A phobia is an excessive and irrational fear reaction. The word itself comes from the Greek word "phobos," which means "fear" or "horror." The term ‘phobia' is often used to refer to a fear of one particular trigger. Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually connected to something specific. It could be an object, situation, or activity. Most importantly, you can't control that fear. It could be scary to the extent that you would do anything to avoid it or stay away from it. Knowing about this condition can help you tackle it more effectively.
Any phobia is generally categorised as a type of anxiety disorder. Phobia typically remains dormant until one encounter the object of his/her fear. However, in certain instances, mere contemplation of phobia's source can trigger anticipatory anxiety. Anticipatory anxiety results in feelings of restlessness, dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, a heightened heart rate, breathlessness, trembling, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
The impact of phobia on one's daily life often depends on how frequently the person encounters the phobic trigger. Phobias appear to be multifactorial in origin, lacking a singular cause. They may be linked to specific traumatic experiences, learned behaviours from family members during childhood, or genetic predispositions.
Most phobias have these characteristics:
• A feeling of helplessness in the face of one's fears
• Feeling that whatever is causing you anxiety must be averted by all means
• Unable to perform typically when challenged by the trigger
• Recognition of the irrationality, unreasonableness, and exaggeration of the terror, along with helplessness in the face of such emotions
Phobias are intense and uncontrollable fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. They often have deep-rooted evolutionary or traumatic origins, affecting people's daily lives and decision-making. Recognising what does phobia mean and the symptoms associated is crucial. If you think you may have a phobia that's causing a disruption in your life, don't fear seeking help from a medical professional.
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Source: verywellmind, baptisthealth, healthline, medicalnewstoday, verywellhealth
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Published on November 21, 2023