Phobia
verifier1
Department of General Medicine
A phobia is an an abnormal fear of an object or situation that poses little real danger but provokes anxiety and avoidance.
Causes of phobias
A phobia may develop during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. Causes of phobias are still unknown. However, there does appear a link between your own phobias and the phobias of your parents. This could be due to genetics or learned behavior.
Type of phobias
- Specific or simple Phobias
Specific or simple phobias, like fear of heights (acrophobia), usually develop during childhood. Simple phobias can often be linked to an early negative childhood experience. Other factors are in the family environment, such as having parents who are very anxious, may also affect the way you deal with anxiety later in life.
The causes of complex phobias are not known.However, it's thought that genetics ,brain chemistry and life experiences may play a part in this type of phobias.
The physical reactions (symptoms) that a person experiences when faced with the object of their fear are real and are not simply "in one's head".The body reacts to the threat by releasing the hormone like adrenalin, which causes bodily symptoms, such as sweating shortness of breath,trembling and a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
Examples of Phobias
Acarophobia- An irrational or exaggerated fear of mites, ticks, small insects and worms.
Acerophobia- Fear of sourness or anything that tastes sour.
Achluophobia- An irrational fear of darkness.
Aeroacrophobia- An abnormal fear of open high places.
Agliophobia - A persistent, unwarranted and often irrational fear of pain.
Agrizoophobia- Fear of wild animals.
Agyrophobia- Abnormal and persistent fear of crossing streets, highways and other thoroughfares.
Aichmophobia- Extreme and irrational fear of sharp things such as pencils, knifes, needles, protruding corners or even a pointing finger or umbrella.
Ailurophobia- Persistent, irrational fear of cats.
Amaxophobia- Fear of being in or riding in a vehicle.
Ancraophobia- An extreme fear of wind or drafts.
Angrophobia - An overwhelming, irrational fear of anger and/or of becoming angry.
Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia- Abnormal and persistent fear of arachnids or spiders.
Arsonphobia- Persistent and unwarranted fear of fireplace or flames.
Atychiphobia- Abnormal, unwarranted, and persistent fear of failure.
Autophobia- A morbid fear being alone or isolated.
Aviophobia or Aviatophobia- Fear of flying or being in an airplane.
Bacillophobia- An irrational fear of germs or bacteria.
Bacteriophobia- An irrational or exaggerated fear of bacteria.
Bathophobia- Persistent and abnormal fear of depths.
Bibliophobia- Fear or hatred of books.
Brontophobia- An abnormal fear of thunder and lightning
Bufonophobia- Fear of toads.
Cancerophobia or Carcinophobia- An unrealistic fear of and preoccupation with having or developing cancer.
Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia- An abnormal fear of cold or frost.
Climacophobia- Fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs.
Cynophobia- Fear of rabies or dogs.
Decidophobia - Fear of making decisions.
Dystychiphobia- An excessive and irrational fear of accidents.
Enochlophobia- An irrational fear of large crowds.
Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia- An exaggerated or irrational fear of fever.
Gamophobia- Uncontrollable and irrational fear of marriage.
Gerascophobia- An abnormal or persistent fear of growing old or ageing.
Heterophobia- An irrational or exaggerated extreme fear of straight men or women.
Hodophobia- Fear of traveling or road travel.
Hylophobia- An irrational fear of wood, forest or trees.
Hominophobia- Fear of men.
Hydrophobia- Extreme or irrational fear of water
Iatrophobia- An abnormal or irrational fear of doctors or going to the doctor.
Maieusiophobia- Fear of childbirth.
Necrophobia- Extreme fear of death or dead bodies.
Phasmophobia- : An irrational or exaggerated fear of ghosts.
Radiophobia- An excessive fear of radiation.
Suriphobia- Fear of mice.
Thermophobia-Fear or dislike of heat.
Tocophobia- An intense anxi- ety or fear of pregnancy and childbirth.
Urophobia- Fear of urine or urination.
Vaccinophobia- An irrational fear of vaccines or vaccination.
Virginitiphobia- An abnormal and persistent fear of rape.
Xenophobia- Fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange.
Zoophobia- Fear of dangerous or threatening animals, such as wild bears or venomous snakes.
Phobias are largely underreported, probably many phobia sufferers find ways to avoid the situations of which they are phobic. The statistics estimate that the people suffer from phobias vary widely. Phobias are not unusual. Women tend to be twice as likely to suffer from a phobia when compared to men.
Mental health provider may recommend behavior therapy or medications or both to treat phobias.Medications such as Beta blockers,Antidepressants and Sedatives can helps to control the anxiety and panic from thinking about or being exposed to the object or situation of fear.