A specific phobia is an intense, persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, or person. Usually, the fear is proportionally greater than the actual danger or threat. People with specific phobias are highly distressed about having the fear, and often will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation in question. According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (dsm-5), the year-long community prevalence estimate for specific phobias is approximately 7%-9%. Some examples of phobias:
a teenager with a dog phobia avoids going to the houses of friends and family who own dogs.
Most phobias develop in childhood and are commonly passed down by a family member. However, the main cause of phobias is still unknown. Frequent causes of phobias include: traumatic experience involving object of fear experiencing a panic attack in specific situation or around an object witnessing someone else being harmed by specific activity or object hearing a tragic story involving a specific activity or object having phobias and fears is common, and often rational. However, if these fears begin to interfere with daily life, consult with a doctor. For example, a phobia of driving on the freeway should not be so strong that it keeps a person from driving to work or school.
Phobias and Irrational Fears
The symptoms of phobia are:
excessive, unreasonable, persistent feelings of fear or anxiety that are triggered by a particular object, activity or situation. Feelings are either irrational or out of proportion to any actual threat. For example, while anyone may be afraid of an unrestrained, menacing dog, most people do not run away from a calm, quiet animal on a leash. Avoidance of the object, activity or situation that triggers the phobia. Because people who have phobias recognize that their fears are exaggerated, they are often ashamed or embarrassed about their symptoms. To prevent anxiety symptoms or embarrassment, they avoid the triggers for the phobia.
If you have a specific phobia, you probably realize that your fears are irrational. However, facing or even thinking about facing the object or situation can bring on a panic attack or intense anxiety. The symptoms of specific phobias usually first appear in adolescence or adulthood, with an average onset of 7 years old. Children’s fears often disappear by themselves, but in some, they persist into adulthood. According to the latest edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (dsm-5), the symptoms associated with specific phobias — fear, anxiety, and avoidance — persist for. Without treatment, they can persist for years or decades.
Speak to a Therapist Now
“talking to someone who is outside of your usual circle of family or friends can create a sense of containment,” says lorraine. “with a therapist you’re in a safe setting that’s set up for you to give voice to any thoughts, feelings and concerns that you might be embarrassed to share with those close to you. "speaking to a trained therapist can help you start a treatment plan to enable you to manage and better understand your concerns. They'll also help you to identify and change the unhelpful coping skills you’re using to manage your phobia. "the aim is to help you feel more grounded, understood and better able to manage your distress.
Phobias are persistent and extreme fears that are out proportion with the actual threat posed. A phobia may be of an object or situation, with a strong desire to avoid the fear and, in some cases, an inability to function at normal tasks (such as a job or a social situation). Phobias are among several anxiety disorders , which also include panic disorder , post-traumatic stress disorder , obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually connected with something specific. Common specific phobias include those related to animals (e. G. Snakes and spiders) and situational phobias, like fear of enclosed spaces ( claustrophobia ) or travelling in aeroplanes.
Often phobias pose little real danger but they do provoke anxiety and avoidance in the people who suffer from them. People with a phobia either try to avoid the thing that triggers the fear, or they endure it with great anxiety and distress. This can trigger panic attacks. Some of the psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and delusional disorder, can cause fears that resemble phobias or another anxiety disorder in many ways. However, those with psychotic disorders typically believe that their fears are well-founded and based in reality. Adults with phobias or another anxiety disorder usually recognise that their fears are irrational.