Search results
Jan 10, 2021 · Eliminating Fear Involves Learning These 7 Skills: Learn to trust yourself- trust that you will make good decisions, research and learn what you need and if you make a mistake you can correct it.
- 7 Tips for Coping with a Paranoid Partner | Psychology Today
Do not argue with the delusion or collude, but be empathic...
- 7 Things You Need to Know About Fear | Psychology Today
1. Fear is healthy. Fear is hardwired in your brain, and for...
- 7 Tips for Coping with a Paranoid Partner | Psychology Today
- Overview
- Types of Phobias
- A–Z List of Some of the More Common Phobias
- Symptoms of Phobias
- Causes of Phobias
- Common vs. Rare Phobias
- Treatment for Phobias
- A Word From Verywell
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.
Phobias are one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), approximately 12.5% of adults in the U.S. will deal with a specific phobia in their lifetime. Women are more likely to experience phobias than men. Typical symptoms of phobias can include nausea, trembling, rapid heartbeat, feelings of unreality, and being preoccupied with the fear object.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) identifies three different categories of phobias:
1.Social phobias: Now known as social anxiety disorder, this phobia is marked by a fear of social situations in which a person might be judged or embarrassed.
2.Agoraphobia: This phobia involves an irrational and extreme fear of being in places where escape is difficult. It may involve a fear of crowded places or even of leaving one's home.
3.Specific phobias: When people talk about having a phobia of a specific object such as snakes, spiders, or needles, they are referring to a specific phobia.
While not comprehensive, this list of phobias offers a glimpse of the many phobias that can have a serious impact on a person's life. As you may notice while you browse through this list, most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:
•Fears of the natural environment
Click Play to Learn More About Common Phobias
This video has been medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD.
A
Ablutophobia: Fear of bathing Achluophobia: Fear of darkness Acrophobia: Fear of heights Aerophobia: Fear of flying Algophobia: Fear of pain Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces or crowds Aichmophobia: Fear of needles or pointed objects Amaxophobia: Fear of riding in a car Androphobia: Fear of men Anemophobia: Fear of air Anginophobia: Fear of angina or choking Angrophobia: Fear of anger Anthrophobia: Fear of flowers Anthropophobia: Fear of people or society Aphenphosmphobia: Fear of being touched Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders Arithmophobia: Fear of numbers Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning Astrophobia: Fear of outer space Ataxophobia: Fear of disorder or untidiness Atelophobia: Fear of imperfection Atychiphobia: Fear of failure Automatonophobia: Fear of human-like figures Autophobia: Fear of being alone
B
Bacteriophobia: Fear of bacteria Barophobia: Fear of gravity Bathmophobia: Fear of stairs or steep slopes Batrachophobia: Fear of amphibians Belonephobia: Fear of pins and needles Bibliophobia: Fear of books Botanophobia: Fear of plants
Phobias lead to physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Common symptoms include:
•Chest tightness or pain
•Chills or hot flashes
•Choking sensations
•Confusion
•Difficulty breathing
The exact causes of phobias are not known, but it is likely that a combination of factors plays a part. Some factors that increase the risk of developing a phobia include:
•Genetics: People with a close family member with a phobia or another anxiety disorder also have a greater risk of a phobia. It is important to note, however, that people who don't have family members with the condition still develop phobias.
Some phobias are more common, while others are often quite rare. Five of the most common phobias include arachnophobia (the fear of spiders), ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes), glossophobia (the fear of public speaking), acrophobia (the fear of heights), and social phobia (the fear of social interactions).
The fear of public speaking is so common that some researchers have estimated that as much as 77% of people have some level of this fear.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure-based treatments are the first-line approach in the treatment of phobias. In this type of treatment, you are gradually and progressively exposed to what you fear. You might start by just thinking about your phobia trigger and then move slowly toward looking at images of the object and finally being near the object in real life. Types of exposure-based treatments that may be used include: In vivo exposure: This involves being exposed to the source of your fear in real life. Virtual exposure: This involves the use of virtual reality to practice gradual exposure. Systematic desensitization: This involves being gradually exposed until you become desensitized to the source of your fear. During this process, you'll also practice relaxation techniques to help calm your body when your fear response kicks in.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Often referred to as CBT, cognitive behaviorial therapy involves learning to identify the underlying negative thoughts that contribute to feelings of fear. Once you become better at noticing these thoughts, you can then work on replacing them with more positive, helpful thoughts.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy utilizes rhythmic eye movements to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences. It is frequently used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but can also be effective in the treatment of a variety of other mental health conditions including phobias.
Phobias can have a serious impact on well-being, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. Phobias are common and treatable. If you believe that you have the symptoms of some type of phobia, consult a doctor for further evaluation and treatment advice.
Fear vs. Phobia: What's the Difference?
9 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
1.National Institute of Mental Health. Specific phobia.
2.Regier DA, Kuhl EA, Kupfer DJ. The DSM-5: Classification and criteria changes. World Psychiatry. 2013;12(2):92-8. doi:10.1002/wps.20050
Apr 20, 2024 · What is fear? Psychologists define fear as a protective, primal emotion that evokes a biochemical and emotional response. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological. Whereas the biochemical changes that fear produces are universal, emotional responses are highly individual.
- Take time out. It’s impossible to think clearly when you’re flooded with fear or anxiety. The first thing to do is take time out so you can physically calm down.
- Breathe through panic. If you start to get a faster heartbeat or sweating palms, the best thing is not to fight it. Stay where you are and simply feel the panic without trying to distract yourself.
- Face your fears. Avoiding fears only makes them scarier. Whatever your fear, if you face it, it should start to fade. If you panic one day getting into a lift, for example, it’s best to get back into a lift the next day.
- Imagine the worst. Try imagining the worst thing that can happen – perhaps it’s panicking and having a heart attack. Then try to think yourself into having a heart attack.
What is Fear? Fear is one of the seven universal emotions experienced by everyone around the world. Fear arises with the threat of harm, either physical, emotional, or psychological, real or imagined.
Jul 20, 2023 · Fear is a basic, emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. It triggers the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response, leading to physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline levels. Fear is an essential survival mechanism, helping individuals react to potentially life-threatening situations.
People also ask
How do you overcome fear?
Do you have a fear?
What is fear in psychology?
