Where are the phobias and how to fight them

Phobia - a strong uncontrollable fear of objects or situations. The phobia is different from the usual fear?

Firstly, irrational phobias. If you are afraid of the big vicious dog that rushes at you with a human hand in his mouth - it's fear. He is rational, because you are afraid for their lives and health. But if you see a small poodle on a leash and muzzled, and the instinct of self begins to sound the alarm, most likely a phobia.

Secondly, the phobia can not be controlled. If a friendly dog, waving tail, you decided to sniff around, you will be able to suppress the fear of logical reasoning - it's a good dog, she does not bite. If you have a phobia, you You can not rest. Despite the voice of common sense, you begin to panic.

Panic attack - it is often (but not required) satellite phobia. Here is a list of symptoms of a panic attack:

• heart palpitations;
• labored breathing;
• rapid speech or inability to speak;
• dry mouth;
• high blood pressure;
• indigestion and nausea;
• chest pain;
• shiver;
• suffocation;
• dizziness;
• increased sweating;
• a sense of hopelessness.

Third, if you have a phobia, you avoid situations in which you can meet the object of fear. For example, you do not go for a walk in the park, because there are walking their dogs.

The causes of phobias

There are several causes of phobias - biological, genetic, psychological, social.

Biological and genetic causes

You can not call these factors determine, but they increase the risk of phobias. People who are prone to anxiety and fear, there is a lack of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) - a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect.

brain damage as a result of injury, long medication, abuse substances, depression, prolonged stress - all of which can affect the reduction of GABA and increasing anxiety.

Often there are cases of transmission of inherited phobia. Doctors have found that if the child grows up in a family in which one parent suffers from a phobia, there is a possibility that the anxiety-phobic disorders occur and the child. But you can not argue with a precision that has a greater effect on the appearance of a phobia - a genetic predisposition, or the observation of the behavior of the parents.

social reasons

Almost never occur phobias arising without external influences. The question is whether the traumatic events sick person remembers as specific phobias often develop in early childhood.

The shocking events experienced in childhood, gradually degenerated into irrational fears. For example, if the child has had a bad experience with a closed space (such as those from Carrie Stephen King's novel, which is a punishment locked in a narrow closet), later he may develop claustrophobia. The attack of the animal, insect bite, the loss of the crowd, falling from a height - such events may well cause phobias.

psychological causes

Phobias, as well as panic attacks, may not have an obvious cause. There was no stress or traumatic events, however, there was a phobia. In this case, the cause may be lurking in the subconscious.

Misinterpreted actions and words, incorrect assessment of future events as muting personality and other psychological problems can also cause panic attacks and unwarranted fear.

The legacy of ancestors

It is believed that some phobias have arisen in the course of evolution. For example, in ancient times it was dangerous to be alone in open spaces because of the risk of attack predators.

It is therefore logical that some people, especially young children, are afraid to be in an open area. They instinctively understand that it is much safer to be in hiding.

Social phobia may also be an echo of the survival instinct. A thousand years ago, remain strangers to the group (for example, people from another tribe) was far more dangerous than it is now.

Entomophobia, fear of insects, can be explained by the fear of poisonous bites. Trypophobia, fear of clustered holes, - the presence of poisonous animals with a similar color.

So the seeds of traumatic events fall into the fertile soil of genetic predisposition or a weak psyche, which could result in a phobia, or even a bouquet phobias.

Risk factors

Increased risk of developing phobias are people who are prone to anxiety and post-traumatic experience, as well as children whose parents suffer from phobias.

As for the other factors, the age, social and financial situation, the floor can cause a tendency to a particular type of phobia.

For example, women are more common phobias related to animals. Children and people with low economic status, more likely to suffer from social phobias. And men are more prone to phobias associated with dentists and other doctors.

types of phobias

The American Psychiatric Association identifies more than 100 different phobias. Here are the most common ones.

Agoraphobia

Often, this phobia is called the fear of open spaces. People with agoraphobia fear being in a crowd or trapped far from home. They often avoid social events and prefer "not to leave the room, do not make a mistake."

Many people with agoraphobia suffer from a panic attack in a place that can not leave. If they have a chronic disease, they are afraid of exacerbations and disease attacks on people or where no one can help them.

social phobia

This phobia is also called disturbing social disorder. It is the fear of social situations, even the most simple. For example, people with social phobia may be afraid to order in a restaurant or picking up the phone.

specific phobias

Here are some unusual phobias recognized:

• ablutophobia - fear to take a bath;
• aelurophobia - fear of cats;
• acarophobia - fear pochosyvaniem;
• kaliginefobiya (venustrafobiya) - Fear of beautiful women;
• krometofobiya (hrematofobiya) - fear touch money;
• mageyrokofobiya - fear of cooking food;
• tsiklofobiya - Fear of bicycles and a moving vehicle;
• hedonophobia - fear of pleasure, enjoyment;
• tetraphobia - fear of the number four.

A large list of specific phobias is given in Wikipedia, and here here them even more.

How to deal with phobias

In contrast to the usual fear, which can be controlled with the help of logical arguments, anger management and breathing techniques, from phobias are not so easy to get rid of. For the treatment of this disorder use different types of treatment - medication, psychotherapy, hypnosis.

The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of the United States the most effective form of therapy for the treatment of phobias recognize CBT. The essence of this technique is that the patient has completely changes the negative thoughts about their fears into positive.

The therapist guides the patient by asking him leading questions: "Who decided that it's bad?" Or "Who said that it will continue forever? '.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the belief that a person's own thoughts affect how he feels. With treatment a person gets rid of false beliefs, realize their erroneous thoughts that cause anxiety, and replaces them with positive attitudes.

In addition, with the help of cognitive behavioral therapy, a person is found with their fears. Under the supervision of a therapist, he is immersed in the atmosphere of a situation that gives him panic attacks.

Initially, it is in the patient's mind, and then - in reality or virtual reality. In recent years, virtual reality gadgets are becoming more affordable, and therapists can use them for maximum immersion into a dangerous situation for the patient in a secure environment.

During therapy the patient is formed a habit normally react to frightening objects or situations. He learns to cope on their own with a phobia, takes control of his fear.

Also used medication: drugs help reduce the physical manifestations of anxiety and fear. When anxiety and phobic disorders prescribed antidepressants, tranquilizers, in special cases - neuroleptics.

However, the drugs do not affect the cause of the phobia, therefore, as a rule, are used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

And you met with phobias in your life?