In this article you will read:
- What is a phobia?
- Diagnosis of phobia
- Claustrophobia or fear of closed spaces
- Fear of natural environments
- Agoraphobia or fear of open spaces
- Glossophobia or fear of public speaking
- Acrophobia or fear of heights
- Nyctophobia or fear of the dark
- Dentophobia or fear of dentistry
- Hemophobia or fear of blood
- Aviatophobia or fear of flying
- Cause of phobia
How is phobia treated?
What is a phobia?
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that is associated with fear and anxiety of a certain object or situation. A person suffering from a phobia has an irrational and excessive fear of encountering certain conditions and objects such as heights, animals, people, space, medical services, etc. This fear may be so severe that it keeps the person away from activities and damages his relationships with others. This behavior is due to excessive fear and worry of unpleasant events caused by exposure to the mentioned conditions and devices.
Diagnosis of phobia
The diagnosis of phobia is important for psychologists. The diagnosis of phobia is usually based on medical history and cognitive samples of a person’s behavior at different times. For a more accurate diagnosis of phobia, the doctor may use methods such as interviewing the patient, psychological tests, observing the person’s behavior in the face of fearful situations, and finally using physiological indicators such as heart rate changes or the degree of body sweating to assess the person’s fear and anxiety. slow
Claustrophobia or fear of closed spaces
Claustrophobia means fear of closed spaces. People with this disease feel intense fear when facing closed spaces such as small rooms, storage lockers or even overhead while sitting on an airplane. This fear may be severe, limiting daily life and inhibiting behaviors. Some of the symptoms of claustrophobia include not being able to relax, feeling closed in, body sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, and failure to even face small, closed spaces. Treatment of claustrophobia can include methods such as cognitive-behavioral and medical therapy.
Fear of natural environments
Fear of natural environments is usually known as nature phobia. People with this phobia feel intense fear when faced with situations such as heights, water, fear of animals, etc. This fear may be severe and cause disruption in daily life and experience outdoor recreation. Some of the symptoms of nature phobia include feeling out of place, fear of unpleasant events, body sweating, increased heart rate and breathing can also occur. To treat nature phobia, doctors usually use a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medical therapy, which includes methods such as anti-anxiety drugs, observation of behavior when faced with fearful things, breathing and strengthening exercises, training on how to analyze emotions and false thoughts. to be
Agoraphobia or fear of open spaces
Agoraphobia or fear of open or wide spaces is one of the types of phobias and means intense and irrational fear of encountering wide, open, abundant or boundless spaces. People who suffer from this disease experience extreme fear of open spaces. This fear severely limits a person’s life and may prevent them from doing daily tasks and recreational activities such as visiting cities, traveling to natural areas, and driving on busy roads. Some of the symptoms of agoraphobia include body sweating, shortness of breath, neck pain, feeling excited, and failure to even face these spaces. Agoraphobia treatment can include psychological methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychological or medical counseling.
Glossophobia or fear of public speaking
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is one of the phobias in which people have fear, stress and anxiety caused by speaking in large groups or in front of unknown or known people. People with this disease choose to avoid speaking in public or even run away from these situations. This fear can be severe and cause lack of self-confidence, doubt and verbal and physical busyness before and during the speech. To treat glossophobia, cognitive-behavioral methods, psychological counseling, anti-anxiety drugs or a combination of these methods are used. Psychological treatments help a person to increase his self-awareness, control himself physically and emotionally, learn to improve himself in planning and executing a speech and finally strengthen his self-confidence.
Dr. Mohammad Eslami, clinical psychologist
PhD in psychology from a prestigious European university
Psychosomatic diseases fellowship
Licensed by Iran’s psychology system
Member of the Iranian Psychological Association
Acrophobia or fear of heights
Acrophobia or fear of heights is one of the types of phobias and it means irrational and intense fear of the widest surrounding areas and all kinds of heights such as mountains, towers and airport roads. People who suffer from this phobia experience extreme nervous and muscular conditions and anxiety when facing heights. This anxiety can be severe and cause restrictions in people’s movement and daily activities. The treatment of acrophobia may include psychological treatments, psychological counseling, a combination of psychological and drug therapy, and attention to the physical condition of the person. With the help of counselors and specific exercises that they perform, individuals can gain an opportunity to enhance self-confidence, normative thinking and organized performance in high altitude conditions.
Nyctophobia or fear of the dark
Nyctophobia, or fear of the dark, usually means fear of the dark, night, and secrets. People with this phobia experience extreme anxiety and panic when faced with dark conditions. This fear can be severe and cause limitations in his personal life and relationships with others. Some of the symptoms of nyctophobia include intense fear of the dark, increased heart rate, sweating, and failure to even face the dark. The treatment of nyctophobia may include the use of cognitive behavioral methods, training to see in the dark, or the use of various methods such as psychotherapy, psychological counseling, and drug treatment. Your doctor may use a combination of these methods to treat nyctophobia that works best for you.
Dentophobia or fear of dentistry
Dentophobia or fear of dentistry is one of the types of phobias and it means excessive and irrational fear of dental treatment and going to the dentist. People who are suffering from this disease choose to avoid going to the dentist or even escape from these situations. This fear can be severe and limit people’s personal and professional life. For the treatment of dentophobia, various methods are used, such as psychological counseling, a combination of pharmacological and psychological methods, concentration and breathing exercises, or even art therapy. These methods may reduce your fear and anxiety, increase your self-confidence and avoid going to the dentist or performing treatment procedures, so that you can treat your dental problems in the best way in the long run.
Hemophobia or fear of blood
Hemophobia or bloodphobia refers to an intense and excessive fear of seeing blood, going to medical facilities, or going to bloody scenes. People who suffer from this disease usually avoid encountering blood or bloody scenes, and for them the sight of blood causes extreme anxiety and fear. Hemophobia may be about blood in general, or it may be specific to certain gory scenes, such as bleeding in certain scenes. For the treatment of homophobia, methods such as psychotherapy, drug treatment, teaching methods to deal with anxiety and fear, as well as positive thinking techniques may be used.By using these methods, those with hemophobia can increase their self-confidence, reduce anxiety around blood or gory scenes, and make the most of the range of medical services.
Aviatophobia or fear of flying
Aviatophobia or fear of flying is one of the types of phobias. People suffering from this disease experience extreme fear and anxiety before flying or going to the airport. This fear can be severe and cause failure in daily activities and business and leisure trips. Treatment for aviatophobia may include psychological counseling, cognitive behavioral methods, a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments, or concentration and breathing exercises. To treat aviatophobia, people need to face their fear of flying and try to develop strategies to control each intensity. The fear of flying and small techniques such as deep breathing exercises and in the face of additional conditions such as airport crowding, which help to increase self-confidence and reduce anxiety in front of the flight and the airport.
Cause of phobia
The causes of phobias are generally complex and related to various causes including genetic factors, environmental factors and even life events related to humans. Some phobias may arise as a response to fearful events seen in the person’s past, negative experiences about certain situations, or some other unexpected events. Some people tend to experience phobias, which may be due to demographic characteristics such as genetics and personality traits. Also, it is possible that some people have a normal reaction known as “hero spring” due to the experience of facing danger, psychological stress and anxiety and increased cortisol hormone. However, the exact causes of phobias are still not fully understood and are under investigation.
How is phobia treated?
The treatment of phobia depends on the type and severity of the phobia, as well as the existence of stable foundations for its treatment. Common phobia treatment methods include psychological counseling, which may include some cognitive behavioral methods, individual or group psychotherapy, or a combination of these methods, along with medication that may be used to control anxiety. Cognitive-based approaches to treating phobias can include learning behavioral techniques, such as providing targeted information about bodily symptoms, practicing step-by-step coping with fearful factors, practicing deep breathing skills, or positive thinking.With the progress of the treatment, the person should gradually become more and milder in the face of the factors and gain more morale and self-confidence. Phobia treatment can be gradually effective to a great extent, however, it is better to see your doctor under the supervision of a neurologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.