How many of us are afraid of heights? How many fear the ocean? Still how many among us feel trapped in an elevator even if there are only a few persons sharing the lift?
One time or another, we have experienced some kind of fear or phobia : of snakes, of a crowd or audience, of boarding an airplane, etc. We can not explain why we have such fear or what triggered that. All we know is that, the fear seems to consume us that we are rendered helpless when faced with these triggers.
PHOBIA
A medical definition of phobia states that is a kind of nervousness disorder but it is different than anxiety. A phobia is an unreasonable fear of something. It could be an animal, a surrounding or certain environment setting, a situation or circumstance, etc. When fear is uncontrolled, extreme and inexplicable, it is considered a phobia. If one experiences an inexorable anxiety which prevents him/her from functioning normally if faced with the fear triggers, one is considered phobic or suffering from phobia.
THREE CLASSIFICATION OF PHOBIA
Extreme fear or phobia is classified into three types - SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER, SPECIFIC PHOBIA and AGORAPHOBIA.
- SOCIAL FEAR or PHOBIA is the fear of social humiliation or discomfiture. This happens when one faces a crowd, audience or other people and fear attacks on the thought of getting embarrassed or judged in front of them. When one displays extremely low self-confidence when faced with other people, phobia sets in at the mere thought of embarrassment or humiliation. Speaking in front of an audience or crowd or even a small group of people is an activity next to impossible.
- SPECIFIC FEAR or PHOBIA is the anxiety felt over animals (snakes, mice, spiders, dogs or specific situations or environment conditions such as fear of high places, flying, water, darkness, illness, etc. The object of their fear triggers the attack of panic and terror.
- FEAR OF PUBLIC OR OPEN SPACES is the terror felt when one goes out of a secure place or a comfort zone. One panics at the thought of being in an open area with a lot of people in it and having the great trouble of getting out. The most extreme translation of this phobia is choosing to just stay at home where it is the only place in the world considered safe and protected.
SYMPTOMS OF PHOBIA
Phobia may present itself in many different ways. People display it in various degrees which could be a simple uneasiness or mild nervous attack or an extreme anxiety attack or serious severe panic episode.
There are tell-tale signs or physical symptoms evident in phobic persons. They include:
- shortness of breath
- extremely fast heartbeat rate
- dizziness
- abnormal quavering or severe trembling
- agitation
- respiratory problems (breathing difficulty, tight chest)
- troubled tummy
Most people suffering from phobia attacks also experience inexplicable anxiety or panic feeling. Near passing out or fainting when fear attacks, having an overwhelming desire to flee or run away are also common symptoms of a person with phobia.
TREATMENT OF PHOBIA
If a phobic person elicits severe distress manifestations to prevent him/her from a normal life, one should consult a medical professional on how to overcome one’s fear. As in any other disorder, treatment options are available according to the degree of phobia suffered by a person. If the fear is so intense and great that you are disabled to function normally, the phobia should be treated.
Therapists have developed therapy programs which can be done by the affected person.
Support group is always the first part of any phobia therapy program as this greatly helps the person to recognize the problem and agree to doing something about it.
A therapy would always include challenge to face the fear and triumphed over it. This will initially be difficult because a phobic person always avoids his source of fear. But constant assurance from the support group that nothing harmful or bad will happen even if one is faced with his/her fear will get the phobic person to take that chance of finally overcoming his/her fear.
Some therapists would also get the phobic person exposed or constantly faced with the phobia trigger. If the trigger is a snake, a phobic person would be seeing snakes a few times under a controlled setting just to have the feeling that the anxiety is baseless and that one should not be overwhelmed by the mere sight of these fear triggers. The phobic person’s degree of anxiety towards a fear trigger is reduced session after session.
Therapists also developed relaxation techniques to help calm down the nerves when fear attacks. There are breathing exercises which help eliminate the build-up of tension or terror. Teaching the phobic persons techniques on dealing with unpleasant thoughts or negative ideas are also helpful in overcoming phobia. Focusing on building-up one’s ability to cope and deal with the fear rather than avoiding these negative triggers, will very much help people suffering from phobia to get over their fear and liberate themselves from the stressful condition.
