Phobias are a pathological fear of a particular event or thing. The degree of
anxiety is so great that the fear leads to taking excessive steps to avoid that object or situation. This severely restricts ones life and causes much suffering.
Although mild phobias are common, 2% of the population suffer with phobias severe enough to warrant treatment. There are over 530 phobias identified, the most common are specific phobias (eg needles), agoraphobia , social phobias (fear of encountering people) and animal phobias such as spiders.
Causes
It is thought that phobias are conditioned reflexes that develop following an event that triggered an episode of severe fear. The event and the associated symptoms of fear and anxiety become entwined resulting in the phobia.
Psychoanalysts believe that phobias originate from deeply buried symbolic emotions usually of a foetal or sexual nature.
Symptoms
The thought or encounter of the specific event leads to symptoms of anxiety and fear due to the release of the 'fight or flight' chemical adrenaline into the blood stream. This results in the classical physical symptoms. One may develop palpitations, fast pulse, become sweaty or even want to pass urine or open your bowels. You may appear flushed with dilated pupils as well as start shaking or trembling. Over breathing or hyperventilation may occur which if persistent results in numbness and pins and needles. Longstanding fear may lead to depression or ritualistic behaviour to avoid the situation
Types of Phobias
This is a fear of appearing in social situations and becoming the center of attention. Parties and social interaction are particularly difficult to cope with as are interactions at work. Symptoms often start in childhood or early adolescence and may be associated with poor academic performance.
This is a morbid fear of public or open spaces. The fear is often of specific situations such as being alone at home or in crowds or on public transport. The fear leads to a restriction of normal life such as shopping and even work.
The fear of specific objects or animals normally starts in childhood but may also develop in early adult life. Traumatic events or repeated warnings may have a role to play in the formation of specific phobias. The classic specific phobias are that of spiders - arachnophobia or needles and blood. The symptoms may be precipitated by thinking about the specific object. A secondary fear of the phobia itself may occur resulting in phobophobia.
Treatment
Mild phobias usually respond to sympathy and a mild sedative. Severe phobias are usually treated by psychotherapy techniques and/or drug therapy.
This psychotherapy treatment is based on the belief that psychological problems are the products of faulty ways of thinking about the world. A therapist assists the patient to identify these false ways of thinking and to avoid them.
The patient is exposed intensively and at length to the feared object either in reality or in fantasy. Although it is distressing and needs good motivation if treatment is to be completed. It is an effective and rapid treatment.
This involves helping the patient to relax while in the situation that they find frightening. It is usually done in stages. Each time the situation is made a little more extreme until the fear is conquered.
Desensitisation Therapy
The thing that is feared is very gradually introduced to the patient, first in the imagination and then in reality. At the same time the patient is taught relaxation to inhibit the development of anxiety
Source:www.privatehealth.co.uk
Last Editorial Review: 15/1/2010
