Phobias: The rationale behind irrational fears | Dean Burnett | Science | The Guardian Brain flapping Phobias: The rationale behind irrational fears Phobias are very common, with many people admitting to being irrationally afraid of something. But where does this fear come from, and what can we do about it? Even the most outlandish of fears can have a valid origin. Illustration by Simon Feeley Friday 28 June 2013 02.30 EDT First published on Friday 28 June 2013 02.30 EDT Share on Messenger Close Recently, this section featured an article about the tarantula Typhochlaena costae. While the piece was very interesting, this was likely lost on some readers, as it's difficult to focus on details while distracted by the sound of your own screaming. Arachnophobia is one of the more well-known phobias and can be very potent. Searching the science section for some lunchtime reading is not the sort of activity that typically includes spiders, so to be suddenly confronted, apropos of nothing, by an image of a humungous tarantula probably caught many unawares.

How many tablets/phones/laptops were ruined due to being hurled across the room in a panic? Most would consider this an overreaction. Granted, there are many dangerous species of spider (I'd link to examples but can't find any without pictures, and I'm not a hypocrite) but the odds of encountering one are, in the UK at least, vanishingly small. And even then, the biggest spider is physically no match for a person; a rolled up newspaper is not considered a lethal weapon among humans. Arachnophobes substantially outnumber people who have been genuinely injured by spiders, and yet the irrational fear of spiders is commonplace. What scares people often makes little logical sense. As I do stand-up comedy on occasion, I'm regularly told I'm "incredibly brave", yet all I'm doing is saying words in front of people. The people who tell me I'm brave think nothing of driving, an often fatal practice. But when you do genuinely fear something for no rational reason, then you may have a phobia . Phobias are psychologically interesting. There are three possible types: specific phobias , social phobias and agoraphobia .

Agoraphobia isn't just a fear of open spaces; it describes a fear of any situation where escape would be difficult and/or help wouldn't be forthcoming. The fact that most such situations occur outside the sufferer's home results in them not going out much, which is probably where the "open spaces" confusion comes from. Specific phobias are probably the most recognised. Specific phobias are an irrational fear of a specific thing or situation. Specific phobias can be further subdivided into situational (eg claustrophobia), natural environment (eg acrophobia ), animal (eg the aforementioned arachnophobia) or blood-injection-injury types (eg … blood and injections, I guess). You could still have a phobia which doesn't fit any of these descriptors though. Maybe you've got an irrational fear of being categorised? If so, sorry. Social phobias are where you have an irrational fear of how people will react to you in a situation. The fear of rejection or judgement from others is a powerful force for humans; much of how we think and behave is calibrated around the views and behaviours of others. There's a whole discipline about it. People value the views of others differently of course.

One way to reduce the value you place on the opinions of strangers is to read the comments on the internet. Any comments, anywhere. How do we even develop a fear that is by definition irrational? One explanation is classical conditioning ; you experience something bad involving a thing, you associate the bad experience with that thing, then you become afraid of that thing. But clever humans can also learn by observation ; you see your mother panicking frantically in response to a wasp when you're a child, you'll likely be afraid of wasps too. If we are given enough (possibly inaccurate) information, we may just "figure out" things are scary via instructional fear acquisition . Certain horror films are particularly good at this, presenting everyday things like birds as things to be feared, associations which stay with people for a long time. The Final Destination series is particularly cruel in that it tries to make people terrified of "not dying". We may even have evolved to acquire some phobias. Research has shown that primates tend to learn to fear snakes very quickly when compared to other stimuli. If you're evolving in an environment where snakes are a genuine but subtle threat, this tendency would help no doubt. It might explain the spider thing too.

Not so sure about aerophobia though, we probably didn't need to worry about that on the African Savannah What can you do about this? It's not like those with phobias aren't aware of them. One of the criteria in the DSM-IV for diagnosing phobias is that the sufferer is aware of the irrational nature of their fear. There are a lot of brain regions involved, like the insular cortex and amygdala . And you can't simply make someone encounter the thing they're afraid of to show them it's harmless. As far as the brain is concerned, the fear response IS a negative physical consequence, so on a subconscious level the phobia is self-fulfilling. There are methods of treating phobias if they're genuinely debilitating. Systematic desensitisation is one approach (where the source of the phobia is introduced in easily-managed stages), cognitive behavioural therapy , even antidepressants if all else fails. It's different if you're talking about things like homophobia or Islamophobia, as often these are more likely to be misleadingly named prejudices than genuine phobias.

There are fewer options for treating these though; science has tackled many psychological conditions, but there's still no known cure for being a dick. Dean Burnett encourages you not to be afraid and follow him on Twitter @garwboy Neuroimaging is seen as the key to understanding everything we do, but, in their controversial new book, Sally Satel and Scott O Lilienfeld say this approach is misguided Published: 29 Jun 2013 Suzi Gage: There really is 'a gene for sweaty armpits', but new research suggests that the lucky people who don't have smelly sweat still use expensive deodorants Published: 14 Feb 2013 Mark Stokes: Why do some critics refuse to accept that the solution to many mysteries of the mind will be found in the brain? Published: 25 Jun 2013 Dr Dave Hone: Fossils show that ancient marsupial lions tore apart the wallabies in Australia – roll on Saturday Published: 28 Jun 2013 God Has Sophophobia: Part 1—Introduction - YouTube God Has Sophophobia: Part 1—Introduction Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist.

Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 12, 2014 We all know that God has more psychopathic ailments than an entire psycho ward. I show that one of God's mental instabilities, and thus passed on to His children, is a mental disorder known as Sophophobia—the irrational fear of learning and/or knowledge. From this disorder stems every element of bigotry and hatred that can be found in the bible concerning such issues as homosexuality, gay marriage, abortion, evolution, the Big Bang, and so on. As usual, I do not pull these accusations out of my ass but rather justify and prove my case with simple reason and logic. Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 13 (all of it) What is Sophophobia?: Sophophobia is the fear of knowledge or learning. The origin of the word sopho is Greek (meaning wisdom or knowledge) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). Sophophobia is considered to be a specific phobia, which is discussed on the home page listed below.

Sophophobia is also related to Epistemophobia and Gnosiophobia (which both mean fear of knowledge). What are the causes?: It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age. What are the symptoms?: As with any phobia, the symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from this disorder, please seek professional help immediately. Phobias and Irrational Fears: Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help for Overcoming Your Anxiety and Fear Phobias and Irrational Fears Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help for Overcoming Your Anxiety and Fear Almost everyone has an irrational fear or two—of mice, for example, or your annual dental checkup.

For most people, these fears are minor. But when fears become so severe that they cause tremendous anxiety and interfere with your normal life, they’re called phobias. The good news is that phobias can be managed and cured. Self-help strategies and therapy can help you overcome your fears and start living the life you want. What you can do Work with one fear at a time Learn to calm down quickly using your senses Learn and practice a variety of relaxation techniques With the aid of meditation focus on the present rather than the past or future Challenge negative thinking Learn more by reading the related articles What is a phobia? A phobia is an intense fear of something that, in reality, poses little or no actual danger. Common phobias and fears include closed-in places, heights, highway driving, flying insects, snakes, and needles. However, we can develop phobias of virtually anything. Most phobias develop in childhood, but they can also develop in adults. If you have a phobia, you probably realize that your fear is irrational, yet you still can’t control your feelings. Just thinking about the feared object or situation may make you anxious. And when you’re actually exposed to the thing you fear, the terror is automatic and overwhelming.

The experience is so nerve-wracking that you may go to great lengths to avoid it—inconveniencing yourself or even changing your lifestyle. If you have claustrophobia, for example, you might turn down a lucrative job offer if you have to ride the elevator to get to the office. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive an extra 20 miles in order to avoid a tall bridge. Understanding your phobia is the first step to overcoming it. It’s important to know that phobias are common. (Having a phobia doesn’t mean you’re crazy!) It also helps to know that phobias are highly treatable. You can overcome your anxiety and fear, no matter how out of control it feels. Barbara’s fear of flying Barbara is terrified of flying. Unfortunately, she has to travel a lot for work, and this traveling takes a terrible toll. For weeks before every trip, she has a knot in her stomach and a feeling of anxiety that won’t go away. On the day of the flight, she wakes up feeling like she’s going to throw up. Once she’s on the plane, her heart pounds, she feels lightheaded, and she starts to hyperventilate.

It gets worse and worse with every flight. Barbara’s fear of flying has gotten so bad that she finally told her boss she can only travel to places within driving distance. Her boss was not happy about this, and Barbara’s not sure what will happen at work. She’s afraid she’ll be demoted or lose her job altogether. But better that, she tells herself, than getting on a plane again. “Normal” fears vs. phobias or “irrational” fears It is normal and even helpful to experience fear in dangerous situations. Fear is an adaptive human response. It serves a protective purpose, activating the automatic “fight-or-flight” response. With our bodies and minds alert and ready for action, we are able to respond quickly and protect ourselves. But with phobias the threat is greatly exaggerated or nonexistent. For example, it is only natural to be afraid of a snarling Doberman, but it is irrational to be terrified of a friendly poodle on a leash, as you might be if you have a dog phobia.

The difference between normal fear and a phobia Normal fear Phobia Feeling anxious when flying through turbulence or taking off during a storm Not going to your best friend’s island wedding because you’d have to fly there Experiencing butterflies when peering down from the top of a skyscraper or climbing a tall ladder Turning down a great job because it’s on the 10th floor of the office building Getting nervous when you see a pit bull or a Rottweiler Steering clear of the park because you might see a dog Feeling a little queasy when getting a shot or when your blood is being drawn Avoiding necessary medical treatments or doctor’s checkups because you’re terrified of needles Normal fears in children Many childhood fears are natural and tend to develop at specific ages. For example, many young children are afraid of the dark and may need a nightlight to sleep. That doesn’t mean they have a phobia. In most cases, they will grow out of this fear as they get older. If your child’s fear is not interfering with his or her daily life or causing him or her a great deal of distress, then there’s little cause for undue concern.

However, if the fear is interfering with your child’s social activities, school performance, or sleep, you may want to see a qualified child therapist. Which of my child’s fears are normal? According to the Child Anxiety Network, the following fears are extremely common and considered normal: 0-2 years – Loud noises, strangers, separation from parents, large objects. 3-6 years – Imaginary things such as ghosts, monsters, the dark, sleeping alone, strange noises. 7-16 years – More realistic fears such as injury, illness, school performance, death, natural disasters. Common types of phobias and fears There are four general types of phobias and fears: Animal phobias. Examples include the fear of snakes, spiders, rodents, and dogs. Natural environment phobias. Examples include fear of heights, storms, water, and of the dark. Situational phobias (fears triggered by a specific situation). Examples include fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), flying, driving, tunnels, and bridges. Blood-Injection-Injury phobia. This is the fear of blood, injury, illness, needles, or other medical procedures.

Some phobias don’t fall into one of the four common categories. Such phobias include fear of choking, fear of getting a disease such as cancer, and fear of clowns. Social phobia and fear of public speaking Social phobia , also called social anxiety disorder, is fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed or judged. If you have social phobia, then you may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you will look and what others will think may lead you to avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy. Fear of public speaking—an extremely common phobia—is a type of social phobia. Other fears associated with social phobia include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, and being called on in class. Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) Agoraphobia is another phobia that doesn’t fit neatly into any of the four categories. Traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks .

Afraid of having another panic attack, you become anxious about being in situations where escape would be difficult or embarrassing, or where help wouldn't be immediately available. For example, you are likely to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls and movie theaters. You may also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home. Signs and symptoms of phobias The symptoms of a phobia can range from mild feelings of apprehension and anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. Typically, the closer you are to the thing you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be. Your fear will also be higher if getting away is difficult. Physical symptoms of a phobia Difficulty breathing Emotional symptoms of a phobia Feeling overwhelming anxiety or panic Feeling intense need to escape Feeling "unreal" or detached from yourself Fear of losing control or going crazy Feeling like you're going to die or pass out Knowing that you're overreacting, but feeling powerless to control fear Symptoms of blood-injection-injury phobia The symptoms of blood-injection-injury phobia are slightly different from other phobias.

When confronted with the sight of blood or a needle, you experience not only fear, but also disgust. Like other phobias, you initially feel anxious as your heart speeds up. However, unlike other phobias, this acceleration is followed by a quick drop in blood pressure, which leads to nausea, dizziness, and fainting. Although a fear of fainting is common in all specific phobias, blood-injection-injury phobia is the only phobia where fainting can actually occur. When to seek help for phobias and fears Although phobias are common, they don’t always cause considerable distress or significantly disrupt your life. For example, if you have a snake phobia, it may cause no problems in your everyday activities if you live in a city where you are not likely to run into one. On the other hand, if you have a severe phobia of crowded spaces, living in a big city would pose a problem. If your phobia doesn’t really impact your life that much, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about.

But if avoidance of the object, activity, or situation that triggers your phobia interferes with your normal functioning, or keeps you from doing things you would otherwise enjoy, it’s time to seek help. Consider treatment for your phobia if: It causes intense and disabling fear, anxiety, and panic You recognize that your fear is excessive and unreasonable You avoid certain situations and places because of your phobia Your avoidance interferes with your normal routine or causes significant distress You’ve had the phobia for at least six months Self-help or therapy for phobias: which is best? When it comes to treating phobias, self-help strategies and therapy can both be effective. What’s best for you depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your phobia, your insurance coverage, and the amount of support you need. As a general rule, self-help is always worth a try. The more you can do for yourself, the more in control you’ll feel—which goes a long way when it comes to phobias and fears. However, if your phobia is so severe that it triggers panic attacks or uncontrollable anxiety, you may want to get additional support. The good news is that therapy for phobias has a great track record.

Not only does it work extremely well, but you tend to see results very quickly—sometimes in as a little as one to four sessions. However, support doesn’t have to come in the guise of a professional therapist. Just having someone to hold your hand or stand by your side as you face your fears can be extraordinarily helpful. Tip 1: Face your fears, one step at a time It’s only natural to want to avoid the thing or situation you fear. But when it comes to conquering phobias, facing your fears is the key. While avoidance may make you feel better in the short-term, it prevents you from learning that your phobia may not be as frightening or overwhelming as you think. You never get the chance to learn how to cope with your fears and experience control over the situation. As a result, the phobia becomes increasingly scarier and more daunting in your mind. Exposure The most effective way to overcome a phobia is by gradually and repeatedly exposing yourself to what you fear in a safe and controlled way. During this exposure process, you’ll learn to ride out the anxiety and fear until it inevitably passes.

Through repeated experiences facing your fear, you’ll begin to realize that the worst isn’t going to happen; you’re not going to die or "lose it." With each exposure, you’ll feel more confident and in control. The phobia begins to lose its power. Successfully facing your fears takes planning, practice, and patience. The following tips will help you get the most out of the exposure process. Climbing up the “fear ladder” If you’ve tried exposure in the past and it didn’t work, you may have started with something too scary or overwhelming. It’s important to begin with a situation that you can handle, and work your way up from there, building your confidence and coping skills as you move up the “fear ladder.” Facing a fear of dogs: A sample fear ladder Step 1: Look at pictures of dogs. Step 2: Watch a video with dogs in it. Step 3: Look at a dog through a window. Step 4: Stand across the street from a dog on a leash. Step 5: Stand 10 feet away from a dog on a leash. Step 6: Stand five feet away from a dog on a leash. Step 7: Stand beside a dog on a leash.

Step 8: Pet a small dog that someone is holding. Step 9: Pet a larger dog on a leash. Step 10: Pet a larger dog off leash. Make a list. Make a list of the frightening situations related to your phobia. If you’re afraid of flying, your list (in addition to the obvious, such as taking a flight or getting through takeoff) might include booking your ticket, packing your suitcase, driving to the airport, watching planes take off and land, going through security, boarding the plane, and listening to the flight attendant present the safety instructions. Build your fear ladder. Arrange the items on your list from the least scary to the most scary. The first step should make you slightly anxious, but not so frightened that you’re too intimidated to try it. When creating the ladder, it can be helpful to think about your end goal (for example, to be able to be near dogs without panicking) and then break down the steps needed to reach that goal. Work your way up the ladder. Start with the first step (in this example, looking at pictures of dogs) and don’t move on until you start to feel more comfortable doing it.

If at all possible, stay in the situation long enough for your anxiety to decrease. The longer you expose yourself to the thing you’re afraid of, the more you’ll get used to it and the less anxious you’ll feel when you face it the next time. If the situation itself is short (for example, crossing a bridge), do it over and over again until your anxiety starts to lessen. Once you’ve done a step on several separate occasions without feeling too much anxiety, you can move on to the next step. If a step is too hard, break it down into smaller steps or go slower. Practice. It’s important to practice regularly. The more often you practice, the quicker your progress will be. However, don’t rush. Go at a pace that you can manage without feeling overwhelmed. And remember: you will feel uncomfortable and anxious as you face your fears, but the feelings are only temporary. If you stick with it, the anxiety will fade. Your fears won’t hurt you. If you start to feel overwhelmed… While it’s natural to feel scared or anxious as you face your phobia, if you start to feel overwhelmed, immediately back off and use the techniques outlined below to quickly calm your nervous system.

Tip 2: Learn to calm down quickly When you’re afraid or anxious, you experience a variety of uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as a racing heart and a suffocating feeling. These physical sensations can be frightening themselves—and a large part of what makes your phobia so distressing. However, by learning how to calm yourself down quickly, you can become more confident in your ability to tolerate uncomfortable sensations and face your fears. Socially interacting face-to-face with someone you trust is the quickest way to calm your nervous system and diffuse anxiety. When you don’t have a friend close by to lean on, though, you can quickly self-soothe by making use of one or more of your physical senses: Movement – Go for a walk, jump up and down, or gently stretch. Dancing, drumming, and running can be especially effective at relieving anxiety. Sight – Look at anything that relaxes you or makes you smile: a beautiful view, family photos, cat pictures on the Internet. Sound – Listen to soothing music, sing a favorite tune, or play a musical instrument. Or enjoy the relaxing sounds of nature (either live or recorded): ocean waves, wind through the trees, birds singing. Smell – Light scented candles.

Smell the flowers in a garden. Breathe in the clean, fresh air. Spritz on your favorite perfume. Taste – Slowly eat a favorite treat, savoring each bite. Sip a hot cup of coffee or herbal tea. Chew on a stick of gum. Enjoy a mint or your favorite hard candy. Touch – Give yourself a hand or neck massage. Cuddle with a pet. Wrap yourself in a soft blanket. Sit outside in the cool breeze. Tip 3: Practice relaxation techniques Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation are powerful antidotes to anxiety, panic, and fear. With regular practice, they can improve your ability to control the physical symptoms of anxiety, which will make facing your phobia less intimidating. Relaxation techniques will also help you cope more effectively with other sources of stress and anxiety in your life. A simple deep breathing exercise When you’re anxious, you tend to take quick, shallow breaths (also known as hyperventilating), which actually adds to the physical feelings of anxiety. By breathing deeply from the abdomen, you can reverse these physical sensations. You can’t be upset when you’re breathing slowly, deeply, and quietly.

Within a few short minutes of deep breathing, you’ll feel less tense, short of breath, and anxious. You don’t need to feel anxious to practice this technique. In fact, it’s best to practice when you’re feeling calm until you’re familiar and comfortable with the exercise. Sit or stand comfortably with your back straight. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Take a slow breath in through your nose, counting to four. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale through your mouth to a count of eight, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little. Inhale again, repeating the cycle until you feel relaxed and centered. Practice this deep breathing technique for five minutes twice day. Once you’re comfortable with technique, you can start to use it when you’re facing your phobia or in other stressful situations. Meditation for stress and anxiety relief Meditation is a relaxation technique that can help to prevent anxiety—and it can actually change your brain as well.

With regular practice, meditation boosts activity in the area of the brain responsible for feelings of serenity, helping to quell fear and panic before they strike. Try the Ride the Wild Horse meditation, part of HelpGuide’s free EQ toolkit . Tip 4: Challenge negative thoughts Learning to challenge unhelpful thoughts is an important step in overcoming your phobia. When you have a phobia, you tend to overestimate how bad it will be if you’re exposed to the situation you fear. At the same time, you underestimate your ability to cope. The anxious thoughts that trigger and fuel phobias are usually negative and unrealistic. It can help to put these thoughts to the test. Begin by writing down any negative thoughts you have when confronted with your phobia. Many times, these thoughts fall into the following categories: Fortune telling. For example, “This bridge is going to collapse;” “I’ll make a fool of myself for sure;” “I will definitely lose it when the elevator doors close.” Overgeneralization. “I fainted once while getting a shot. I’ll never be able to get a shot again without passing out;” “That pit bull lunged at me. All dogs are dangerous.” Catastrophizing.

“The captain said we’re going through turbulence. The plane is going to crash!” “The person next to me coughed. Maybe it’s the swine flu. I’m going to get very sick!” Once you’ve identified your negative thoughts, evaluate them. Use the following example to get started. Negative thought: “The elevator will break down and I’ll get trapped and suffocate.” Is there any evidence that contradicts this thought? “I see many people using the elevator and it has never broken down.” “I cannot remember ever hearing of anyone dying from suffocation in an elevator.” “I have never actually been in an elevator that has broken down.” “There are air vents in an elevator which will stop the air running out.” Could you do anything to resolve this situation if it does occur? “I guess I could press the alarm button or use the telephone to call for assistance.” Are you making a thinking error? “Yes. I’m fortune telling, as I have no evidence to suggest that the elevator will break down.” What would you say to a friend who has this fear?

“I would probably say that the chances of it happening are very slim as you don’t see or hear about it very often.” Source: Mood Juice It’s also helpful to come up with some positive coping statements that you can tell yourself when facing your phobia. For example: “I’ve felt this way before and nothing terrible happened. It may be unpleasant, but it won’t harm me.” “If the worst happens and I have a panic attack while I’m driving, I’ll simply pull over and wait for it to pass.” “I’ve flown many times and the plane has never crashed. In fact, I don’t know anyone who’s ever been in a plane crash. Statistically, flying is very safe.” Related HelpGuide articles Resources and references General information about phobias and fears Anxiety, Panic, and Phobias – Guide to phobias, including the signs and symptoms, types, causes, and treatment options. (The Royal College of Psychiatrists) Specific Phobia – Learn about the symptoms and treatment of phobias. Includes information on how to tell if you have a phobia or another anxiety disorder.

(AnxietyBC) Phobias – Describes different phobias, their symptoms, and the treatments and self-help measures that can help. (NHS) Types of phobias and their treatment Animal/Bird Phobias – Learn about animal and bird phobias, including how to treat them. (Anxiety Care) Claustrophobia – Describes symptoms of claustrophobia and provides an overview of available treatments. (Better Health Channel, Australia) Dental Phobia – Discusses dental phobia, what causes it, and what you can do about it. (Dental Fear Central) Fear of Flying – Fear of flying resource covers symptoms medical issues, and cognitive coping strategies. (A Guide to Psychology and its Practice) Overcoming your fear of needles (PDF) – Leaflet explaining more about the fear of needles with practical advice on how to overcome it. (NHS Foundation Trust) Overcoming Medical Phobias (PDF) – Free e-book on how to conquer a fear of blood, needles, doctors, or dentists. (Martin Anthony, Ph.D.) Phobias in children and teens Fears and Phobias – Information geared to teenagers about fears, phobias, and treatment.

(TeenHealth) Phobias – Easy-to-understand phobia information for children. (KidsHealth) Self-help and support Phobias: A Self-Help Guide – Printable self-help guide offers practical tools and advice for overcoming phobias and fears. (Moodjuice) Self-Help: Managing Your Phobias (PDF) – Outlines six self-help steps for managing phobias and fears. (AnxietyBC) Exposure treatment Systematic Desensitization – Detailed look at systematic desensitization and how to do it on your own. Includes instructions on relaxation, constructing an anxiety hierarchy, and confronting phobias in vivo. (A Guide to Psychology and Its Practice) Facing Your Fears: Exposure (PDF) – Offers step-by-step advice on how to gradually face a phobia through exposure therapy. (AnxietyBC) From our readers: Learn About Phobias – Deep Irrational Fears Phobia SHARE Learn About Phobias – Deep Irrational Fears There are many things in life that need to cause some fear. Fear is a natural part of life – a healthy warning sign that there are things in the world that represent danger. There's nothing wrong with fear.

As the saying goes: The problem isn't fear. The problem is irrational fear. The problem is when your fears cause you to change your lifestyle and run your life in a way that no fear should. When you have something – or many things – that cause you intense, irrational fear, then you have developed a phobia. What is an "Irrational Fear?" The word irrational can be offensive for some people. After all, the fear seems very real – and in some cases, there may be a reason to have that fear. But even a legitimate fear can be irrational depending on the way that it runs your life. For example, let's say you have a fear of snakes – known as Ophidiophobia. Snakes can be dangerous – there are many poisonous snakes – but 99.99% of the time there are no snakes around you, and even if there were, snakes don't bite on a whim. In fact, in the United States, you have a 1 in 48,942,807 chance of being killed by a snake. Read that again: 1 in 48,942,807.

You have a better chance of dying in an earthquake (1 in 9,788,561). You have a better chance of being struck by lightning (1 in 576,000). There are reasons that someone may want to fear a poisonous snake, since snakes can be dangerous and possibly cause pain. But if you actually change your life to address that fear, you're likely suffering from a phobia. There are many examples of these type of phobias. Some of them are based on real fears, some of them are not. Examples include: Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) Mysophobia (fear of germs) Ornithophobia (fear of birds). Phobias don't have to be common either. Almost anything can cause a phobia. There is a phobia known as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, or "fear of long words" which, if you have that fear probably forced you to run away from your computer. Phobias generally fall into the following categories: Animal Type Phobias: Fear of dogs, cats, snakes, rats, dogs, mice, or other animals.

Natural Environment Type: Fear of heights, firestorms, water, aging, or other natural phenomena. Blood-Injection-Injury Type: Fear of contamination, seeing blood, needles and similar phenomena. Situational Type: Fear of closed spaces, of the dark, of going to the dentist or other situations. Other Type: Fear of the number thirteen, fear of clowns or mimes, fear of loud noises and other phenomena. Some types of phobias – such as agoraphobia and social phobia – that are considered a bit different than traditional phobias. It's not just the existence of an intense fear that causes the diagnosis of a phobia. The be diagnosed with a phobia, you need to show one or more of the following: You experience severe anxiety when faced with a stimulus (the thing that causes fear). You experience severe anxiety when anticipating the possibility of facing the stimulus. The fear is uncontrollable, to the point where it can escalate – possibly into an anxiety attack. You alter your life in some way to avoid the stimulus. A little bit of fear may still be considered a phobia in the traditional sense, but probably won't require treatment.

If you get a little scared when you see spiders but can still pick them up and throw them outside, it's still a phobia, but it's not one that plays much of a role in your life. But if you're genuinely changing who you are because of your phobias, or you're going out of your way to avoid the fearful stimulus, or you experience severe and uncontrollable anxiety over the idea or the sight of the object that causes you fear, you have a phobia that needs help. Stop What Fears You Take my free 7 minute anxiety test to get started . What Causes These Phobias? As with most anxiety problems, it can be hard to pinpoint an exact cause of the fear. There may be some evolutionary reasons for some of the fears – at one point during evolution, there may have been reasons to fear some of these issues, even though now those fears make less sense. It may also be a misfiring of natural fear. There is reason to have a bit of fear of heights, for example (otherwise you would be jumping off buildings), but it's possible that a phobia is a misfiring of the natural fear system inside you. For others, the fear is learned.

Those that have a parent that shows extreme fear at the sight of a spider will often develop their own fear of spiders. Those that have been attacked by a scary dog may develop phobias of dogs. These are all examples of learned fears. Finally, a fear may also be developed out of nothing, but reinforced by fear itself. This is why phobias are somewhat of a catch-22. What happens is the following: You have a fear that you know is a bit unusual. You tell yourself that it shouldn't cause that much fear. You see the object that causes fear and experience severe anxiety. Your fear is now reinforced – your brain tells yourself that it really IS something that you should fear, and you become more likely to fear the object next time. Fear causes more fear, because fear tells yourself that you're right to fear it. Your brain convinces you that you must be afraid of something very real, because otherwise why would you experience that much fear? In the end, every time you encounter your phobia (even if it's just in a dream), your fear of that stimulus becomes even more pronounced. How Common is it to Experience a Phobia?

Because there are such a broad range of phobias in the world, nearly half of the country has some type of mild phobia. But as far as those that would be diagnosed with a specific phobia, the numbers are still very high. Some estimates put the number at 11% or higher, with many more that don't report it because they don't encounter the stimulus often enough to seek help. It may also be hard to diagnose specific phobias because the person may be suffering from other anxiety disorders. When other anxiety disorders are present, the "phobia" may really be the result of other anxieties, and if you can reduce those disorders, the hardest parts of living with the phobia should go away with them. Check out the chart below. You'll see a simplified way to get an idea of your anxiety: Of course the easiest way to tell what kind of anxiety you're suffering from is to take my free 7 minute anxiety test , where I look at your symptoms and give you an idea of what best characterizes your anxiety. If you haven't yet, take the test now . What Treatment is There For Specific Phobias? There are numerous treatments for phobias.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best tools, as it deals with the fear itself rather than the cause, which is less unimportant for controlling phobia fears. One of the most common ways to treat phobias in known as "exposure therapy." Exposure therapy seeks to reduce the way that the phobia impacts you – causing you to face your fear in a way that is gradual and easy, until the phobia treatment has had time to work effectively. The best way to explain exposure therapy is with an example, so we'll take a look at treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and how a therapist or expert may go about reducing your anxiety: First, spiders need to become less of a mystery. So the therapist may have you simply learn more about them. You'll read how they work – the percentage of them that are poisonous (hint, it is EXTREMELY small), where they live, how often people are hurt by them, and so on. You'll read these until you are more comfortable with the idea of moving forward. If you feel anxiety, you'll go through relaxation strategies until you feel calm again. Next, you'll start imagining spiders. You'll be told to think about encountering them.

Even if you feel fear, you'll be told to continue thinking about them until it no longer causes fear. The therapist or counselor will help you if you feel too anxious. You need to keep thinking about them until it almost feels silly – until the idea of a spider annoys you, and isn't something that causes any fear at all. You may also be asked to imagine them on you, etc., until the same result happens. Next you'll move up to start looking at pictures of different spiders. Once again, you'll keep viewing each one until they no longer cause anxiety. If you have a phobia, you'll likely feel much more anxious at the photos. But you'll talk yourself down and use your anxiety reduction strategies until you feel calmer, and once you do you'll move on to the next one. Only when photos don't cause anxiety will you move forward. Next comes the harder step. Your therapist will actually get a spider, and put it in front of you in an enclosed location. It'll be in a cup or a tank so that it can't get on you, but you'll be asked to look at it. You'll likely feel a great amount of fear if your phobia is still very strong.

Your therapist will work with you, talking you down, so that you're more comfortable around it. Eventually, being in the spider's presence where you can't avoid it will no longer lead to fear. Finally, in some cases, once you're able to be in the room with one, you'll be asked to go further. You may be asked to touch a spider or place one on your body. Right now, if you're afraid of spiders, the very idea will cause a great deal of anxiety. But through exposure therapy, you'll eventually control that anxiety and be able to have the object of your fear genuinely touching you without causing you to flee or experience severe anxiety attacks. Each type of phobia has a different phobia treatment, so it won't necessarily occur exactly as described above, but exposure therapy uses this type of technique to cure people of their phobias and decrease the amount of fear they experience. Right now, chances are this entire idea causes a great deal of fear, but rest assured that when completed in a controlled environment, this type of system has a high efficacy rate and is a great tool for combatting your specific phobias.

You'll also need to control your overall anxiety, since how you feel in your day to day life can also affect the degree to which your phobias affect you. For that, take my 7 minute anxiety test now. I've used it for years to help people just like you overcome their anxieties and their phobias. References Complete List of known phobias: . Chapman, T. F. (1997). The epidemiology of fears and phobias . In G. C. L. Davey (Ed.), Phobias: A handbook of theory, research and treatment (pp. 415-434). New York: Wiley. Why Anxiety Causes a Fear of Talking The Dangers (and Benefits) of Yohimbe Niacinamide as Treatment for Anxiety Drugs & Medications for Panic Attacks What are Panic Attacks? Sore Muscles May Be Caused By Anxiety The Links Between OCD and Serotonin Deficiency Anxiety As The Cause Of Muscle Tension More... Need help with anxiety? Then take our scientifically based anxiety test - completely free (takes no more than 7 minutes).

After completing it, you will find out whether your anxiety is within "normal range," which parts are out of balance and, most importantly, how to proceed with beating your symptoms. It is made specifically for anxiety sufferers, please make use of it.

Question: Sophophobia is the irrational fear of doing what?
Answer: Learning