How Phobias Affect People And How To Treat Them
When I was Care Worker a few years ago I studied Mental Health Awareness and one of the topics was Phobias. I now share my knowledge to you. I hope it helps. Please share as sharing is caring.
The meaning
Phobia means an intense fear of an object or situation which results in a person actively avoiding the thing that they fear. The fear is irrational which means that the fear and anxiety experienced is not a rational or realistic response to the actual threat posed.
the main groups of phobias
The main groups of phobias are ‘Specific’,’ Social’ and ‘Agoraphobia’ phobias.
Specific phobias – These are most common and focus on specific objects, animals, places or situations.
Social phobia – this is a fear of being publicly judged, criticised and humiliated which cause extreme anxiety in social or public situations.
Agoraphobia – an intense fear of being caught or trapped in situations where they are unable to get help. This often relates to going out in the open or leaving a safe place.
three examples for each specific and social phobia
Three examples of specific phobias
Claustrophobia – A fear of confined spaces/being trapped
Trypanophobia – A fear of injections or sight of needles, blood or injury.
Erythrophobia – A fear of blushing
Three examples of social phobias
Social anxiety disorder
When you become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations
Specific social phobia
Usually limited to one situation such as giving a speech or writing in front of others
General social phobias
These people experience anxiety around almost anyone other than their family and is therefore more disabling in situations such as being the centre of attention.
three possible causes of a phobia
Long-tern stress and anxiety
This can make people more vulnerable to problems such as phobias
Social factors
Such as difficult relationships, poor housing and poverty can place a strain on people and make them more vulnerable to developing a phobia of some kind.
Family background
People who have anxious parents or parents that have a phobia are more like to have a phobia or the same phobia. This can be genetic or more likely to be learned from their parents.
how a specific phobia could impact upon a person’s life.
People with a specific phobia may have a great deal of thought planning out their journeys or the places they visit in order to avoid the thing that they fear.
For example a person that has a phobia of dogs may not be able to go to the park or be forced to cross the road or even hide when they see a dog.
People with general social phobia find it difficult to interact with other people and form new relationships. Many say that they have always been shy and this has led to their limited social skills later.
Many suffer from poor self-esteem seeing themselves as boring and socially inept. They cope with is by avoiding social contact wherever possible.
how agoraphobia could impact upon a person’s life
Agoraphobics experience a loss of social networks. As a result when the person is put in situations or places from which they believe they cannot escape they tend to avoid getting into those situations in the first place.
They will spend most of their time around a place that feels safe. Some people refuse to leave their homes sometimes years at a time.
They can also be susceptible to other physical and mental health problems for example loss of freedom and social stimulation experienced by many people with agoraphobia lead to developing depression.
how a person’s phobia may affect their friends and family
Watching the difficulties and discomfort felt by a child with their phobia can be deeply upsetting to parents. On the other hand friends and family may constantly worry about them getting into situations where their fear may overwhelm them.
There are also restrictions and limitations. For example, not being able to fly will affect holiday choices or simple things not being able to use lifts and going to shops.
This can also seriously affect the parent or partners freedom and obliged to go where they want to go or just to stay at home in some cases. The friends and family become frustrated and annoyed with these restrictions or obligations placed upon them.
Some family members may not be able to understand the disabling nature so they then become resentful that they have to rely on them so much.
five examples of self-help for phobias
Joining a support group is a good way of meeting new people who have or had similar experiences. They can be a forum for sharing coping strategies and a means of obtaining mutual support.
Relaxation techniques
These are very helpful in managing and over-coming their phobia. For example meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, listening to relaxation CDs. They can use these to help feel calm in panicky situations.
Visualisation
This combines relaxation and breathing techniques with mental imagery. For example the person visualises themselves successfully planning and carrying out a task, such as taking a trip to the shops.
Graded self-exposure
A process if gradually confronting their fears and staying within that feared situation until their fear subsides. This is known as exposure therapy or systemic desensitisation.
Computerised self-help – ‘Fearfighter’ is a package that follows principles of cognitive behaviour therapy. This is designed for panic and phobias and helps the person to set up a programme of action to fight their fears.
two talking treatments used to treat phobias
Talking treatments has been shown to be highly effective in helping people manage and overcome their phobias in particular exposure therapy. Some use this as a self-help strategy however progress is often quicker when a trained therapist in involved.
In exposure therapy the person is exposed in a safe and controlled way to the object or situation that they fear which involves gradual encounters with the fear, first in the imagination and then in a reality.
For example if a person has a dental phobia, over a number of sessions they might first sit in the waiting room of the surgery, then talk to the dentist, and then sit in the dentist’s chair.
These exposures are combined with relaxation techniques and a therapist providing support and encountering negative thoughts with positive ones.
Another type of treatment is participant modelling where the therapist models healthy ways of interacting the object that the person fears.
For example, a driving phobia they would watch while the therapist drives a car in a relaxed state then over a number of sessions the person would be encouraged to do the same.
two groups or classes of medications used to treat phobias
Antidepressants
These are often prescribed to reduce anxiety levels as well as lift moods. Some antidepressants can help suppress anxious feelings when a person exposes themselves to what they fear during sessions of therapy.
Minor tranquilisers
These are intended for short-term use because of their sedative effects. They are also used to help people sleep. In the treatment of anxiety benzodiazepines is used when a person exposes themselves to what they fear during sessions of therapy. Although this is only for short-term use.
Beta-blockers
These are to treat high blood pressure and heart problems however these are sometime prescribed in low doses for anxiety. They work by blocking the effects of norepinephrine, a stress hormone involved in the fight or flight response.
examples of local sources of support that should be available to an individual experiencing a phobia
If a person’s phobia is disabling their GP should be able to refer them to a therapist. A therapist may be a clinical psychologist or community mental health nurse. For severe cases they may prescribe medications.
Walk-in centres, library and internet will have details of local support groups that can help people with phobias. The charity TOP UK runs a network of self-help therapy groups and are open to anyone aged eighteen and above. They all meet once a week and are run by trained volunteers.
BEST SELF-HELP BOOKS TO BUY
KIDS
What to Do When Fear Interferes: A Kid’s Guide to Dealing with Phobias (What-to-Do Guides for Kids)
101 Tips to Help Your Anxious Child: Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Their Fears and Worries
TEENS
Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Find Peace from Worry, Panic, Fear, and Phobias
ADULTS
Phobia Relief: From Fear to Freedom
Help with Anxiety: 150 Easy to Read Tips to Cope with and Overcome Anxiety, Worry & Panic
The Little Book of Calm: Tame Your Anxieties, Face Your Fears, and Live Free
Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
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