Phobia, not just plain fear & bull; hello healthy

Phobia or phobia is a feeling of excessive fear of something that does not make sense, be it an object or a situation that actually does not cause danger. Unlike general nervousness (such as being nervous when you are about to speak or appear in public), phobias are usually related to something specific.

What are the types of phobias?

Phobias are broadly grouped into two, namely:

Specific phobia

This type of phobia is more directed at phobias caused by certain objects or situations. This phobia usually starts in childhood or adolescence, and can decrease in severity with age. Some examples of specific phobias include:

Glossophobia: feeling afraid to speak in public, and even thinking about it can cause the sufferer to experience significant physical problems such as cold sweat, weakness, and stomach aches.
Acrophobia: fear of heights. Those with acrophobia will avoid high places such as mountains, bridges, and tall buildings. Symptoms that appear can include dizziness, vertigo, cold sweats, and a feeling of wanting to faint when at high altitudes.
Claustrophobia: fear of tight spaces. In more severe cases, a claustrophobic avoids taking elevators, even vehicles such as cars.
Aviatophobia: afraid to fly.
Dentophobia: fear of the dentist or procedures performed by the dentist. Dentophobia usually arises after experiencing the unpleasant experience of visiting a dentist.
Hemophobia: fear of blood or wounds. Those with hemophobia can even faint if exposed to blood or wounds either from themselves or others.
Arachnophobia: fear of spiders.
Cynophobia: fear of dogs.
Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes.
Nyctophobia: Fear of night or darkness. This fear is common in young children, but if the fear does not go away or gets worse until adulthood, it can be called a phobia.

Phobia complex

This type of phobia usually has a more severe effect on everyday life than a specific phobia. Tend to develop when the sufferer is an adult, complex phobia is a fear that comes from anxiety about certain situations or circumstances. Examples of this type of complex phobia are:

Agoraphobia: many people define agoraphobia as the fear of open spaces, but it is actually more complex than that. More precisely, agoraphobia is the fear of situations in which if a problem occurs, the sufferer feels that he will have difficulty running away or asking for help. Those who suffer from agoraphobia usually avoid traveling by public transportation, visiting crowded places such as shopping places, and are even afraid to leave their homes.
Social phobia: or often referred to as social anxiety disorder simply defined as the fear of being in a social situation. This social phobia is more than just being "shy" of being in public. For example, those with social phobia will experience excessive anxiety both before, during, and after speaking in front of many people. Usually they are afraid that they will say or do something that embarrasses themselves. People with social phobia tend to avoid meeting strangers, initiating conversations, talking on the phone, avoiding eye contact, and have low self-esteem.

Causes of phobias

There is no definite cause that can explain why a person may experience phobias. Genetic and environmental factors can increase a person's risk of developing phobias. Children who have close relatives with anxiety disorder have the possibility to experience phobias. A traumatic event can also cause a phobia, for example, near drowning can cause a phobia of water. Being confined in a tight space, being at an extreme altitude, and being bitten by insects or animals can also cause phobias. Phobias can also occur after a person has experienced trauma to the brain.

How to deal with phobias?

The treatment provided can be in the form of psychotherapy, drug administration, or a combination of the two.

Psychotherapy

Exposure therapy : this therapy helps change your perspective on the subject or situation that you are afraid of. This subject or situation that you fear is controlled and periodically brought up in front of you, so that you can learn to overcome your fear. For example, a claustrophobic person who is afraid to use an elevator will be asked to see a picture of the elevator, imagine himself standing in front of the elevator door, and getting into the elevator. Then gradually you will be asked to try using the elevator only to go up one floor until over time you get used to using the lift.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): this therapy combines exposure therapy with other types of therapy that aim to help phobics overcome fear of certain objects or situations. Therapy is more emphasized on how to control thoughts and feelings.

Drug administration

Beta blockers: these drugs work by blocking the work of adrenaline which can stimulate the body's work (such as increased blood pressure and heart rhythm, shaking sounds, and feeling weak due to fear or panic). The use of beta blockers is effective in reducing the symptoms of phobias that appear.
Antidepressants: antidepressants act to control serotonin, which controls mood.