Phobias
Do you have any irrational fears? I am sure that the majority of you do, as we are all human beings, unique and so alike at the same time. Today I want to raise an interesting subject, which definitely concerns every one of us – phobias. I am sure that this topic will leave no one indifferent, as our fears is something that people don’t know how to control, which creates certain troubles for us. In my speech I am going to introduce you to the world of phobias – their nature, types and treatment methods so as we could better understand the problem and see that we are not alone with our fears. Please get ready to hear interesting facts about yourselves.
First of all, in order to understand the complex topic of phobias, I will tell you about their causes. According to the “Anxiety Disorders” booklet issued by the National Institute of Mental Health in 2009, there is no 100% certainty as to the specific reasons, but it is possible to distinguish three main factors. The first is genetics. According to the research conducted by the institute, certain phobias run in families. The fact that separated twins can have the same phobias supports this reason. Another important factor is cultural. Some kinds of phobias can occur only in certain cultures. One of the most vivid examples is a phobia of harming people in social situations, which is very widespread in Japan. The third and the last factor is life experience. We all may be afraid of something on the basis of our conscious or subconscious memory. For instance, some people are afraid of dogs, because at some point in their life they might have had some frightening experience with them.
Now that we all know the nature and causes of phobias, let me proceed to their kinds along with specific examples of the most striking of them. According to the official website of the National Institute of Mental Health, there are three main categories of phobias: social, specific and agoraphobia (n.d.). The first of them, social, unites phobias that involve people and social situations. It is subdivided into generalized and specific social phobias. The first is characterized by intense fear in various social situations. Specific social phobias have more limited scope, as they are manifested only in specific situations, as it is stated at the official website of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (n.d.). One of the most widespread of such phobias is glossophobia, which is fear of public performance. Among the ones that may seem the weirdest there is fear of eating in public, using restrooms and attending public meetings. The second kind of phobias is also well-known to people, as practically everyone has it – something that makes you really scared or uncomfortable. This group unites a wide variety of triggers that make people frightened, such as spiders, dogs, flying, etc. The last kind of phobias is agoraphobia, which is a fear of leaving home or other safe areas. It can be a result of some other phobias, such as fear of open space.
The last aspect of phobias that I am going to consider is the possible ways of their treatment. According to the book “Mastering your fears and phobias: therapist guide”, written by Craske, Antony and Barlow in 2006, there are various methods of phobias treatment, and in case of each particular person the choice of the appropriate method is absolutely individual. In the majority of cases it will be a wise decision to address a therapist. Among common techniques applied in treatment, there is cognitive behavioral therapy. It offers patients to analyze their feelings so as to eventually understand that their fear is irrational. Hypnotherapy in combination with neuro-linguistic programming is also a generally recognized method that allows removing painful associations triggering the phobia. In some cases therapist can recommend antidepressant medications in order to get rid of the problem.
So, now you know a lot about phobias, and I am sure that it will help you better understand yourselves. Knowing the causes of our fears, which can be genetic, cultural or originating in our life experience, it is possible to analyze our phobias and find a way out of them. The knowledge and understanding of the type of our fears, which can be social, specific or agoraphobia, will also help us choose appropriate way of treatment. As it was also mentioned, if you want to get rid of the fears bothering you, the best way out is to find a qualified therapist who will choose an effective method for dealing with your specific situation. Don’t be afraid of saying goodbye to your fears, even if you are used to them. Without phobias your life is going to become much better and more exciting.
References
Anxiety Disorders Association of America. (n.d.). Understanding Anxiety. Retrieved from http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety
Craske, M.G., Antony, M.M., & Barlow, D.H. (2006). Mastering your fears and phobias: therapist guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Anxiety Disorders. Bethesda, MD: Science Writing.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/index.shtml
