Anxiety Disorders: Phobias

So this is an essay on anxiety disorders as you can tell from the title. This is an informational essay so please don't read it unless you're really interested in learning about phobias. If you do read it and get really bored really fast, don't say I didn't warn you.

Anxiety Disorders: Phobias

"To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none." - Sir Francis Bacon. Everyone faces anxiety, but when that anxiety stops us from doing what we want to do, that’s when it is renamed a phobia. Phobias are a “biological response that has been tied to some ‘trigger’ or stimulus usually as a result of some emotionally charged incident” (Advancing Ideas LLC). This phobia can come into play by just a thought. For example: you see a dog and you think “that dog is really cute.” Then you remember when you were attacked by a dog. You then have triggered your phobia. Many people have phobias that vary in degrees depending on how intense their phobia is or how strong they feel about the thought or activity that “triggers” the phobia.

There are many types of activities we do as humans. As such, there are phobias for each of those activities. With phobias, we feel afraid of the idea or thing. We feel threatened by what we are afraid of. “But with phobias the threat is greatly exaggerated or nonexistent” (The Help Guide). This threat we feel can be real though. For example, if you are “feeling anxious when flying through turbulence or taking off during a storm [that is a normal fear, but if you are] not going to your best friend’s island wedding because you’d have to fly there” that is the phobia (The Help Guide). Another symptom of a phobia is that the “closer you are to the thing you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be” (The Help Guide). There are also physical and emotional signs and symptoms of a phobia that range from “difficulty breathing to sweating to feeling an intense need to escape to knowing you’re overreacting, but feel powerless to control your fear” (The Health Guide).

When our phobias start, we may feel inclined to believe them. We subconsciously agree with them and make ourselves scared of whatever the phobia is about. For example, I have a fear of water. My phobia came into place when I was in third grade and I almost drowned while I was tubing. The danger was real but now, every time I now go on a boat and tube, I go slowly because I don’t want the experience to happen again. Each time I get on the boat I try to encourage myself by thinking, “Okay this is going to be the day you go fast.” And each time I get on that tube, my phobia starts “talking” and I get afraid again and go slowly.

When you are a little child, it’s okay to have fears. They are natural and the child will grow out of the fear eventually. Some fears that children have are loud noises, strangers, and the dark. As you grow up, your fears become more realistic such as school, illness, and social performance. These fears are normal, but they can develop into a phobia if left alone to intensify.

With phobias, there are “four general types of phobias and fears” (The Help Guide). 1. Animal phobias. 2. Natural environment phobias. 3. Situational phobias. 4. Blood-Injection-Injury phobias. Some of the common fears that are placed in these categories are “fear of spiders, fear of snakes, fear of heights, fear of storms, fear of needles, and fear of public speaking.” Most people have phobias that are based in the animal phobia category. For example: Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) is the most common phobia to have, Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) is the 2^nd most common phobia, and Cynophobia (fear of dogs) is the 5^th most common phobia. A close tie for second is Natural environment phobias and Situational phobias. For example: Acrophobia (fear of heights) is the 3^rd most common phobia and astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning) is the 6^th most common phobia. Also, agoraphobia (fear of situations in which escape is difficult) is the 4^th most common phobia and socials phobias (fear of social situations) is the 8^th most common phobia (10 Common Phobias). Frank Herbert in Dune said that "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." We must have this attitude if we are going to overcome our fears.

To face our fears, we need a support system. “Have the courage to confide in your spouse, family members, friends, clergy or other members of your community. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need” 

(Mayo Clinic). If you confide in these people, they will be able to help you get past that initial stage of overwhelming fear to a state in which you are able to control and handle your fear and continue with appropriate treatment.

There is a “classical conditioning technique…used [to help people overcome their phobias] called counter-conditioning. This counter-conditioning is most often used in a systematic way to very gradually introduce the feared stimulus in a step-by-step fashion known as systematic desensitization” (Treatment for Phobias). In this process of systematic desensitization, a person takes certain steps towards the goal of getting over their phobia. For example: If you’re afraid of heights, take a small step towards the edge of a drop off or the edge of a tall building. If you get that feeling of total fear, take a deep breath and realize that you can handle this. Once you get to the point that you know you can handle it, take another step. Continue with this process until you are at the edge. Now it will be easier for that person each time they go to an edge of a building. There are other ways to get over your phobias other than this way. There are groups and programs that can help with people getting over their phobias.

In my school, we have many after school programs that help students with their phobias. One of those programs is the 4-H program. In this program, kids meet after school and help each other with homework, problems, etc. They have groups like Glee Club and Dodge Ball and many more that are organized so that students can have a welcoming environment to face their fears.

One of the major fears that people of all ages have to overcome is social phobia. “Social phobia is [the] fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed or judged” (NIMH). “Social phobia usually starts during youth. A doctor can tell that a person has social phobia if the person has had symptoms for at least 6 months. Without treatment, social phobia can last for many years or a lifetime” (NIMH). This fear can become so strong that it gets in the way of doing school work or going to work. One of the sub phobias in this category is the fear of public speaking. Everyone has to speak in public sometime or another. This fear could become a barrier between a person and getting a job or something else. To overcome this fear, you could practice your speech in front of your family and close friends so that you get used to talking in front of a crowd. After all, practice makes perfect.

Many people are affected by phobias. For the specific phobia, social phobia, a lot of people have it in varying degrees, but it is “more common in female teens than in male teens from the ages of 13 to 18. The most common age that social phobia is found in teens is 17-18. For a specific phobia, it’s still more common in teenage girls than teenage boys, but it’s more common in 13 to 14 year olds than 17 to 18 year olds” (NIMH). There isn’t an age or time of life that a phobia, social or other phobia is usually diagnosed. It’s diagnosed when people bring forth the concern to their doctor, but a person can have a phobia without the person going to the doctor for their problem. Doctors in my neighborhood ask you many questions about what activities you are in. They do this to see if you do have social phobia. They do so that they can track your progression and health and determine whether or not you have social phobia or other unrealistic fears. They do this to help you not to make fun of you.

There are going to be people who will make fun of your fear or phobia. This is called stigma. “Stigma is when someone judges you based on a personal trait” (Mayo Clinic). They may make fun of you because of what you are afraid of or because of what your phobia is. To remove this stigma, talk to the person and let them understand why you have this phobia and what caused it. It will help them be able to understand what you are going through. For example, they may make fun of you because you are afraid to talk in front of crowds. If they do make fun of you, talk to them and try to get them to understand. If they continue to bother you, try talking to a trusted adult about the problem.

Sometimes when people make fun of a fear or phobia you have, you want to get rid of it because you want to feel accepted. Fortunately, there are some treatments to help get rid of your phobias. One of them is psychotherapy. One of the types of psychotherapy “called cognitive behavior therapy is especially useful” (NIMH). Cognitive behavior therapy is a “form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do” (NACBT). There is also medication that your doctor can prescribe you, but you should talk to your doctor first about what is happening and what you have a phobia of before starting any treatment procedures. There are other cures for phobias; you just have to find the right one for you.

Having a phobia in your life for a long time can affect what activities/vacations you do. For example: if you have to fly for your job and you have a phobia for flying, you may eventually lose your job because you don’t fly anywhere. This could eventually lead to that person losing their house and many more horrible things, but the good thing is that that person can overcome this fear.

I think that anyone can overcome their phobias if they just put their minds to it and seek professional help. After all, the mind is a very powerful thing. It can make you feel sick when you aren’t even a little sick. If it can do that, why can’t we overcome our fears with our minds and proper therapy or treatment? To overcome phobias, we must have courage in ourselves. “Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it." - Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944) If we have a support system and have courage in ourselves, I know we can overcome any fear or phobia. These fears do not need to control our lives any longer. We can take control of the situation and win.