Phobias — No more escaping! Let’s overcome our fear!
Have you ever experienced the fear of getting into an elevator, do you feel pressed for space in a crowded or small room? Medically it is termed as Claustrophobia which has more to do with anxiety than a standalone anxiety disorder.
Now there are others who have a fear of something or a specific situation which is uncontrollable, highly overwhelming and extreme? Do you get stressed out even by the thought of it?
Well, you might be dealing with what’s known as a phobia.
Let’s take a quick look at this disorder, effects of which can be easily reversed by the correct line of treatment.
What is a Phobia?
Phobia, categorized under anxiety disorder, is an irrational fear of a specific thing or situation. When people with phobias are encountered with triggering situations they undergo very clear signs and symptoms, out of which some are listed below –
Panic attacks
Rapid/shallow breathing/panting
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling of being choked/suffocated
Types of phobias –
Claustrophobia — Fear of being in a cramped up or confined space.
Mysophobia — Fear of germs or contamination. It is also known as germophobia. The most common behaviour is compulsive washing of hands.
Acrophobia — Fear of heights even if the elevation is not too much.
Glossophobia — Fear of speaking in public.
Aquaphobia — Fear of water.
These are some of the most common ones out of a list of thousands of phobias.
Treatments — Some of the widely-used techniques are listed below –
CBT– Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an effective way of treatment as it involves changing the thought and behaviour patterns of the person which are responsible for causing distress and uneasiness.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing is a therapy in which the person’s fearful memory about that fearful thing or situation is worked upon.
Exposure therapy — As the name suggests, it involves exposing the person to feared thing or situation.
Systematic Desensitization — In this technique, the person is gradually brought in contact with the triggering situation for prolonged periods of time.
Medication — Medication is provided in extreme cases to overcome panic or anxiety attacks and to calm the person.
When it comes to something that hampers your day-to-day life and living, you should not shy away from a timely diagnosis and treatment.
Why suffer for something which is treatable? So, walk in to Capitol hospital for accurate diagnosis and treatment for a life free of phobia and wholesome psychological health.
