Image from rawpixel. Rational Fear Rational fears occur where there is a real, imminent threat. Primal Fear Primal fear is defined as an innate fear that is programmed into our brains. Back to Blogs. Gift Card. Give someone the best gift ever: a gift card to Escape Games! Order one today. Sometimes, though, there may be no single event that causes a particular phobia. Some people may be more sensitive to fears because of personality traits they are born with, certain genes they've inherited, or situations they've experienced.
People who have had strong childhood fears or anxiety may be more likely to have one or more phobias. Having a phobia isn't a sign of weakness or immaturity.
It's a response the brain has learned in an attempt to protect the person. It's as if the brain's alert system triggers a false alarm, generating intense fear that is out of proportion to the situation. Because the fear signal is so intense, the person is convinced the danger is greater than it actually is. People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears. This is not easy at first.
It takes willingness and bravery. Sometimes people need the help of a therapist to guide them through the process. Overcoming a phobia usually starts with making a long list of the person's fears in least-to-worst order. For example, with a dog phobia, the list might start with the things the person is least afraid of, such as looking at a photo of a dog. It will then work all the way up to worst fears, such as standing next to someone who's petting a dog, petting a dog on a leash, and walking a dog.
Gradually, and with support, the person tries each fear situation on the list — one at a time, starting with the least fear. The person isn't forced to do anything and works on each fear until he or she feels comfortable, taking as long as needed. A therapist could also show someone with a dog phobia how to approach, pet, and walk a dog, and help the person to try it, too. The person may expect terrible things to happen when near a dog.
Talking about this can help, too. When people find that what they fear doesn't actually turn out to be true, it can be a great relief.
A therapist might also teach relaxation practices such as specific ways of breathing, muscle relaxation training, or soothing self-talk. These can help people feel comfortable and bold enough to face the fears on their list. As somebody gets used to a feared object or situation, the brain adjusts how it responds and the phobia is overcome. Often, the hardest part of overcoming a phobia is getting started.
By writing down the negative thoughts you have when confronted by your phobia, you can begin to challenge these unhelpful ways of thinking. Many times, these thoughts fall into the following categories:. Fortune telling. All dogs are dangerous. The plane is going to crash! Use the following example to get started. There are air vents which would stop the air from running out. Could you do anything to resolve this situation if it does occur?
For example:. Authors: Melinda Smith, M. Craske, M. Lancet London, England , , — Walter, H. Anxiety Disorders. American Psychiatric Association. NHS Inform. Fears and Phobias — Information geared to teenagers about fears, phobias, and treatment. NAMI Helpline — Trained volunteers can provide information, referrals, and support for those suffering from anxiety disorders in the U.
Call National Alliance on Mental Illness. Find a Therapist — Search for anxiety disorder treatment providers in the U. Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Support Groups — List of support groups in the U. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Call: Anxiety UK. Anxiety Canada — Provides links to services in different Canadian provinces. Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada. Call: 18 SANE Australia.
Helpline India — Provides information and support to those with mental health concerns in India. Call: or Vandrevala Foundation. A generous donor will match all contributions made before December 31 — doubling your gift and your impact!
Cookie Policy. Learn how to recognize, treat, and overcome the problem. What is a phobia? Difficulty breathing Racing or pounding heart Chest pain or tightness Trembling or shaking. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Phobias are one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Women are more likely to experience phobias than men.
Typical symptoms of phobias can include nausea, trembling, rapid heartbeat, feelings of unreality, and being preoccupied with the fear object.
The American Psychiatric Association APA identifies three different categories of phobias: social phobias, agoraphobia, and specific phobias. While not comprehensive, this phobia list offers a glimpse of the many phobias that can have a serious impact on a person's life.
As you may notice while you browse through this list, most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:. One important thing to remember is that virtually any object can become a fear object.
The names of specific phobias are often formed as nonce words, or words coined for a single occasion only. These names themselves are often formed by taking a Greek prefix that represents the fear object and adding the -phobia suffix. Because of this, any attempt at a completely exhaustive list of phobias would simply be an exercise in futility.
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