Phobias
People experiencing phobia will often shape their lives to avoid what they consider to be dangerous. The imagined threat is greater than the actual threat posed by the cause of fear.
Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder, and the symptoms generally coincide with that condition. The term ‘phobia’ is often used to refer to a fear of one particular trigger. The most common forms are Social phobia, Agoraphobia, and Specific Phobias with different triggers. Many triggers are related to the natural environment such as animals or specific places, medical treatments and special situations -claustrophobia, arachnophobia, acrophobia, entomophobia to name but a few. Distressing events can also become triggers for phobia — exposure to confined spaces, extreme heights, animal threats and insect bites. It is important to know that virtually any object can be a trigger for phobic anxiety.
The symptoms of phobia can range from slightly annoying to severely disabling. Such fears can interfere with work, school, and personal relationships. People with phobias often realize their fear is irrational, but they are unable to control their reactions to the trigger of phobic anxiety.
Talking to an experienced therapist can give you the right tools to find the root of the phobia, which often will help in overcoming the irrational fear.