You may have severe anxiety or fear when you are faced with that object or situation. The word phobia may also refer to conditions other than true phobias. A specific phobia is any kind of anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations. Usually, the fear is proportionally greater than the actual danger or threat. Examples of specific phobias are fear of snakes, spiders, flying, heights, or seeing blood. A phobia is an extreme form of fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation such as going outside or object such as spiders, even when there is no danger. Definition specific phobia, or simple phobia, is an intense, unreasonable, and persistent fear caused by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation. Specific phobias involve persistent and irrational fears of a specific situation or object that is out of proportion to the actual risk. This disorder causes unexpected, unpredictable periods of intense fear. People with specific phobias actively seek to avoid the feared object or. The severity measure for specific phobiaadult is a 10item measure that assesses the severity of specific phobia in individuals age 18 and older. Although a fear of fainting is common in all phobias, bloodinjectioninjury phobia is the only phobia where fainting can actually occur. However, its not always clear why some phobias occur.
Common specific phobias include animals, insects, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators. Specific phobias diagnosis and treatment mayo clinic. Specific phobia a child with specific phobia feels and exhibits intense fear of a particular person or type of person, place, object, activity, or situation. This strong fear makes a person want to avoid the objects, animals or situations that provoke responses typical for specific phobias.
Past year prevalence of specific phobia among adults was higher for females 12. While the exact cause is unknown, certain factors and personality traits appear to increase ones risk of developing specific phobia disorder. There doesnt seem to be one particular cause of phobias, but there are several factors that might play a role. Psychological approaches in the treatment of specific phobias. Children who have a close relative with an anxiety disorder are at risk of developing a phobia. The fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder of an excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, activity or situation which disrupts peoples ability to function in normal daily activities. The three types of phobias are social phobia fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or other social situations, agoraphobia fear of being outside. Unlike generalized anxiety disorder gad, specific phobias come in a variety of forms. Severity measure for specific phobia adult this measure.
Specific phobias are extreme and persistent fears of certain objects, situations, or activities, or persons. Understanding the cause of a phobia is actually less important than focusing on how to treat the avoidance behavior that has developed over time. A specific, or simple, phobia is the fear of a particular object or situation. This manual is both a guide to treatment and a workbook for persons who suffer from anxiety and panic disorder. These phobias might include dogs, closedin places, heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving. Common categories of specific phobias are a fear of. Phobia is a fear of a specific object ptsd numbing fear after experiencing a specific trauma panic anxiety that occurs suddenly agoraphobia fear of a panic attack in a public place gad pervasive anxiety that is nonspecific, experiential an chronic 5. Although a fear of fainting is common in all phobias, bloodinjectioninjury phobia is the.
Based on two types of phobias, including specific phobias and complex phobias, there are different causes of this condition listed below. This questionnaire is for informational purposes only and is not intended to function as a. Jan 17, 2020 people with specific phobias experience intense, irrational fears of certain things or situations. This overreaction to objects or situations is known as a phobia. For information about agoraphobia and social phobia go to what is a specific phobia. A phobia is an excessive and irrational fear reaction. It provokes an immediate anxiety response that can sometimes take the form of a panic attack. Specific phobias patient treatment manual this manual is both a guide to treatment and a workbook for persons who suffer from anxiety and panic disorder. Understanding phobias if you avoid the object or situation that is making you phobic, this will often make your fear worse over time. A person with a phobia realizes that the fear is irrational, but even thinking about it can cause extreme anxiety. A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined as an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. If a person has a phobia, their fear or anxiety is beyond the usual reaction to an object or situation.
Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually associated with something specific. Phobias are more serious than simple fear sensations and are not limited to fears of specific triggers. Oct 19, 2016 a specific phobia involves an intense, persistent fear of a specific object or situation thats out of proportion to the actual risk. For example, the term hydrophobia is an old name for rabies, since an aversion to water is one of that diseases symptoms. This intense fear often leads to avoidance, and causes severe distress when the situation cant be avoided. Researchers are uncertain exactly what causes them. Specific phobias can also occur along with other types of anxiety disorders. If your mother, father, sibling or to a lesser extend grandmother or grandfather has a specific phobia, then there is a higher chance that you may develop a specific phobia at one point in your life. Lets look at specific and social phobias, what their causes are, and how to treat them. Each specific phobia is referred to by its own term. Specific phobias affect up to 12 percent of adults at some point in their life.
As a result, the affected person tends to avoid contact with the objects or situations and, in severe cases, any mention or depiction of them. A specific phobia to water is called aquaphobia instead. A hydrophobe is a chemical compound that repels water. If you have a specific phobia, you go to great lengths to avoid your fear. Risk factors for developing a specific phobia are temperamental, environmental, and genetic.
Discriminate between the disorders phobia is a fear of a specific object ptsd numbing fear after experiencing a specific trauma panic anxiety that occurs suddenly agoraphobia fear of a panic attack in a public place gad pervasive anxiety that is nonspecific, experiential an chronic 5. Many phobias develop as a result of having a negative experience or panic attack related to a specific object or situation. Despite individuals being aware that their phobia is irrational, they cannot control the. You can have more than one type of specific phobia. Specific phobias are among the most common psychological problems both in men and women. Specific phobias are an overwhelming and unreasonable fear of objects or situations that pose little real danger but provoke anxiety and. There are many types of phobias, and its not unusual to experience a specific phobia about more than one object or situation. For treatment of specific phobias, exposurebased therapy is the first choice followed by cognitive therapy. Social phobia is a condition where people are overly concerned about how they appear to others. A phobia is defined as the persistent fear of a situation, activity, or thing that causes the sufferer to want to avoid it. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.
Severity measure for specific phobia adult this measure can. The best treatment for specific phobias is a form of psychotherapy called exposure therapy. During treatment, it is a workbook in which individuals can record their own experience of their disorder, together with the. A specific phobia is an overwhelming fear of an object or situation that is out of proportion to the actual danger posed, and that you go to great lengths to avoid. For example, you may know that it is safe to be out on a balcony in a highrise block, but feel terrified to go out on it or even enjoy the view. These factors may be especially important in people who suffer from a phobia when they are in the presence of the feared object or situation, causing these people to breathe too much. You might have a specific phobia if all of the following are true. Dec 20, 2017 phobias are more serious than simple fear sensations and are not limited to fears of specific triggers. A specific phobia is an intense, persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, or person. Much is still unknown about the actual cause of specific phobias. Specific phobias are irrational and persistent fears of certain objects or animals. However, it is commonly believed that certain factors may increase the likelihood that a phobia will develop. These irrational fears can interfere with personal relationships, work, and school, and prevent you from enjoying life. Some patients suffer multiple specific phobias simultaneously.
For example, fears of spiders or snakes may not be considered a phobia for someone who. However, it is commonly believed that certain factors may increase the likelihood that a. If you have a phobia, you may experience a deep sense of dread or panic when you encounter the source of your fear. The efficacy of exposure therapy, in combination with other cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt components, in the treatment of specific phobia with a middle and older aged sample was examined. Onesession therapist directed exposure versus two forms of manual directed. This means having an extreme anxiety response towards something that is not causing immediate danger. Do you have a serious and persistent fear of a specific object or situation such as flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, or seeing blood.
A phobia can develop during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. A good place to begin is with an overview of anxiety including the symptoms, causes, and treatment. Whereas specific phobia is a relatively recent concept, descriptions of the condition to which it refers have a long tradition in medical history errera, 1962. Specific phobias symptoms center for the treatment and. People with specific phobias experience intense, irrational fears of certain things or situations. People with specific phobias are highly distressed about having the fear, and often will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation in question. Pdf treatment options for the specific phobias researchgate.
Specific phobia symptoms include marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, typically lasting at least 6 months. We also discuss research on risk factors including genetic epidemiology and treatment modalities for specific phobias. The measure was designed to be completed by an individual upon receiving a diagnosis of specific phobia or clinically significant specific phobia symptoms and thereafter, prior to followup. Genetic and environmental factors can cause phobias. For example, in his writings, hippocrates refers to a case of a man who displayed an irrational fear. In this case, it is important to learn some strategies to prevent fainting. Panic disorder panic disorder can develop at any age, though it most often emerges in adolescence or young adulthood. Sometimes your doctor may also recommend other therapies or medication. You answered yes to items 1, 2, and 3 you answered yes to at least one of items 4 and 5 you answered yes to at least one of items 6 and 7 note. A cbtbased approach, including gradual desensitization, is the most commonly used treatment for specific phobia. Theyre often linked to a frightening event or stressful situation.
Although adults with phobias may realize that these fears are irrational, even thinking about facing the feared object or situation brings on severe anxiety symptoms. If the fear doesnt bother the person and doesnt interfere with daytoday activities, then it remains a fear and not a phobia. People with a specific phobias have an excessive and unreasonable fear in the presence of or anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation. Blood, injection or injury, such as needles, accidents or medical procedures. Situations, such as airplanes, enclosed spaces or going to school.
The causes of specific phobias are not well understood, but there is some evidence that the tendency to develop them may run in families. For example, someone who experiences a lot of turbulence on a plane at a young age might later develop a phobia about flying. Specific or simple phobias, such as a fear of heights acrophobia, usually develop during childhood. A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined as an extreme, irrational fear of or aversion to something. The specific nature of anxiety associated with specific phobia is felt to be associated with an increase in tonic cardiac vagal tone, manifested by an increase in heart rate, which is considered to be greater than that in other anxiety disorders. Although the person with a phobia realizes that the fear is irrational, even thinking about it can cause extreme anxiety. People with a specific phobia have an excessive and unreasonable fear in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation. Specific phobia is a condition that causes a strong fear of a specific object or situation.
A phobia is an intense fear that is out of proportion to a specific object or situation. Do you feel anxious almost every time you encounter this specific object or situation. People with a specific phobia have an excessive and unreasonable fear in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situa. Lisa fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Heritability of specific phobia subtypes and fears. This anxiety disorder affects about 19 million adults and women are two times more likely than men to have a specific phobia. You know you have these feelings, but you cannot talk yourself out of them. Jan 14, 2020 specific phobia symptoms include marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, typically lasting at least 6 months. While the cause of a specific phobia may be unknown, it is important to recognize the symptoms and remember that phobias can be treatable if you seek help from a mental health professional. Aug 09, 2018 the specific nature of anxiety associated with specific phobia is felt to be associated with an increase in tonic cardiac vagal tone, manifested by an increase in heart rate, which is considered to be greater than that in other anxiety disorders. Additionally, people who suffer from specific phobias work hard to avoid their phobia stimuli even though they know there is no threat or danger, but they feel powerless to stop their irrational fear. Specific phobia is an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and course and overview of fears and phobias in children and adolescents and pharmacotherapy for specific phobia in adults and cognitivebehavioral therapies for specific phobia in adults and acute procedure anxiety in adults. For information about agoraphobia and social phobia, visit what is a specific phobia.
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