Monday, March 25, 2024

Does Everyone Have A Phobia

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Tell Me What The Fuck We Dont Have To Be Anxious About

Why does everyone have anxiety?

Tell me how anyone could get away with not having anxiety in this society if theyre even minimally wired for it genetically.

If you experience no anxiety, no anguish, no indefatigable rage at the current state of the world and your safety within it, there are really only a few options from which to choose: you have supremely anti-anxiety biological wiring , you have the privilege of somehow choosing to ignore the searing pain of reality, or you just have never really paid that much attention. No, really, there are no other explanations.

So that leaves the rest of us to hold the dialectic of trying to just have a decent life while trying to manage the emotional tax of the world in which we must build that life.

Were doing the best we can with what we have.

Stop being shocked that were all so anxious. Of course we are.

Of course we are.

Visit me on or throw money at me to keep this work going.

For a new publication at the intersection of witchery + social equity, check out Witches Rise here on Medium

Thanks for reading!

Of Course You Could Argue Who Cares If Were All Anxious Were Getting Stuff Done So Why Does It Matter

Well, heres whywhen our brains are working on autopilot like this, we arent actually taking in new experiences. When or mind is fixated on an old fear, we are seeing our whole lives through the lens of that past experience, and so spontaneity and freshness vanish from our lives slowly but surely. And we end up having different versions of the SAME experiences over and over. And we wonder why we all get so bored of our lives!?

In addition to this slow and steady decline into mediocrity.when we live a life based in a pattern of fear, eventually it blows up in our face. Because our survival mind is not looking at the long term! It is only taking into account what will keep me safe in THIS second, based on what I think I know about the world from my experiences last week/year/decade

When these reactions compound, it ends up causing us real harm. We end up crashing, getting overwhelmingly upset, having panic attacks, doing things we later regret, getting really sick, or experiencing a whole host of other ways that our system breaks down from all of that fear-based adrenaline.

Why Does Everyone Have Anxiety/depression Nowadays

Putting statistics aside for a moment, everyone you speak to in this day and age seems to be affected by either anxiety and/or depression. Mind.org states that 25% of people will suffer from some mental health issue in a year.

I thought Id explore 5 general factors that may be contributing to this. By all means, I am not qualified to diagnose/tell people what causes these issues, but these are just my thoughts. Also, these are not the only things that cause anxiety and depression and they are all equally as important to be aware of.

Diet

I think that people underestimate the importance of diet when it comes to mental health. I mean, every morning, I make a blueberry, spinach and peanut butter smoothie Believe me, within half an hour of drinking my smoothie, I feel like I turn into a superhuman. My energy levels hit the roof and I feel happier and more positive.

Without drawing upon any technical sciency stuff, it is obvious that lacking a healthy, balanced diet will have an impact on your mood. With that said, it is only a given that in the long term it will only allow these issues to persist. I mean, think of your body and mind as a car. A car needs good quality fuel, not only to move, but to be more efficient and operate optimally. Same with the body and mind. You need good quality fuel to operate optimally.

Overthinking

Mind-set/perspective

I will post more on this area in the future.

Social

Physical activity

Some concluding remarks Be human

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Social Anxiety Is A Mental Illness

Social anxiety is a form of anxiety and is thus considered a mental health condition. In fact, social anxiety can cause some of the same symptoms that accompany generalized anxiety disorder, Schwartz said.

Physical manifestations of social anxiety can include feelings of a heart racing, feeling sweaty, short of breath, and feeling faint, he added. Some people actually have a hard time identifying anxiety and recognizing what it is.

The symptoms can vary from person to person as can the severity of symptoms, said Caridad. Some people with social anxiety can continue to live life as normal, but others experience symptoms that impact their quality of life.;

Everyone Has A Phobia

Does Everyone Have Anxiety? When Is It a Mental Health ...

Dear Gayle,

I was talking with a friend when she said, Yeah, but everybody has a phobia. I didnt say anything at the time, but it made me think about it. I looked up phobias and couldnt find anything on the list that worries me that much. But now Im getting worried that I must not be normal if I dont have a phobia. What do you say?

Unafraid

Dear Unafraid,

I think that you are overthinking this thing. I also believe that your friend was making a blanket statement that was probably never expected to be examined for its truth. It is not true, by the way, any more than the lines of the song which declare, everybody loves somebody sometime There are few absolutes, so any sentence that declares that everybody, or nobody has great potential for being flawed, Your friend might better have said, every normal person has fears. Normal fears become phobias only when they are so strong that they get in the way of living our best life.

Dear Gayle,

My Turn

Dear Turn,

Dear Readers,

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What Can You Do To Help Yourself

  • Movement and Physical Activity: Choose movements and exercises you enjoy and get yourself some daily activity.
  • Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: Both can exacerbate anxiety. Also, try to avoid chemical additives and anything with added sugar.
  • Guard Your Sleep: Stick to a schedule, create a bedtime routine, and aim for a steady eight hours per night.
  • Deep Breathing: Slow breathing is your bodys way of signaling to your brain that all is safe and well. Practice long, slow periods of inhalation and exhalation to foster calm and balance.
  • Help Others: To some, this may sound trite. But the evidence from anecdotal to study-based proves that your mental wellbeing increases when you practice kindness. Find a cause that lights you up and get involved!

Normal Fears In Children

Many childhood fears are natural and tend to develop at specific ages. For example, many young children are afraid of the dark and may need a nightlight to sleep. That doesnt mean they have a phobia. In most cases, they will grow out of this fear as they get older.

For example, the following childhood fears are extremely common and considered normal:

0-2 years Loud noises, strangers, separation from parents, large objects.

3-6 years Imaginary things such as ghosts, monsters, the dark, sleeping alone, strange noises.

7-16 years More realistic fears such as injury, illness, school performance, death, natural disasters.

If your childs fear is not interfering with their daily life or causing them a great deal of distress, then theres little cause for undue concern. However, if the fear is interfering with your childs social activities, school performance, or sleep, you may want to see a qualified child therapist.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Phobias

The symptoms of a phobia can range from mild feelings of apprehension and anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. Typically, the closer you are to the thing youre afraid of, the greater your fear will be. Your fear will also be higher if getting away is difficult.

Physical symptoms of a phobia include:

  • Difficulty breathing

Emotional symptoms of a phobia include:

  • Feeling overwhelming anxiety or panic
  • Feeling intense need to escape
  • Feeling unreal or detached from yourself
  • Fear of losing control or going crazy
  • Feeling like youre going to die or pass out
  • Knowing that youre overreacting, but feeling powerless to control fear

Symptoms of blood-injection-injury phobia

The symptoms of blood-injection-injury phobia are slightly different from other phobias. When confronted with the sight of blood or a needle, you experience not only fear, but also disgust.

Like other phobias, you initially feel anxious as your heart speeds up. However, unlike other phobias, this acceleration is followed by a quick drop in blood pressure, which leads to nausea, dizziness, and fainting. Although a fear of fainting is common in all specific phobias, blood-injection-injury phobia is the only phobia where fainting can actually occur.

Does Everyone Feel Anxious Sometimes

Do you have anxiety? (TEST)

In general, everyone will feel anxious at some point.

Worry is considered protective since it alerts you to danger. This makes you pay attention to the stressful situation and react accordingly. For most people, this feeling typically passes and you go about your life.

But if the anxiety turns excessive and you find yourself overwhelmed, feeling out of control, and worrying about situations that others see as nonthreatening, you may have an anxiety disorder.

A physician and some types of mental health professionals can diagnose anxiety.

Theyll use a combination of diagnostic tests, physical assessments, and criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to determine if you have an anxiety disorder.

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The Most Common Phobias

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Terrified of the creepy-crawlies? Scared of slithering serpents? Well, youre not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, phobias are the most common psychiatric illness among women and the second most common among men.

The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that phobias;affect approximately 10% of U.S. adults each year. These phobias typically emerge during childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood. They also impact twice as many women as they do men.

There are a number of explanations for why phobias develop, including evolutionary and behavioral theories. Whatever the cause, phobias are treatable conditions that can be minimized and even eliminated with;cognitive;and;behavioral therapy;techniques and medication.

What Are The Top 10 Phobias

We all have things we fear snakes and hedgehogs are mine. Most of the time these fears do not impact on our daily lives but if they do then it may be time for some for a short course in behaviour therapy. The top ten phobias include:

1. Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders. This phobia tends to affect women more than men.

2. Ophidiophobia: The fear of snakes.

3. Acrophobia: The fear of heights.

4. Agoraphobia: The fear of situations in which escape is difficult. This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. People will begin avoiding these trigger events, sometimes to the point that they cease leaving their home. Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

5. Cynophobia: The fear of dogs. This phobia is often associated with specific personal experiences, such as being bitten by a dog during childhood.

6. Astraphobia: The fear of thunder and lightning.

7. Trypanophobia: The fear of injections. Like many phobias, this fear often goes untreated because people avoid the triggering object and situation.

8. Social Phobias: The fear of social situations. In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

9. Pteromerhanophobia: The fear of flying. Often treated using exposure therapy, in which the client is gradually and progressively introduced to flying.

Reference: psychology.about.com

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Other Types Of Phobias

Many people dislike certain situations or objects, but to be a true phobia, the fear must interfere with daily life. Here are a few more of the most common ones:

Glossophobia: This is known as performance anxiety, or the fear of speaking in front of an audience. People with this phobia have severe physical symptoms when they even think about being in front of a group of people. <Glossophobia treatments can include either therapy or medication.

Acrophobia: This is the fear of heights. People with this phobia avoid mountains, bridges, or the higher floors of buildings. Symptoms include vertigo, dizziness, sweating, and feeling as if theyll pass out or lose consciousness.

Claustrophobia: This is a fear of enclosed or tight spaces. Severe claustrophobia can be especially disabling if it prevents you from riding in cars or elevators. <Learn more about claustrophobia, from additional symptoms to treatment options.

Aviophobia: This is also known as the fear of flying.

Dentophobia: Dentophobia is a fear of the dentist or dental procedures. This phobia generally develops after an unpleasant experience at a dentists office. It can be harmful if it prevents you from obtaining needed dental care.

Hemophobia: This is a phobia of blood or injury. A person with hemophobia may faint when they come in contact with their own blood or another persons blood.

Arachnophobia: This means fear of spiders.

Cynophobia: This is a fear of dogs.

Ophidiophobia: People with this phobia fear snakes.

What Happens When Someone Has Social Phobia

Why does everyone have anxiety?

Extreme feelings of shyness and self-consciousness build into a powerful fear. As a result, a person feels uncomfortable participating in everyday social situations.

People with social phobia can usually interact easily with family and a few close friends. But meeting new people, talking in a group, or speaking in public can cause their extreme shyness to kick in.

With social phobia, a person’s extreme shyness, self-consciousness, and fears of embarrassment get in the way of life. Instead of enjoying social activities, people with social phobia might dread them and avoid some of them altogether.

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How Is Anxiety Treated

Anxiety is treated using a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and self-management strategies such as lifestyle interventions and stress reduction.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy is the most common way to treat anxiety. Working with a therapist can help you understand anxiety, how it impacts your life, and tips and strategies to manage symptoms.

Therapists may use one type of psychotherapy or combine modalities. Some of the more common therapy types include:

Both in-person and teletherapy sessions are available.

A found that overall, CBT appears to be effective and efficacious in treating anxiety disorders.

Further, 2014 research on CBT for anxiety disorders looked at 44 studies and concluded that CBT is moderately effective for improving quality of life in people with anxiety disorders.

Medications for anxiety help relieve the symptoms associated with the disorder. To treat anxiety, your doctor may use antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta-blockers, which can help treat the physical symptoms.

Lifestyle interventions such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, and peer support can help manage anxiety symptoms.

Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness

Are you extremely afraid of being judged by others?

Are you very self-conscious in everyday social situations?

Do you avoid meeting new people?

If you have been feeling this way for at least six months and these feelings make it hard for you to do everyday taskssuch as talking to people at work or schoolyou may have a social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition. It is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and your other day-to-day activities. It can even make it hard to make and keep friends. But social anxiety disorder doesnt have to stop you from reaching your potential. Treatment can help you overcome your symptoms.

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Do You Have Normal Anxiety Or A Disorder

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Anxiety is a general, unpleasant feeling of apprehension. When you’re anxious, you may feel restless and experience physical reactions such as a headache, sweating, palpitations, chest tightness, and upset stomach.

Anxiety is a normal human experience. In fact, it can be a potentially beneficial response in anticipation of dangerous situations. The physical symptoms of anxiety are coming from your autonomic nervous system response. It is different from but related to the fear, which is a natural reaction to a clear and present danger.

While anxiety normal and common, it can become maladaptive. So, when is anxiety normal and when is it an anxiety disorder?

Common Types Of Phobias And Fears

Do I Have Social Anxiety Disorder? (How To Tell)

There are four general types of phobias and fears:

  • 1. Animal phobias such as the fear of snakes, spiders, rodents, and dogs.
  • 2. Natural environment phobias such as a fear of heights, storms, water, and of the dark.
  • 3. Situational phobias including the fear of enclosed spaces , flying, driving, tunnels, and bridges.
  • 4. Blood-Injection-Injury phobia, the fear of blood, injury, illness, needles, or other medical procedures.

Some phobias, however, dont fall into one of the four common categories. These include fear of choking, fear of getting a disease such as cancer, and fear of clowns. Other common phobias that dont fit neatly into any of the four categories include:

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed or judged. If you have social phobia, then you may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you will look and what others will think may lead you to avoid certain social situations youd otherwise enjoy.

Fear of public speakingan extremely common phobiais a type of social phobia. Other fears associated with social phobia include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, or being called on in class.

Agoraphobia was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces, but is now believed to develop as a complication of panic attacks.

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