Sunday, March 17, 2024

Is There A Phobia Of Phobias

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Fear Of Needles Phobia: Trypanophobia

The Top 7 Most Common Phobias

The fear of needles is an extreme fear of medical procedures used in injections or hypodermic needles. Younger children can be especially susceptible to fearing needles because they are not used to being pricked by needles and they typically have less body fat. By adulthood, most people are much more accepting of receiving needles.

However, for some people, an extreme fear of needles persists beyond childhood into adulthood.

Claustrophobia: Fear Of Closed Spaces

Another common specific phobia is fear of closed-in spaces, or claustrophobia. Like other specific phobias, claustrophobia is more common in women. Specific phobias are estimated to affect about 19 million Americans. Claustrophobia may develop after a traumatic childhood event, such as being trapped in a closet.

How Do You Get Treatment For Phobias

Phobias are really difficult to manage alone, and luckily, you dont have to theres help out there. Like many other anxiety disorders, they respond well to treatment. The first step is to see your GP or mental health professional, or get in touch with a professional service online or over the phone.

Your doctor will work with you, at a pace that suits you, to figure out a treatment plan that works for you. This could include a combination of therapy, medication and self-management strategies. Get some more information about treatments for anxiety disorders here.

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Chiraptophobia: Fear Of Being Touched

If being hugged or sitting close to another human being makes someone cringe, they probably suffer from chiratophobia. Some people have an especially intense form of this phobia and can’t even watch romantic movies because they can’t stand to watch people touching each other. People who suffer from this fear may also feel like their skin is burning if they watch other people display affection.

How To Manage Gephyrophobia

Phobia

One way that some cities help people with a fear of crossing bridges is by having a government employee drive the persons car across a bridge once a year. Transit authorities in New York, Maryland, and Michigan offer this service in certain cities. Demonstrating the safety of crossing a bridge, especially in the persons own car, may help reduce some of their anxiety. However, finding a cure for a fear of driving over bridges may be more complex.;

Because many phobias are linked to generalized anxiety, treating the underlying cause of the phobia may be the best first step in managing it. Some phobias can lead to mood disorders, substance abuse, and feelings of helplessness.

Other ways to manage a phobia can include learning stress management techniques. Daily meditation can reduce your overall stress levels, allowing you to center your mind to find peace. Many people who regularly meditate find that they can direct their minds to this peaceful state when under stress, helping them control the fear and work through the situation.

Regular exercise and a good nights sleep also help reduce overall stress levels and may make it easier for you to talk yourself through your bridge phobia when youre frightened. Exercise helps regulate your mood and decreases stress while also boosting the production of dopamine, the hormone responsible for lifting your mood. Sleep is essential for your health. If youre overtired, it can be harder to manage your anxiety and phobia.

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What Is Social Phobia

If you have social phobia, you will feel a sense of intense fear in social situations. You will often try to avoid them. You might worry about a social event before, during and after it has happened. It is also known as social anxiety or social anxiety disorder.

A lot of people find social situations difficult, or feel shy or awkward at certain times this is completely normal.

Social phobia however can completely overwhelm you. You might find it very difficult to engage in everyday activities such as:

  • talking in groups
  • speaking to authority figures, such as talking to doctors
  • eating and drinking in front of others
  • regular trips out, to the shops for example
  • going to work.

“I have suffered from phobias since I was three years old and couldn’t cope with the social demands of a playgroup. I then went on to suffer from School Phobia right through to my teens, then various phobias surrounding college and work, which led to me becoming unemployed, isolated, agoraphobic and severely depressed.”

You might worry about these social situations because you fear that others will judge you negatively. Or maybe you fear that you’ll offend others by something you say or do. You may also worry about others noticing that you are anxious.

Social phobia can hugely affect your everyday life. It might:

Lots of social phobia, but no friends

“When I walked through the door and was amongst other people, I couldn’t even open my eyes.”

What Are We Afraid Of

Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell;

Phobias are surprisingly common, but what exactly do people fear the most? Are there any phobias that tend to be more common than others?

The following phobias are ten of the most common objects or situations;that lead to marked fear and symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and breathlessness. In some cases, these symptoms escalate into a full-blown;panic attack.

Social phobia and agoraphobia are in their own category of anxiety disorders, where the remaining eight phobias are considered “specific phobias,” related to a particular object or situation.

These common phobias typically involve the environment, animals, fears of injections and blood, as well as certain other;situations.

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How Many Different Phobias Are There

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Phobia factsThe three types of phobias are social phobia , agoraphobia , and specific phobias .

Furthermore, what is the most uncommon phobia? Some may fear one type of cheese while others may fear cheese altogether.

  • 3) Somniphobia- fear of falling asleep.
  • 4) Coulrophobia fear of clowns.
  • 5) Hylophobia- fear of trees.
  • 6) Omphalophobia- fear of the navel.
  • 7) Nomophobia- fear of being without mobile phone coverage.
  • 8) Ombrophobia- fear of rain.

Secondly, what is the #1 phobia?

Fear of heights is one of the most common phobias with an estimated 3 percent to 5 percent of the population suffering so-called acrophobia. While scientists had thought such phobia was the result of an irrational fear to normal stimuli, new research is suggesting otherwise.

What is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. the fear or anxiety is disproportionate to the social situation. the fear or anxiety is persistent and the social situation is excessively avoided.

Mysophobia: Fear Of Germs

PHOBIAS!! What is specific phobia?

If you can relate to the way Howie Mandel can’t bring himself to hug people or have close human contact with anyone, then you might have mysophobia, the fear of germs. It’s pretty difficult to get close to someone else if you can’t stand the thought of being touched. That said, Mandel takes medicine to control his condition and has been happily marriedfor 36 years!with children. So, there’s always a way.

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Strange Phobia #5: Venustraphobia The Fear Of Beautiful Women

If youre a beautiful woman youre probably unwittingly terrifying someone who suffers from venustraphobia. This phobia is no joke! Those who suffer from it are intimidated or even traumatized by female beauty. Interestingly enough, most venustraphobiacs are men, but women are subject to this condition as well. Venustraphobiacs will steer clear of situations in which they believe they may encounter women who are beautiful.

A number of therapies can help sufferers overcome their fear of female beauty, including hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming and/or energy therapy.

Here Are 20 Bizarre Phobias That People Actually Have

1) Heliophobia:;the fear of the sun, sunlight, or any bright light.

2) Chaetophobia:;the fear of hair. They may also fear the hair on their own body. Some only fear detached or loose hair and do not mind attached hair.

3) Arachibutyrophobia:;the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

4) Haphephobia:;the fear of touch. It is a rare but often devastating phobia. Most people with haphephobia fear being touched by anyone.

5) Oikophobia:;an abnormal fear of home surroundings.

6) Ablutophobia:;the persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning.

7) Ergophobia:;an abnormal and persistent fear of work.

8) Nomophobia:;the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. It is, however, arguable that the word phobia is misused and that in the majority of cases it is only a normal anxiety.

9) Philophobia:;the abnormal, persistent and unwarranted fear of falling in love or emotional attachment.

10) Somniphobia:;the often irrational and excessive fear of sleep.

11) Globophobia:;a fear of balloons and also balloons popping sound.

12) Ombrophobia:;an irrational fear of rain.

13) Geniophobia:;an extreme unwarranted fear and/or physical aversion to chins.

14) Trypophobia:;the fear of holes.

15) Pogonophobia:;is the extreme dislike of beards.

16) Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia:;the fear of Long words.

17) Lipophobia:;the fear of becoming fat.

18) Genuphobia:;the fear of ones own knees, someone else knees, or the act of kneeling.

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Statistical Methods And Measurement Caveats

National Comorbidity Survey Replication

Diagnostic Assessment and Population:

  • The NCS-R is a nationally representative, face-to-face, household survey conducted between February 2001 and April 2003 with a response rate of 70.9%. DSM-IV mental disorders were assessed using a modified version of the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview , a fully structured lay-administered diagnostic interview that generates both International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, and DSM-IV diagnoses. The DSM-IV criteria were used here. The Sheehan Disability Scale assessed disability in work role performance, household maintenance, social life, and intimate relationships on a 0â10 scale. Participants for the main interview totaled 9,282 English-speaking, non-institutionalized, civilian respondents. The NCS-R was led by Harvard University.

Survey Non-response:

    • In 2001-2002, non-response was 29.1% of primary respondents and 19.6% of secondary respondents.
  • Reasons for non-response to interviewing include: refusal to participate ; respondent was reluctant- too busy but did not refuse ; circumstantial, such as intellectual developmental disability or overseas work assignment ; and household units that were never contacted .
  • For more information, see NIMH NCS-R study page.

National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement

Diagnostic Assessment and Population:

Survey Non-response:

The Most Common Phobias

list of phobias tumblr

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.

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Philophobia: Fear Of Falling In Love

This is perhaps one of the saddest phobias of all. The fear of falling in love would make it impossible to experience the joy of having a life companion or to raise a family with someone. But with the necessary counseling, anything is possible. But by the way, it’s pretty common for the average person to have some fear when it comes to falling in love. Barring a serious phobia, here’s how to overcome the fear of falling in love.

When To Seek Help For Phobias And Fears

Although phobias are common, they dont always cause considerable distress or significantly disrupt your life. For example, if you have a snake phobia, it may cause no problems in your everyday activities if you live in a city where youre not likely to run into one. On the other hand, if you have a severe phobia of crowded spaces, living in a big city would pose a problem.

If your phobia doesnt impact your life that much, its probably nothing to be concerned about. But if avoidance of the object, activity, or situation that triggers your phobia interferes with your normal functioning, or keeps you from doing things you would otherwise enjoy, its time to seek help.

Consider treatment for your phobia if:

  • It causes intense and disabling fear, anxiety, and panic
  • You recognize that your fear is excessive and unreasonable
  • You avoid certain situations and places because of your phobia
  • Your avoidance interferes with your normal routine or causes significant distress
  • Youve had the phobia for at least six months

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Lifetime Prevalence Of Specific Phobia Among Adolescents

  • Based on diagnostic interview data from National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement , Figure 3 shows lifetime prevalence of specific phobia among U.S. adolescents aged 13-18.4
  • An estimated 19.3% of adolescents had specific phobia, and an estimated 0.6% had severe impairment. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria were used to determine impairment.
  • The prevalence of specific phobia among adolescents was higher for females than for males .

Figure 3

Lifetime Prevalence of Specific Phobia Among Adolescents

Demographic

Normal Fears Vs Phobias Or Irrational Fears

13 of the Worst Phobias

It is normal and even helpful to experience fear in dangerous situations. Fear serves a protective purpose, activating the automatic fight-or-flight response. With our bodies and minds alert and ready for action, we are able to respond quickly and protect ourselves. But with phobias the threat is nonexistent or greatly exaggerated. For example, it is only natural to be afraid of a snarling Doberman, but it is irrational to be terrified of a friendly poodle on a leash, as you might be if you have a dog phobia.

The difference between normal fear and a phobia
Normal fear Phobia
Feeling anxious when flying through turbulence or taking off during a storm Not going to your best friends island wedding because youd have to fly there
Experiencing butterflies when peering down from the top of a skyscraper or climbing a tall ladder Turning down a great job because its on the 10th floor of the office building
Getting nervous when you see a pit bull or a Rottweiler Steering clear of the park because you might see a dog
Feeling a little queasy when getting a shot or when your blood is being drawn Avoiding necessary medical treatments or doctors checkups because youre terrified of needles

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The Rarest Phobias In The World

| Stuff

Everyone is afraid of something, but when the fear becomes too intense and disruptive, a phobia can develop. While everyone has heard of common phobias like arachnophobia, claustrophobia, and aerophobia , there are numerous phobias that most people have never heard of. This list includes some of the rarest phobias in the world.

In general, phobias can be divided into three categories: specific phobias, social phobia, and agoraphobia. All phobias are a type of anxiety disorder and share symptoms commonly associated with anxiety.

Since there are not a lot of statistics regarding how many people might suffer from a certain phobia, this list was arranged in alphabetical order.

Strange Phobia #13: Gamophobia

Though wedded bliss is the dream and aspiration of many, the fear of getting married is very real for others. There are those who simply cant imagine a worse fate than walking down the aisle and staring at their future spouse eye to eye! Perhaps the idea of marriage triggers deep fears of dependence or a lack of freedom in gamophobiacs. To some people who love getting or being married, this phobia might seem like an excuse. But the fear of marriage is a valid experience and should be treated as such.

Gamophobia has been successfully treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, family therapy and/or medications when appropriate.

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What Are The Symptoms

Phobias of all types share similar physical and emotional symptoms. With hemophobia, symptoms may be triggered by seeing blood in real life or on television. Some people may feel symptoms after thinking about blood or certain medical procedures, like a blood test.

Physical symptoms triggered by this phobia may include:

  • trouble breathing
  • extreme feelings of anxiety or panic
  • overwhelming need to escape situations where blood is involved
  • detachment from self or feeling unreal
  • feeling like youve lost control
  • feeling like you may die or pass out
  • feeling powerless over your fear

Hemophobia is unique because it also produces whats called a vasovagal response. A vasovagal response means you have a drop in your heart rate and blood pressure in response to a trigger, such as the sight of blood.

When this happens, you may feel dizzy or faint. Some of people with BII phobia experience a vasovagal response, according to a 2014 survey. This response isnt common with other specific phobias.

Diagnostic Criteria For Different Types Of Phobias

How many phobias are there?

According to the DSM-5, there are three types of phobia:

The clinical characteristics of phobias depend on the type of phobia, the degree of severity in a particular individual and the amount that it interferes with the individuals ability to function normally. However, common to all three types of phobias is extreme fear or anxiety in response to a particular object or situation.

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How Is Phobophobia Caused

Phobophobia occurs when you are terrified or afraid of fear itself, and more specifically,;youre scared of;gaining more phobias. When you think about your existing list of phobias and;other;things youre afraid of, you often feel anxious, which can lead to;changes in your sleeping and eating schedule. This hysterical and unreasonable fear may lead to panic disorder.

Phobophobia occurs when a person continually thinks about an event or particular object;that scares them, or;they become triggered;by imagery related to their phobias .

Chemical imbalances in the brain caused by a variety of medical conditions and injuries can also cause us to have irrational fears.

Medical conditions, along with the characteristics of the patient like personality, age incidence, physiological variables, sex incidence, cultural influence inside and outside the family, and biochemical factors also might be responsible for a person having such intense fears.

An adverse incident can cause a person to develop a phobia. For example, if you get stuck;in a dark elevator alone;for a long time, yosu;might become claustrophobic and grow scared of travelling alone in;lifts from that point forward, and instead choose to take the stairs.

Usually, nothing from the external environment triggers your phobia; your internal thought process is;what stimulates these phobias. There are initial sensitising events that are the root cause of most phobias, but following that, they mainly exist in your head.

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