Phobia – An Irrational Fear

In times of COVID 19 pandemic and it’s after effect, a strong surge is being commonly seen in terms of rise in Phobia related ailment among commoners. Generally, anything peculiar, private, irrational and unnatural fears are known as phobias. Frankly speaking, they have no objective reality, whatsoever.

A majority of phobias goes under reported, probably because a majority of people with phobias hunt for ways to avoid the situations that they fear. Phobias are fairly common and more so after Corona breakout in large scale. Experts believe women are thought to be twice as likely to develop a phobia as men. Most of the times people whose parents either were overly protective or were distant in raising them may be at more risk of developing phobias.

Main Causes of Phobia

Nervousness of Anything is among the key cause for having Phobia.

Insanity or may be even Stupidity in a Mild or even intense form.

Lack of Enquiry or Right thinking and Right Understanding.

Types of Phobia

Specific Phobia (Simple Phobia)

It is the most common form of phobia. In this people may fear specific animals like a dog or a cat, unwanted people like Doctor or environment such as dark place or high place. These conditions are at least partly genetic (inherited) and seems to run in families, according to Harvard Medical School.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

People fear social situations where they may be humiliated, embarrassed or judged by others. They turned anxious when unfamiliar people are involved. The fear may be limited to performance, such as giving a lecture. Or it may be more generalized, so that the phobic person avoids many social situations, such as eating in public or using a public restroom. Social phobia seems to run in families. People who have been shy or solitary as children, or who have a history of unhappy or negative social experiences in childhood, seem more likely to develop this disorder.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of being in public places where it would be difficult or embarrassing to make a sudden exit. Many people with agoraphobia also have panic symptoms or panic disorder (which involves intense fear plus uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as trembling, heart palpitations and sweating).

Top Ten Common Phobia according to the Survey of 8,000 Respondents in British Journal Psychiatry

1. Acrophobia – Fear of Heights

2. Aerophobia – Fear of Flying

3. Arachnophobia – Fear of Spiders

4. Astraphobia – Fear of Thunder and Lightning

5. Autophobia – Fear of Being Alone

6. Claustrophobia – Fear of Confined or Crowded Spaces

7. Hemophobia – Fear of Blood

8. Hydrophobia – Fear of Water

9. Ophidiophobia – Fear of Snakes

10. Zoophobia – Fear of Animals

Signs & Symptoms of Phobias

According to experts the symptoms of a phobia can range from mild feelings of apprehension and anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. Closer to things one is afraid of, greater will be the phobia. Phobia will also be higher if getting away is difficult.

Physical symptoms of a phobia include:

Difficulty in breathing

Racing or pounding heart

Chest pain or tightness

Trembling or shaking

Feeling dizzy or light-headed

A churning stomach

Hot or cold flashes; tingling sensations

Sweating

Emotional symptoms of a phobia include:

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

Tackling Phobias

Be Strong & Wise

Develop will-power, cultivating courage and fortitude, developing mental power of endurance, firmness in meeting danger and power of resistance, meditating on courage and living in the company of wise and erudite people can alleviate phobia of various kind to a great extent.

Spiritual Angle

Spiritually speaking love for earthly life is the main cause of all fears. Clinging to life and body. Attachment to objects causes fear. Attachment to name and fame causes fear. Attachment to money and woman causes fear. Any attachment is the womb of terrible fear. One who possesses, fears. He does not fear who has renounced everything, who perceives the Divine Soul in one and all.

One is afraid, because he love certain things. Love is the cause of fear. We do not wish to part with certain things. And when anything obstructs our acquiring those objects of love and desire, we are annoyed, we are afraid of that, and we lose the mental balance. Equanimity of Mind is advisable in such situation.

Experts recommend for a deep introspect within oneself from different angle. Find out the root of the trouble. If one is not able to do this, getting a help of a psychotherapist is highly recommend.