Phobias are classified as a type of anxiety disorder. A phobia is an intense, irrational and consistent fear that is triggered by a specific object, activity or situation. The fear experienced is usually completely unnecessary and unquantifiable in relation to the real danger posed by the situation. The situations or objects feared often pose no or very little danger at all, the person however, is unable to control their anxiety or the fear that results from such anxiety.

Phobias are diagnosed if they are found to be particularly distressing and impairing to the individual to the extent that it can interfere with their day to day lives. A phobia will be diagnosed based upon the degree of its severity.

Who suffers from phobias?

Phobias can affect anyone; they affect people at all ages from all over the world. It is thought that up to 18% of Americans suffer from phobias. Phobias are the most common mental illness amongst women and are very common in men above their mid 20’s.

Types of Phobias

Phobias can be classified into three categories, these are:

Social Phobia

A social phobia is a fear involving people and social situations. Anyone suffering from a social phobia may fear being observed, watched and judged by others. They fear scrutiny even when performing the most common everyday tasks such as walking, shopping or eating in public. Social phobias can be categorised into two:

• Generalised Social Phobia; see social anxiety disorder
• Specific Social Phobias; anxiety and fear to particular social situations and events that are so intense that the person is unable to perform as normal and tries to avoid the situation. The most common specific social phobia is stage freight (glossophobia); the fear of speaking and performing in public. Other examples include fears of eating in public, urinating in public restrooms (paruresis) and dealing with authorities.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces involving leaving home or a specific area that the person feels comfortable in. This can be caused when a person fears they will be exposed to what they fear if they leave their ‘safe zone’. Agrophobia can arise by the fear of having a panic attack where there is no means of hide or escape. Other causes of Agoraphobia include (post traumatic stress disorder), the fear of germs and contamination (Mysophobia) and social phobias.

Specific Phobias

Specific phobias are the fear of a particular object, activity or situation. They can attribute to almost anything including heights, small spaces, flying, spiders, water, dogs, clowns, the list is endless! People with specific phobias will completely avoid what it is they are afraid of and they will have no or very little control over their fear.

Phobia Symptoms

The symptoms and severity of a phobia will vary amongst individuals. Some will experience mild anxiety and as a result will avoid the subject of their phobia. Others may experience extreme fear resulting in uncontrollable hysteria and outbursts of panic. Many whom suffer from a phobia are completely aware that they have nothing to fear, but are completely powerless to control their fear.

The physical symptoms of phobia are linked to intense anxiety and fear. These include:

• Rapid heart rate/palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling and shaking
• Hot flashes and sweating
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness

The behavioral and emotional symtoms include:

• Feelings of panic
• Screaming, Shouting and/or crying
• Feelings of intense fear and terror
• Uncontrollable thoughts and reactions
• Strong desire for escape
• Excessive desire to avoid the feared object/situation

Causes of Phobias

Phobias are caused by a severe emotional response to a particular event that occurred in the past, an experience so distressing that it will have had an impact upon that person’s life. The fear produced to this event is transmitted to other similar situations, even if the original fear has been repressed and forgotten. The reaction to an event or object similar in nature is that of a conditioned response regardless of how irrational that response may be or how slight the actual situation is.

For example, someone who nearly drowned during childhood might become terrified of been in water, no matter how deep it is. Someone who was attacked by an animal might become scared of that animal, and as a result might develop a phobia of that particular type of animal.

Treating Phobias

Those who suffer from any phobia that interferes with their day to day lives should seek help. The good news is that the prognosis for treating phobias is promising. In fact, people who seek the right treatment manage to face and overcome their phobias. There are numerous types of treatment that are used to help people do this. Phobias are most effectively treated by therapy, medication or a combination of both.

Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has a 90% success rate. Therapy is undertaken with a trained professional usually in a group setting. Patients are exposed to the object or situation that triggers their phobia in a gradual and well controlled manor. They are taught how to change their cycle of negative thought patterns and control their mental and physical reactions by gradually confronting their fear. Initially the patient will endure some discomfort but overtime they should adapt and become more comfortable in the situation that once terrified them.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used to cure symptoms that result from traumatic life experiences. It is currently been tested in clinical trails to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but has also been used to help treat specific phobias.

Medications to treat phobias

Medications can be used to prevent the effects and feelings of anxiety and fear. Antidepressants including MAOI’s and SSRI’s are used in some cases of phobia. Some medications including Benzodiazepines are used to treat severe symptoms of anxiety, there are however risks and side effects following their long term use.

For more details about treating phobias, anxiety and panic disorders please see treatments for anxiety.