Phobias: Social Phobias, Specific Phobias, & Agoraphobia
Understanding phobias first requires knowing what the term means. The term phobia is derived from the Greek word phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear," and is best described as an irrational, intense, and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or even people. Phobias are a common form of anxiety disorder, and millions of people of all ages suffer from them. The main symptom of this disorder is the irrational avoidance of any feared situation. This intense fear sometimes reaches a level that causes the sufferer to have no control over their fear, and it actually interferes with all aspects of life. Once the fear reaches this point, a cure often involves implementing various treatment methods for curing anxiety disorders.
Causes of Phobias
It is recognized that frightening life experiences commonly precipitate the development of phobias. Once a person experiences an extraordinarily scary situation earlier in life, phobias generally arise when fear of the original situation is extended to any similar situation later on. The individual then attempts to avoid that situation and thus reinforces the association of the situation with a panic attack or severe anxiety reaction.
Types of Phobias
There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of known phobias. And since any individual could develop a phobia of virtually anything, there could believably be an infinite number of phobias not yet officially identified. However, psychologists and psychiatrists classify most known phobias into three main categories, which are:
- Social phobias – fear involving other people or social situations. This type of phobia is sometimes difficult to overcome without professional help. Some types of social phobias may be manifest in physical symptoms. For example, sufferers of paruresis find it difficult or impossible to urinate in public restrooms or anywhere there might be little privacy. The person physically cannot empty their bladder in this situation.
- Specific phobias (simple phobias) – include fear of a single specific object or activity such as spiders, snakes, dogs, water, heights, flying, driving, catching a specific illness, vomiting (emetophobia), etc. As with other phobias, people with specific phobias painstakingly avoid the thing they fear.
- Agoraphobia – an utter fear of leaving home or a small familiar ‘safe’ zone. Agoraphobia may be brought about by specific phobias as well, such as fear of open spaces or fear of germs, etc. Perhaps the sufferer previously experienced a traumatic event that occurred while outside, thus creating a morbid fear of being in the same or similar situation ever again.
The severity of phobias differs among individuals. Some can simply avoid the thing they fear with only slight anxiety, while others suffer full-blown panic attacks. Interestingly, most individuals know their fear is irrational, but they seem to be unable to avoid their panic reaction nonetheless.
Phobia Treatments
A variety of methods are claimed to cure social phobias, specific phobias, and agoraphobia, some of which include medication and psychotherapy. Many natural methods are also claimed to help sufferers overcome their phobias. Of course, their proposed benefits may differ from person to person.
Recommended Reading
The following resources, created by Rich Presta, a former panic attack sufferer and anxiety disorder expert, come highly recommended by their readers and users. The methods or techniques taught are safe, easy to understand, and simple to apply. If you seriously want to cure your phobias (whatever they may be), we urge you to read the following applicable reviews today.
Anxiety-Free Child Program Review
Paruresis Treatment System Review
Emetophobia Recovery System Review
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