You can overcome Phobia if you understand it. Before you jump to conclusion of Phobia test, start with a basic understanding of what a Phobia actually is and how one should respond to it.
What is Phobia?
“A phobia is an excessive or irrational fear of something i.e object, situation or living specie which can affect your daily routine, relationships, work etc”
Fear felt by the person suffering from phobia is intense and exaggerated than a normal person. They try avoiding situations or objects that are the source of their phobia. If they come in contact with the source, they act in an unusual and strange manner, can experience extreme anxiety and can sometimes faint. However, being aware of their uncommon behavior, they can not control their reaction.
A person could have more than one phobia at a time.
How are Phobias Developed?
Phobias can either be inherited or can be developed by experiencing traumatic events and long-term stress. Children can also learn phobias by watching their family members being afraid of something.
Let’s learn about some different types of Phobias, before you finally determine, which Phobia you have.
Phobia Test Step 1: Learning About Types of Phobia
Different Types of Phobia:
Phobias can not be accurately estimated as there could be as many phobias as many situations in the world. But the three major types of Phobias are:
1. Complex phobia
2. Specific phobia
COMPLEX PHOBIA
Complex phobias affect your life more than specific phobias. They can limit your normal, everyday routine. People suffering from such phobias avoid going out and stay at home. This type of Phobia usually develops in adulthood. Complex Phobia is associated with deep-rooted circumstances or the situation that one may have faced, which deeply impacts his life.
Phobia Test: Have you Ever Faced a situation which deeply effected your feeling, which you cant stop thinking about?
If you have, then you have found some success at the first step of Phobia test. But Wait! These are two types of complex phobias as well.
Two common types of complex phobias are:
- Social Phobia
- Agoraphobia
SOCIAL PHOBIA
Social phobia is also known as Social Anxiety Disorder. Social phobia is a condition where a person is afraid and nervous when attending gatherings and blushes extremely when talking to new people. A person is unable to act normally and freely when he meets new people. Therefore, the person tries to avoid interacting with people he isn’t familiar with, which might become a barrier in his success. People with social phobia have a fear of being negatively judged or criticized.
People with Social Phobia are mostly perceived as being shy, introvert, unconfident, quiet and reserved. People suffering from Social Phobia can face extreme anxiety when:
- Talking to someone he/she likes
- Attending a meeting
- Communicating with people he/she doesn’t know
- Talking on a phone call
- Calling a waiter at restaurant
- Going to a doctor
- Talking to his/her teacher, etc
- Making eye contact
Phobia Test : Do you have any symptoms of Social Phobia?
If you also face difficulty in talking to people, and communicating with others, you might be facing social phobia.
Social phobia is a curable disorder. It can be cured by active behavioral therapy or by medications, depending on the seriousness of the disorder.
AGORAPHOBIA
Agoraphobia is a disorder in which a person feels distress in bad situations and where escaping is not really easy. People prefer staying at home to avoid such situations. People may suffer panic attacks when they are in:
- Public places
- Large open spaces
- Being outside alone
- Small places
Phobia test: Do you have Agoraphobia?
Wait for a moment and think, do you fear public places and large gatherings too? Have you ever faced panic attack to such stressing situation?
LIST OF SPECIFIC PHOBIAS
Specific Phobias are caused by particular animals, insects, heights, water, darkness, etc. There are numerous kinds of specific phobias. Some common types of phobias are defined under:
- Acquaphobia: Fear of water
- Acrophobia: Fear of heights
- Astraphobia: Fear of lightning and thunderstorms
- Gerascophobia: Fear of aging
- Claustrophobia: Fear of small places
- Nyctophobia: Fear of darkness
- Hemophobia: Fear of blood
- Trypanophobia: Fear of medical procedures
- Aerophobia: Fear of Flying
- Zoophobia: Fear of animals
- Ornithophobia: Fear of Birds
- Thanatophobia: Fear of death
- Glossophobia: Fear of public speaking
Phobia Test: How will you know if you’re suffering from a phobia?
If you feel the following symptoms in the above mentioned situations, it means you are suffering from a particular phobia:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased breathing
- Sweating
- Nervousness
- Panic attacks
- Chest pain
- Trembling
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Secretion of saliva and mucus decreases
- Blood sugar level increases
- Pupil dilates
- Adrenal gland release stress hormones
- Increased blood pressure
- Digestion slows
- In case of wound, the blood clots more quickly
- Confusion
MEDICATIONS
Your doctor may suggest following medication to treat phobia based on your symptoms. Do not use any medication without proper prescription from your doctor. Most common medicines prescribed to a person suffering from phobia are:
Antidepressants: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIIs) are mostly prescribed. They help in the betterment of moods.
Beta Blockers: They help to reduce the signs of anxiety.
Tranquilizers: Benzodiazepines are mostly prescribed. They also help to reduce the physical signs of anxiety.
THERAPY
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: It is used to change the way of thinking of a person to cope with the phobia.
Exposure Therapy: The person suffering from this phobia is exposed to the source of phobia with the intention of not causing any danger, to help him overcome the phobia.
General FAQs on Phobia
What causes phobia?
How can you get rid of Phobia?
Is Agoraphobia Curable?
Is Social Phobia Curable?
How many types of Phobia are there?
1. Complex phobia
2. Specific phobia
Take Away!
Many people suffer from phobias. There is no shame in admitting if you’re having one. Keeping it to yourself will worsen your phobia, so it’s better to speak up to a psychologist.
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