Introduction

A phobia is an extreme fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.

People with phobias avoid what they are afraid of so they won’t feel worried and stressed.

There are five types of phobias:

• Natural environment phobias, such as being afraid of storms or lightning.
• Animal phobias, such as being afraid of spiders or dogs.
• Blood-injection-injury phobias, such as being afraid of blood or getting a shot (injection).
• Situational phobias, such as being afraid of elevators or bridges.
• Other phobias, such as being afraid of choking or throwing up. Other phobias in children include being afraid of loud noises or characters in costumes, such as clowns.

Overview and Facts

About 10% of people have had a phobia at some time and women are twice as likely as men to have a phobia. Many people who have phobias also have another problem such as an anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse. According to the research done by IDRAAC, 7.1% of the Lebanese population have a specific phobia.

Symptoms

To be diagnosed with a phobia, you must have most of the following symptoms:

• You are more afraid than most people of a specific object, situation, or activity
• You feel stressed or have a panic attack when you are near the object or situation
• If you are a teenager or adult, you understand that the amount of fear you have about the object or situation is not reasonable
• You avoid the object, situation, or activity that you are afraid of
• The fear and stress that you feel make it hard for you to do normal activities such as going to work every day or doing grocery shopping
• If you are under age 18, you have had symptoms for at least 6 months

Your symptoms don’t fit another problem, such as panic disorder

Consult a doctor if:

• You feel more afraid than most people of being around an object, being in a situation, or doing an activity
• This fear is affecting your wellbeing and you have so much fear that it is hard to do normal activities

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of phobias is unknown. Phobias may be related to personal experiences and the risk can increase if you have a family member who has a phobia.

Phobias usually start when a person is a child or a teenager. Children have more animal phobias, natural environment phobias, and blood-injection-injury phobias than teenagers or adults. Situational phobias usually start when a person is an adult. Women often have phobias at a younger age than men do. If a person has one phobia, he or she is likely to have another phobia as well.

Tests and Diagnosis

To find out if you have a phobia, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, including how long you have had them. Your doctor may also do a physical exam, ask questions about your medical history, and ask questions about medicines you are taking. This information will help your doctor find out whether or not you have some other condition. Your doctor will rely on scientific criteria to check whether you have a phobia.

Treatment

Phobias are treated with:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: this therapy includes imagining or actually being close to the object, situation, or activity that you are afraid of.
• Medication
• Combination of psychotherapy and medication

Sources and Links

• www.idraac.org
• www.mayoclinic.com
• www.webmd.com

Loading...