The Facts on Phobias

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
The Facts on Phobias
Wed, 11-09-2005 - 4:54pm






November 9, 2005






Welcome to today's edition of Emotional Health, designed to keep you on track in a hectic world.





The Facts on Phobias

Most of us steer clear of things that we perceive to be hazardous to our health and safety. Phobias, however, are irrational fears that lead people to avoid specific things or situations that trigger intense anxiety. Phobias occur in several forms. For example, agoraphobia is the fear of being in any situation that might trigger a panic attack and from which escape might be difficult. Social phobia is a fear of being extremely embarrassed in front of other people. The most common social phobia is fear of public speaking.

Symptoms: Many of the physical symptoms that accompany panic attacks — such as sweating, racing heart, and trembling — also occur with phobias.

Formal Diagnosis: The person experiences extreme anxiety with exposure to an object or situation; recognizes that his or her fear is excessive or unreasonable; and finds that normal routines, social activities, or relationships are significantly impaired as a result of these fears.

Treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy has the best track record for helping people overcome most phobic disorders. The goals of this therapy are to desensitize a person to feared situations or to teach a person how to recognize, relax, and cope with anxious thoughts and feelings. Medications, such as anti-anxiety agents or antidepressants, can also help relieve symptoms. Sometimes therapy and medication are combined to treat phobias

Image hosted by Photobucket.com