Tip : Challenge Negative Thoughts About Your Phobia
When you have a phobia, you tend to overestimate how bad it will be if youre exposed to the situation you fear and underestimate your ability to cope. The anxious thoughts that trigger and fuel phobias are usually negative and unrealistic. By writing down the negative thoughts you have when confronted by your phobia, you can begin to challenge these unhelpful ways of thinking. Many times, these thoughts fall into the following categories:
Fortune telling. For example, This bridge is going to collapse Ill make a fool of myself for sure I will definitely lose it when the elevator doors close.
Overgeneralization.I fainted once while getting a shot. Ill never be able to get a shot again without passing out That pit bull lunged at me. All dogs are dangerous.
Catastrophizing.The captain said were going through turbulence. The plane is going to crash!The person next to me coughed. Maybe its swine flu. Im going to get very sick!
Once youve identified your negative thoughts, evaluate them. Use the following example to get started.
Negative thought: The elevator will break down and Ill get trapped and suffocate.
Ask yourself the following 4 questions:
1. Is there any evidence that contradicts my negative thought?
Yes, for example: People are currently using the elevator and it hasnt broken down.
Even if it did break down, Ive never heard of anyone dying from suffocation in an elevator. There are air vents which would stop the air from running out.
When To See A Doctor
A person should see a doctor if they have a phobia that is interfering with their everyday activities.
Sometimes, however, a persons phobia may limit their ability to seek treatment. For example, a person who has severe agoraphobia may fear leaving the house to seek treatment. Likewise, a person who has a fear of healthcare providers or medical procedures may avoid visiting their doctor.
In some cases, a person may feel more comfortable talking to a healthcare provider over the phone. The ADAA have a helpful search tool that allows people to find a psychotherapist in their area.
Some providers also offer counseling services via email or video.
Mental Health Treatment Program Locator
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides this online resource for locating mental health treatment facilities and programs. The Mental Health Treatment Locator section of the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator lists facilities providing mental health services to persons with mental illness. Find a facility in your state at www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp.
Also Check: Depression Terrain Feature
How Does A Person With Social Phobia Feel
Most people with social phobia have a strong fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in front of other people. People with social phobia feel as though everyone is watching them, until they blush, sweat or otherwise show their fear. They often believe that showing anxiety is a sign of weakness or inferiority. They also believe other people are more confident and competent than they really are.
People with social phobia usually know their fears are not completely rational, but they still find themselves dreading social situations. They may go out of their way to avoid going to some events. If they do go to them, they usually feel very nervous before and very uncomfortable during the event. Afterward, the unpleasant feelings may linger as they worry about what other people thought of them.
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.
You May Like: Dr Marilyn Vache
Philophobia & 13 Other Love Phobias You Never Knew Existed
Merriam-Webster defines a phobia as “an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.” Phobia symptoms can include shortness of breath or dry mouth but can also be more seriouslike vomiting, chest pain, and a racing heart. Some people even lose the ability to speak when they are faced with their phobias. Phobias basically bring about some of the most intense panic attacks you’ll ever experience.
There are some pretty strange phobias out thereyou might wonder how someone could possibly be scared of certain things or ideaslike the phobia of wet dreams called oneirogmophobia. While, to people without phobias, they can seem a little funny, it’s a major struggle for people dealing with them in everyday life. Phobias can get in the way of all kinds of thingsnot the least of which is a fulfilling romantic relationship.
There are actually a surprising amount of phobias that can take a toll on relationships. Below are a few love-related fears you might not know about.
How Can I Overcome Bananaphobia
The first step in overcoming Bananaphobia is to establish your motives to do so. For example, you might want to overcome the fear because bananas have the great nutritional value that you may be missing out and your health is suffering because of that. Bananas are rich in potassium which is a necessary mineral for maintaining homeostatic balance.
Once you have your motives in check, you can now take your journey step by step. Dont expect to overcome the fear of bananas overnight. Give yourself time to process and recover.
Lastly, be ready for the worst experiences. Be ready to feel nauseated and vomit once in a while. But in the midst of these experiences, choose to stay committed to the process.
Dont try and avoid people or places that remind you of bananas because you will never overcome the fear.
Regardless of your past experiences or traumatic events associated with Bananaphobia, it is possible to overcome this fear and get to a point one enjoying the nutritional benefits of bananas without feeling disgusted.
Recommended Reading: How To Cure Schizophrenia Permanently
The Fear Of Spontaneous Interpersonal Interaction
For People who have anthropophobia, intimacy and connection have an insignificant effect on their capacity to socialize with others well-meaning relatives can also evoke the same tension and fear in the patients mind as with complete strangers. Patients suffering from social anxiety are at ease when speaking to a group and feel nervous if their anonymity is threatened with Anthropophobia.
Sociological Determinants that Relate to Social Anxiety Disorder Involve:
- A societys approach to dealing with insecurity.
- Effecting the capacity to build relationships or obtain a job or an education.
- The things that are deemed Shameful.
Research has shown that various parenting strategies differ by cultural anthropophobia. For instance, American kids will be more predisposed to developing social anxiety disorder if their parents raised them, emphasizing other peoples opinions and using shame used as a disciplinary tactic. However, Chinese and Chinese-American children did not experience anthropophobia because of this.
Mysophobia: Fear Of Germs
The excessive fear of germs is a common anxiety disorder in America. The medical term for this phobia is mysophobia. Mysophobia may be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and hypochondria. Symptoms include obsessive washing and fear of public spaces. In the television show Monk, actor Tony Shaloub played a detective with OCD and numerous phobias, including mysophobia.
You May Like: Can You Cry During A Panic Attack
The Unveiling Of The New Iphone 11 Pro Has Apparently Triggered Some Peoples Fear Of Small Holes
If youve never heard of such a thing, this fear is called trypophobia. Coined in 2005 on Reddit, it manifests when trypophobics come across clusters of small holes, such as on a crumpet, or in this case, multiple cameras on the back of a smart phone.
Being afraid of something isnt exactly uncommon, but for some people, what starts off as a slight fear can develop into a really debilitating anxiety called a phobia.
Phobias cause a lot of panic in situations where you perceive a high level of danger where there is little to none. Its distinct from just a fear of something, in that it can prevent you from carrying out everyday tasks and just going about your life.
There are ways of treating phobias, such as gradually exposing yourself to the thing youre afraid of, cognitive behavioural therapy , and some methods even use video games.
While there are some quite common phobias that youve probably heard of such as arachnophobia and claustrophobia, there are quite a few out there that are slightly more unique.
How Is Agoraphobia Diagnosed
If you think you have agoraphobia, and the anxiety is interfering with your daily life, you should talk to a primary care provider or psychiatrist. If you are afraid to visit a medical office in person, you may be able to schedule a telephone or video appointment.
The healthcare provider may ask you:
- Do you get stressed about leaving your house?
- Are there any places or situations you avoid because youre afraid? Why are you afraid?
- Do you rely on others to do your shopping and errands?
A healthcare provider can diagnose agoraphobia based on your symptoms, how often they happen and how severe they are. It is important to be open and honest with your healthcare providers. Your provider may diagnose agoraphobia if you meet specific standards developed by the American Psychiatric Association. To have a diagnosis of agoraphobia, a person must feel extreme fear or panic in at least two of the following situations:
- Using public transportation.
- Being in an open space.
- Being in an enclosed space, such as a movie theater, meeting room or small store.
- Standing in a line or being in a crowd.
- Being out of your home alone.
You May Like: What’s The Phobia Of Long Words
Top 10 Stupidest Phobias
1Anatidaephobia
Exuse me what? Who is stupid enough to think a duck is ALWAYS watching them? I have two pet ducks, and they are more afraid of me! They are adorable balls of quacking feathers. They are also very dirty.
The fact that this even exists means that somewhere, at some point in time, someone ACTUALLY HAD THIS PHOBIA, which really makes me question the real purpose of the human race on Earth. We have a long way to go before we can even begin to understand what kind of duck trauma this individual has had from their past to cause this kind of phobia to develop. It really surprises me that we, as a race, can dream of interstellar travel, but cannot overcome the fear of A DUCK eavesdropping and watching you at all times.
Why…out of all the possible things that could happen to you…you have to be scared of a duck following you all the way to South Africa…tracking your location…and thinking that one day…it’ll come at you.
2Pentheraphobia
If the mother in law was abusive then this might explain.
Everyone is afraid of their mother-in-laws…
Hah. This is THE stupidest phobia known to man… Yet understandable
Everyone is afraid of their Mother-In-Law…
3Chrometophobia
Germaphobes also have this. Most people who have this most likely live on the streets, because they cannot afford anything.
Seriously? Laugh out loud every people need money, and some people are willing to die just to have money.
4Cherophobia
Omg it’s a feeling
5Bananaphobia 6Biophobia 789
Specific Or Simple Phobias
Specific or simple phobias centre around a particular object, animal, situation or activity.
They often develop during childhood or adolescence and may become less severe as you get older.
Common examples of simple phobias include:
- animal phobias such as dogs, spiders, snakes or rodents
- environmental phobias such as heights, deep water and germs
- situational phobias such as visiting the dentist or flying
- bodily phobias such as blood, vomit or having injections
- sexual phobias such as performance anxiety or the fear of getting a sexually transmitted infection
You May Like: What Are The Three Stages Of Schizophrenia
Tip : Learn To Calm Down Quickly
When youre afraid or anxious, you experience a variety of uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as a racing heart and a suffocating feeling. These physical sensations can be frightening themselvesand a large part of what makes your phobia so distressing. However, by learning how to calm yourself down quickly, you can become more confident in your ability to tolerate uncomfortable sensations and face your fears.
Perform a simple deep breathing exercise. When youre anxious, you tend to take quick, shallow breaths , which actually adds to the physical feelings of anxiety. By breathing deeply from the abdomen, you can reverse these physical sensations and feel less tense, less short of breath, and less anxious. Practice when youre feeling calm until youre familiar and comfortable with the exercise.
Arachnophobia: Fear Of Spiders
It is not abnormal for a child to have a severe fear of certain animals such as snakes or spiders. These may be the object of childhood nightmares. But when an extreme fear of an animal persists into adulthood, it rarely goes away without treatment. Fear of animals is the most common type of specific phobia. If you saw the Hollywood film Arachnophobia, you know thats the name for the fear of spiders.
Also Check: How Are Areas Of Depression Represented On A Topographic Map
Phobias List Of Phobias Phobia List Types Of Phobias
The word phobia comes from the Greek word Phobos that means horror or fear. Phobia refers to an irrational fear of something that is not likely to cause harm. Fear during dangerous circumstances is normal. However, a phobia is beyond normal fear. According to research, women are more likely to have phobia compared to men. Common symptoms of phobia include feelings of unreality, rapid heartbeat, nausea, trembling.
Four major categories of phobia
- Environment
A Brief History Of Anthropophobia
The word Anthropophobia itself stems from two Greek roots: anthropos, which means human being and phobos, meaning fear.
Anthropophobics may experience anxiety or panic when they have to interact with other people some even go so far as refusing public contact altogether. It can lead to social isolation and significant distress in day-to-day living.
Don’t Miss: Anya Shumilina
What Happens When Someone Has Social Phobia
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.
What Causes People To Develop Trypanophobia
Some people who fear needles have an associative fear, in which a traumatic eventusually psychologicaltriggered the fear of needles in the first place. In resistance fears, there is an aversion to being controlled or restrained. And in those who have hyperalgesic fear, there is actually a genetic hypersensitivity to pain. The pain is so unthinkable that the person would never subject themselves to such pain, Dr. McGee says.
Some individuals are so terrified of needles that they experience a vasovagal response when they get an injection. With this, you get a marked drop in blood pressure that can lead to passing out, Dr. McGee says. People occasionally pass out during a blood draw.
Recommended Reading: What Is Phobia Mean
Fear Of People Vs Social Phobia
Social phobia is a diagnosis that encompasses a wide range of social fears. Some people fear only specific situations, such as public speaking or eating in front of people. Others are afraid of virtually all social situations. However, in social phobia, the focus of fear is the social situation where the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.
In anthropophobia, the fear is literally of other people, regardless of the situation in which they are encountered. Relatives who are known for being kind and loving are perceived as the same level of threat as strangers on a crowded bus.
While those with social phobia generally feel somewhat less afraid in situations that make them feel anonymous, those with anthropophobia may be equally uncomfortable whether they are on stage or in the back row of a crowded theater.
The differences are subtle and proper diagnosis is tricky. Therefore, it is important to seek professional assistance with any fear that involves other people.
Anthropophobia And Social Phobia The Differences
Whereas social phobia is a diagnosis incorporating a diverse range of social fears, including public speaking or eating in front of people, Anthropophobia differs. In Anthropophobia, the fear is based around other people themselves, regardless of the situation. From loving relatives to unknown commuters, the sufferer perceives the same threat.
And with such subtle differences, proper diagnosis can prove problematic. Therefore, it is vital toseek professional help.
Don’t Miss: Is Celine Dion Anorexic
Whats The Difference Between Anthropophobia And Social Phobia
A social phobia refers to a fear of social situations, such as going to a party, or making a presentation at work. Anthropophobia, on the other hand, refers to a fear of other people themselves, and not of social situations that typically involve people.
In other words, while anthropophobia can be seen as a form of social phobia, not all social phobias are anthropophobia.
Its possible for anthropophobics to be afraid of both individuals as well large groups that is, there is a lot of overlap between social phobia and anthrophobia.
Social anxiety disorder involves intense anxiety when in a social situation. In theory, anthropophobia could include symptoms unrelated to social interaction.
This could apply to being at a party or on a date, or interacting with a cashier or store worker.
As mentioned above, people with social anxiety disorder feel uncontrollable fear that theyll be judged or rejected by people. They often end up avoiding social situations altogether, when they cant be seen in person or interact with others.