Download Phobia - Health Niche

Phobia: Are You Really
Afraid Of?
WHAT IS PHOBIA??
A phobia is defined as the unrelenting fear of a
situation, activity, or thing. These are largely
under reported, probably because many phobia
sufferers find ways to avoid the situations to
which they are phobic. Statistics that estimate
how many people suffer from phobias vary
widely.
Different Types of Phobias
There are several types of phobias, including
social, situational, animal, and specific phobias.
While the list of phobias is almost endless, in
this slide show we will discuss some of the
popular types of Phobias.
Contd….
 Social Phobia
First we will discuss about the Social Phobia. Also
known as social anxiety disorder, social phobia is
an excessive fear of embarrassment in social
situations that is extremely disturbing and can
have devastating effects on personal and
professional relationships. This type of Phobia
includes speaking in public, meeting new people
etc.
 Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a fear of being outside or otherwise
being in a situation from which one either cannot
escape or from which escaping would be difficult or
humiliating. Although agoraphobia is caused by a
number of factors, some time it has genetic effect
too.
 Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is an abnormal and persistent
fear of closed spaces, of being closed in or
being shut in, as in elevators, tunnels, or any
other confined space. The fear is excessive
and quite common
 Acrophobia
Acrophobia is an abnormally excessive and
persistent fear of heights. Sufferers
experience severe anxiety even though they
usually realize that, as a rule, heights pose
no real threat to them.
 Zoophobia
Zoophobia, as the name suggest is the fear
realted to animal. It encompasses fears of
specific types of animals such as spiders
(arachnophobia), snakes (ophidiophobia),
birds (ornithophobia), and bees (apiphobia).
 Aerophobia
An abnormal and persistent fear of flying is
called aerophobia. This phobia generally
develops after a person witnesses a plane
crash or loses a family member in a plane
crash or accident.
Signs and Symptoms of Phobias?
Symptoms of phobias often involve having a panic
attack -- in that they include feelings of panic, dread,
or terror, despite recognition that those feelings are
excessive in relationship to any real danger -- as well
as physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, rapid
heartbeat, trouble breathing, and an overwhelming
desire to escape the situation that is causing the
phobic reaction. Also, extreme measures are
sometimes taken to escape the situation.
How Are Phobias Treated?
Helping those who suffer from phobias by
supportively and gradually exposing them to
circumstances that are increasingly close to the
one they are phobic about (desensitization) is one
way phobias are treated.
Contd…
A second method is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has
been found to significantly decrease phobic symptoms by helping
the phobia sufferer change his or her way of thinking. CBT uses
three techniques to accomplish this goal:
•Didactic component: This phase helps to set up positive
expectations for therapy and promote the phobia sufferer's
cooperation.
•Cognitive component: It helps to identify the thoughts and
assumptions that influence the person's behavior, particularly those
that may predispose him or her to being phobic.
•Behavioral component: This employs behavior-modifying
techniques to teach the individual with a phobia more effective
strategies for dealing with problems.
Why You Should Visit Psychiatrist
• If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, panic
attacks, addictions, eating and sleeping disorders, you
should visit Psychiatrist
• When relationships and work is affected because
awareness of oneself and surroundings is defective
• When behavior is bizarre or uncontrollable
• When treatment fails
• When distress is triggered by an external event like loss
or trauma, or is caused by another person’s behavior.
• And ultimately to lead a happy life
Thank You