PHOBIAS
One of the
most common kinds of anxiety
disorders
are phobias, which are irrational fears surrounding a specific object
or situation. With this type of disorder, the fear is persistent and
reoccurring, even though the feared object or situation entering a
person’s life is often out of control of that person.
For example, if you have a fear of airplanes, you can simply choose not
to fly during your life. However, once the phobia begins to disrupt
your functioning on a daily basis, you should see your doctor for treatment.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 6
million Americans suffer from specific phobias. This anxiety disorder
is affecting up to 18% of Americans and is the second most common
mental illness among men and the most common mental illness among
woman. For many, phobias interfere with daily life.Phobias do not have
to say with you forever.
A specific phobia is an anxiety disorder that is based on a certain
fear. These fears vary greatly from person to person and usually stem
from experiences in childhood. Specific phobias go beyond being simply
adverse to a certain object or situation and can actually cause panic
attacks.
Specific phobias can be difficult to diagnose in comparison to rational
fears.
Clinical phobias are separated into three main categories: social
phobias (in which a person fears involvement with people and social
situations), specific phobias (in which a certain trigger like heights,
spiders, water, or flying can cause fear), and agoraphobia (in which a
person fears leaving the comfort and familiarity of home or a safe
area).
There are six main criteria points that doctors use to diagnose
specific phobias.
First, the fear must be persistent and unfading. In some people, this
fear may also be felt even if the object is not around or the situation
is not happening, simple because it might be around or happen in the
future.
The second criteria that must be met for diagnosis is acute
anxiety, sometimes even leading to a panic attack, when the
object is around or the person is in the situations.
Thirdly, the fear itself is irrational and excessive, because there is
no immediate danger.
Next, a person will start to avoid the object or situation, even if
this disrupts daily life.
Another criteria is that it disrupts life to the point where it
interferes with normal daily functioning and a considerable amount of
time is spent worrying about the phobia.
Lastly, these symptoms are not attributed to another anxiety condition
or disorder. Fears vary widely, but fall into five categories: animals,
natural environments, blood and injury, situational, and other. In some
cases, treatment is not necessary.