In specific phobias, there is an irrational fear of particular objects, situations, or circumstances, which is a source of anxiety and significant emotional distress. The phobia may be perceived as generally threatening or not pose a real danger but is considered dangerous by the individual. The feeling of fear is persistent, emerging even with the thought of the trigger object, and intensifies in its presence. The individual recognizes that the fear is excessive but cannot overcome it. They avoid situations or behaviors that might trigger the fear. Specific phobias often lead to panic attacks and disorders involving anxiety or depression.
When a specific phobia is present, irrational fear significantly reduces the quality of life, leading to isolation, difficulty leaving home, decreased productivity, and mood disturbances. The person can no longer live with their usual daily routine, cannot move freely, and is constantly consumed by fear. Increased anxiety often manifests with somatic symptoms:
- Nausea/abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath/breathing difficulty
- The feeling of suffocation/loss of consciousness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Discomfort, pain in the chest area
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Loss of sensation/tingling sensations
- Shaking
- Sudden facial redness
- Chills/feeling of burning or warmth in the skin
- Ringing in the ears
- Depersonalisation
- Derealisation
Types of Phobias:
- Animal Phobias: dogs, spiders, rodents…
- Situational Phobias: elevators, trains, airplanes…
- Natural Disaster Phobias: earthquakes, floods, tornadoes…
- Blood/Injections/Wounds: fear of wounds, even thinking about blood
- Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces
- Claustrophobia: fear of closed spaces
- Fear of Choking: fear during swallowing
Treatment:
- Pharmacotherapy
- Psychotherapy