FEARS & PHOBIAS
Phobias are fears that interfere with a person’s ability to cope in certain situations.
These situations are not normally dangerous or frightening, but people with phobias experience strong symptoms of anxiety when they are in these situations.
Some of those symptoms listed below might include:
- Difficulty in breath and shortness of breath
- A smothering type of sensation
- Palpitations
- Racing heart
- Elevated heart rate
- Discomfort or pain in the chest
- Uncontrollable shaking and trembling
- Difficulty in understanding what’s being said
- A feeling of being choked
- Intense and irrational fear
- Uncontrollable sweating
- Nausea or stomach distress
- Feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
- Feelings of unreality or of being detached from yourself
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of dying
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Hot or cold flashes
- Fear of fainting
Phobias are generally classed into 3 distinct groups:
- Direct Learning – this is where someone has personally experienced either a physical or emotional event that has caused fear or pain. The classic example cited is being bitten by a dog which could result in a phobia being formed. Other examples could be a car accident, getting mugged or being bullied/ disciplined at school.
- Observational Learning – this is where someone has watched a traumatic experience happen to another person. An example of this is what happened to one of my clients. He developed a fear of going to the dentist after one of his parents came home in pain after a root canal which subsequently became infected and adden even more pain.
- Informational Learning – this is where someone can develop a phobia after repeatedly watching, hearing or reading about a potentially dangerous activity. Classic examples are developing a fear of flying after hearing about plane crashes and kids developing dog phobias after their parents repeatedly warn them how dangerous dogs are. This one is particularly prevalent in Hong Kong.
There are five categories of phobias:
Animal Type Phobia is one of the most common phobias in society. People with animal phobia fear animals, insects, reptiles, or birds. This type of phobia usually develops during childhood.
Natural Environment Type phobia is the second most common form of phobia and usually develops in childhood. Is is triggered by objects or phenomenons in the environment, such as water, heights, or storms. The most common exception is a fear of heights which can also start in adulthood.
Situational Type Phobia is when people with this type of phobia fear specific places or situations such as public transportation, tunnels, bridges, elevators, flying, driving, enclosed spaces or rooms without windows. This type interestingly has two peak periods where it can form. The first during childhood and the second occuring in the early to mid 20’s
Blood-Injection-Injury Type Phobia is when people with this type of phobia fear seeing injuries, blood, receiving injections or other invasive type of medical procedures. These people usually faint as a result of being exposed to them which in turn can increase their own chance of injuring themselves. This usually develops during childhood.
Other Type of Phobia – this category includes phobias triggered by other events that do not fit into any of the catagories above such as: the fear of choking, vomiting, falling down, fear of loud noises and fear of costumed characters such as clowns, or a fear of getting sick.
FEARS AND PHOBIAS can become so extreme that your life becomes unmanageable. Afraid to leave your home, extreme fears about animals or insects, crossing bridges, seeing blood, or socially encountering a group of people – such fear can severely impact your life.
No one is completely fearless; fear is a part of our human experience.
What frightens you?
Does this fear or phobia keep you from living a happy, emotionally healthy life?
Our program helps you delve deeper into possible reasons for your fear or phobia, calmly discuss the impact of fear in your life, and gradually become desensitized to the conditions or objects of your fears and phobias. The PowerOne staff understands how difficult it is to resolve fears and phobias and will not force you to do anything you’re not ready for. Gently but assertively, our clinicians supervised by Danny Moorjani will guide you into relinquishing irrational fears and phobias. You’ll learn what kind of fear is healthy, such as the fear of jumping out of an aircraft without a parachute, and irrational fears such as fearing to drive your car because there could be a snake inside.
You’ll learn the positive benefits from fears that keep us safe and letting go of fears and phobias that hold you back from achieving your goals in life. Don’t be afraid to eliminate irrational fear from your life forever!
To request more information by eMail about how we can help you, please use the form below to contact us.
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