phobia feels intense anxiety, often to the point of terror, in open, crowded, or public places. The onset can be either sudden or gradual. Some people who suffer from agoraphobia become so increasingly disabled by their condition, they literally will not leave their homes--or if they do venture out, they do so only with great distress or when accompanied by a friend or family member.

What Causes Phobias?

A traumatic event often triggers the development of a specific phobia, which is slightly more prevalent in women than men. Research shows that social phobia may have a hereditary component and occurs in women and men in equal proportions. However, men may seek treatment for social phobia more frequently than women.

What Treatments Are Available for Phobias?

Social phobia can be effectively treated with medications including, MAOIs, SSRIs, and high potency benzodiazepines. People with a specific form of social phobia called performance phobia have been helped by drugs called beta blockers. There is no proven drug treatment for specific phobia, but certain medications may help reduce symptoms of anxiety before one faces a phobic situation. A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy known as "exposure therapy" is also a very useful treatment for phobias and involves helping the individual become gradually more and more comfortable with the situation that frightens them. Relaxation and breathing techniques are also helpful.

Can People with Phobias Also Have Other Physical or Emotional Illnesses?

People with phobias, particularly social phobia, may also have problems with substance abuse. Many people with social or a specific phobia become so anxious that they experience panic attacks, which are intense and unexpected bursts of terror accompanied by physical symptoms. As more situational panic attacks occur, people with phobias may take extreme measures to avoid situations where they fear another attack might happen or where help would not be immediately available. This avoidance, similar to that in many panic disorder patients, may eventually develop into agoraphobia, an inability to go beyond known and safe surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of other disorders are important to successful treatment of phobias.

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