Phobias

Phobias occur in several forms. A specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or situation. Social phobia is a fear of being painfully embarrassed in a social setting. And agoraphobia, which often accompanies panic disorder, is a fear of being in any situation that might provoke a panic attack, or from which escape might be difficult if one occurred.

Specific Phobias
Many people experience specific phobias, intense, irrational fears of certain things or situations – dogs, closed-in places, heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, and injuries involving blood are a few of the more common ones. Phobias aren't just extreme fear; they are irrational fear. You may be able to ski the world's tallest mountains with ease but panic going above the 10th floor of an office building. Adults with phobias realize their fears are irrational, but often facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared object or situation brings on a panic attack or severe anxiety.

Specific phobias strike more than 1 in 10 people. The cause is unknown but they seem to run in families and are a little more prevalent in women. Adult phobias start suddenly and tend to be more persistent than childhood phobias; only about 20 percent of adult phobias vanish on their own, whilst many phobias experienced by children disappear in time.

If the object of the fear is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel the need to seek treatment. Treatment can help people, for whom the phobia is interfering with their life. Successful treatment usually involves either cognitive-behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy or desensitisation therapy, in which patients are gradually exposed to what frightens them until the fear begins to fade. Relaxation and breathing exercises also help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Social phobia is an intense fear of becoming humiliated in social situations, specifically of embarrassing yourself in front of other people. Social phobia often begins around early adolescence or even younger.

Sufferers of social phobia believe that other people are more competent in public then themselves. Their view of everyday mistakes is extremely exaggerated. Social phobias can be very specific, anxiety about giving a speech, talking to a boss or other authority figure, or dating. The most common social phobia is a fear of public speaking. Sometimes social phobia involves a general fear of social situations such as parties. More rarely it may involve a fear of using a public restroom, eating out, talking on the phone, or writing in the presence of other people, such as when signing a check.

Social phobia disrupts normal life, interfering with career or social relationships. Although sufferers of social phobia are aware that their feelings are irrational, they dread and may avoid situations. Even if they manage to confront what they fear, they usually feel very anxious beforehand and are intensely uncomfortable throughout.

About 80 percent of people who suffer from social phobia find relief from their symptoms when treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy or hypnotherapy.

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