Do they call you Lard Arse?
Petrified of flying?
Wife tell her friends that you're a bore in bed?
Are you a Piggy Bank raider?
Wear your wife's clothes when she's out?
Is coke your order of the day?
Spend all your Child Benefits at Bingo?
Does Lightning light up your life
Regret that one night stand?
Have a taboo subject area that you want to discuss?
Facts about phobias
Do you have an intense fear for animals, heights, blood, injections, planes? Would you rather climb ten flights than to get into a lift? If so, you may be suffering from a phobia.
All people have fears or situations they would rather avoid. It is part of everyday life. Some people are frightened by job interviews. Others are uncomfortable to be home alone at night. Most people manage to control their fears and go about their normal activities.
But for some people, anxieties and fears are overwhelming and persistent. Normal coping mechanisms don't work, and the need to avoid the objects or situations that cause anxiety can be so intense that they drastically interfere with daily life. Sometimes people may make important career or personal decisions to avoid a phobic situation. Others may refuse to go to the doctor for fear of having blood drawn.
Phobias are more than extreme fear, they are irrational fear. Adults with phobias realise 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.
Phobias often begin in childhood or adolescence, but many adults find that their lives are impaired by phobic symptoms. Many phobias are more common in women, but some (e.g. fear of blood) are more common in men.
What causes phobias?
Scientists are learning more about the particular brain regions that are
involved in phobic fears. Phobias are thought to be caused by a combination
of biological factors and life events, much in the way other disorders (such
as diabetes or heart disease) are influenced by a person's genes and lifestyle.
Categories of phobias
Phobias are divided into three broad categories: specific phobia (which
used to be called simple or single phobia), social phobia/social anxiety
disorder, and agoraphobia depending on what triggers the fear and how the
individual reacts to the dreaded object or situation.
Specific phobia
A specific phobia is the intense, irrational fear of specific objects or
situations that cause terror. Specific phobias can be classified into subtypes,
namely Animal Type (e.g. dogs, spiders, mice), Natural Environment Type
(e.g. storms, heights or water), Blood-Injection-Injury Type (e.g. seeing
blood or an injury), or Situational Type (e.g. public transportation or
enclosed places).
Agoraphobia
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.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is an intense fear of becoming humiliated
in social situations; in other words, of embarrassing yourself in front
of others. Social anxiety disorder should not be confused with shyness.
Shy people can be very uneasy around others, but they don't experience extreme
anxiety in anticipating a social situation, and they don't necessarily avoid
circumstances that make them feel self-conscious. In contrast, people with
social anxiety disorder aren't necessarily shy. They can be completely at
ease with people most of the time, but particular situations such as making
a speech can give them intense anxiety.
Do you have a phobia? Why not post your experience on Youneed121. Not only will you find other people with similar problems but your story could help others come to terms with their phobia's. Registration is free and you can start posting anominously straight away! Start Supporting Each other!