Phobia.
HSP3C
What is a phobia?
A strong, irrational fear of something that has little orno danger at all
Comes from the Greek word “fear”
Phobia vs. Fear
What’s the difference?
Phobia = STRESS.
They do whatever it takes to avoid what scares them
It can stop them from having an everyday life
Symptoms
Panic
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Trembling
Really, really wants to get away
PHOBIAS.
1) Specific phobia:
fear of specific object, or situation
Eg. plants, animals, clowns
PHOBIAS.
2) Social Phobia
More than shyness
Great fear of being rejected
PHOBIAS
3) Fear of open spaces (agrophobia)
Actual or anticipated situation
Eg. Public transportation, being in a crowd, standing inline
Origins
Usually comes from childhood or teenage years, andcontinues into adulthood
After traumatic (painful) experience
Family/relatives – learn their behaviour
Complications
Life can be hard to live
Depression
Substance abuse
DIAGNOSIS
NO test for determining phobias
Go through an interview with doctor
Treatment
Medications
Help control anxiety and panic attacks
Treatment
Psychotherapy
1) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
learn other beliefs about the fear; learn how to controlfeelings and thoughts
Treatments
2) Exposure Therapy
Individual slowly learns how to change response to situation;gradual (slowly), and repeated (over and over again)
Phobia Facts
There are many different phobias! For example…
Coulrophobia – fear of clowns
Didaskaleinophobia – fear of going to school
Heliophobia – fear of sunlight
Melissophobia – fear of bees
Isolophobia – fear of being alone
Phobia Facts
There are more than 400 phobias being diagnosedby doctors
It is unique to the individual, and each phobia can bedifferent!
Help?
Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada
Dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment ofAnxiety Disorders
