A fear is not a phobia. An overwhelming, persistent fear of a specific thing or situation that is mostly irrational. It’s normal to have fear when faced with danger, but a phobia is irrational, and takes over your ability to function normally. Specific phobias, social phobia (fear of social situations) and agoraphobia (fear of open or crowded spaces), are common types of phobias. Causes of phobias can include genetic predispositions, previous traumatic experiences, or behaviors (repetition) learned from others.
Which People Have Common Phobias?
However phobias regarding everyday situations and objects are quite common among the people. Some of the most common phobias include:
- Acrophobia: Fear of heights
- Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
- Aerophobia: Fear of flying
- Claustrophobia: Fear of enclosed spaces
- Social Anxiety: Getting anxious about giving a speech before a group or getting anxious about social situations
These phobias can really limit one’s life. That is, if a person has aerophobia, they may not go on a flight, and if a person has social anxiety they might not go to events with public interaction.
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Signs and Symptoms of Phobias
Physical and emotional symptoms can manifest in phobias. Physical signs include sweating, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. With the feared object or situation, people will feel overwhelming anxiety or panic. The difference is that this reaction is an extreme response. Knowing what to look out for helps understand phobias and know when you should seek help. At Counsel Clinic, we offer various counseling services to support individuals dealing with phobias and other anxiety-related conditions.
How to Deal with Phobias Helpfully
To cure phobia you need time, effort and sometimes the aid of several approaches. Here are some effective strategies:
Cognitive Behavioral therapeutic (CBT)
Phobias are widely treated using CBT. It is designed to help examine and challenge negative thoughts that form part of the fear response. CBT replaces irrational thoughts with more realistic (or more accurate) thoughts about the feared object or situation. By creating repeated sessions patients can learn to control their anxiety, and feel more powerful in facing fear.
Exposure Therapy
Another effective way to combat phobias is exposure therapy. They’re not something to knock on your bedroom door and rap about. Gradually and with increasing exposure to the feared object or situation is the technique used in this.
So, gradually, you desensitize the person to their fear. For instance, someone fearful of spiders might first look at pictures of spiders, then in the same room as a spider, and then eventually, be able to handle a spider. Living with phobias poses many problems, yet there is an approach that helps patients confront the fear itself – exposure therapy.
Breathing Is Relaxation Techniques
Deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, and other relaxation exercises can help to control the physical side effects of anxiety. These techniques are easy to practice, and can help people calm their nervous system and lessen their fearful response. For example, deep breathing engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which essentially offsets the body’s ‘fight or flight’ reaction and allows you to relax and calm down.
Medication
Medication may be prescribed in some cases to help manage the symptoms of phobias, (especially if they are severe) Medication in the form of anti anxiety medications or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be used to stabilize mood and lessen the peak fear response. Therapy is typically accompanied by medication for the greatest results.
Support Groups or Counseling
People with phobias can find support groups to be a great source of community. Reducing feelings of isolation by connecting with others who have the same experiences and can offer coping strategies. Emotional support and guidance through the recovery process is provided by counseling, group or individual.
Overcoming Phobias require lifestyle changes
Therapy with the help of a doctor can be complemented by adopting a healthier lifestyle; this can help reduce the awful impacts of phobias. Physical activity on a regular basis can help lower stress levels and keep mood balanced, but nutrition as well as adequate sleep are also important in mental well being. Activities such as yoga or journaling can help manage stress and facilitate the healing process.
When to Seek Professional Help From a Psychiatrist
And when phobias become overwhelming, it’s important to seek professional help, because they may start interfering with your ability to get through a normal day. If fear is keeping you from doing normal things, or if you are disturbed by fear to the point of being unable to perform everyday activities, a psychologist or psychiatrist, such as the best psychologist in Sharjah, may evaluate you to determine a course of treatment. Treatment may include therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
While phobias can leave you greatly distressed, you can nevertheless work at beating them. Now that we know the nature of phobias, with the help of therapies, such as CBT, exposure therapy and relaxation techniques, people can get their fears back under their control. In addition to these lifestyle changes, professionals, family and friends provide support on the way to healing. If you find yourself dealing with a phobia just remember that, tough as it may be, with patience and treatment phobias can be conquered.
