After his unforeseen road accident from a month ago, Rishi experienced a distressing situation that left him unable to drive. After that accident, he had an underlying anxiety and phobia that he was unable to overcome. He used to have a variety of physical symptoms whenever he was exposed to the unexpected speed of moving automobiles, including an irritated spine, watery mouth, great fear of anxiety, and many more. He was initially diagnosed as having a driving phobia and a fear of being in an accident, even while the road was open and clear.
Why does Rishi Behave in such a manner?
Difference between Fear and Phobia.
The words like fear and Phobia are being used interchangeably with time without knowing their meaning. Fear is when you experience overwhelming anxiety that doesn’t match the level of your danger whereas a phobia is usually an unsaid or unannounced fear of a particular object or situation. Fear can be a phobia, but phobia cannot be fear.
Different types of phobias
Phobias come in several forms. We'll concentrate on specific phobias.
Continuous phobia of a particular thing or circumstance is known as a specific phobia. Around the world, 15% of people suffer from a particular phobia.
Major types of Phobias are as follows,
1. Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is linked with the fear of places or situations where an individual usually tries to escape him/herself.
Agoraphobics are terrified of being alone outside or in crowded places. They frequently stay at home and shun all social interactions.
Many agoraphobics worry that they might experience a panic attack in a setting from which they cannot flee. Chronically unwell people can worry that they'll experience a medical emergency in a public setting or somewhere they can't get treatment.
2. Social phobia
Social anxiety disorder is another name for social phobia. Extreme social anxiety can make a person withdraw from others. Even the most routine encounters, like placing an order at a restaurant or taking a phone call, might trigger panic attacks due to a social phobia. People who have social anxiety frequently make special efforts to stay away from public settings.
3. Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the dread of small, enclosed areas. When severe claustrophobia stops you from using elevators or autos, it can be very incapacitating.
4. Hemophobia
Blood or injury-related phobia is known as hemophobia. If they meet their blood or that of another person, someone who has hemophobia may pass out.
Some of the most typical varieties are listed below:
Fear of animals, such as snakes, dogs, or spiders
dread of the outdoors, such as a fear of heights, water, or the dark
Situational, such as a dread of flying or visiting the dentist
bodily, such as a phobia of needles or blood.
Causes of Phobias
1. Genetics: Phobias might be inherited. According to studies, you may be more likely to develop a phobia yourself if you have a family member who does.
2. Brain activity: Phobias may be exacerbated by changes in brain activity. For instance, a review found that individuals with a fear of tiny animals showed greater activity in the left amygdala and insular cortex of their brains. When you feel fear, both brain regions become more active.
3. Past events: After a traumatic, real-life incident you had in the past, you might develop a phobia. For instance, if a dog bit you, you might grow afraid of them.
4. Learned behaviours: Depending on your surroundings, a phobia may be learned. For instance, perhaps as a little child, you witnessed your sister become quite nervous about using the elevator. This could make you experience a similar terror.
5. The symptoms of phobias are distinct from those of severe mental diseases like schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia experience unpleasant symptoms including anhedonia, disorganised symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Although phobias may be irrational, those who have them do not do poorly on tests of reality.
6. People who are associated with ongoing medical conditions or concerns may also develop phobias or irrational fear. Individuals with brain injuries and substance abuse are more likely at a greater risk of developing phobias.
Symptoms of phobia include the following
1. Although you are aware that your anxieties are unjustified or excessive, you nonetheless feel unable to control them.
2. Anxiety that worsens as the circumstance or thing approaches you in terms of proximity or time avoiding it at all costs or dealing with it while experiencing extreme dread or panic
3. You have trouble getting things done because of your fear.
4. Physical responses and feelings, such as perspiration, a fast heartbeat, tightness in the chest, trouble breathing experiencing nausea, vertigo, or fainting when near blood or wounds tantrums, clinging, sobbing, or a child's refusal to leave a parent's side or confront their fear.
How to treat phobias or how to overcome a phobia
It becomes very necessary to deal overcome phobia with time as it leads to many physical and mental deterioration. One must follow certain guidelines and necessity certain changes in their behavior which can stop the ongoing symptoms and effects of phobia further.
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
The most popular kind of therapy for phobias is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It entails controlled exposure to the source of the fear. People can be de -conditioned and have less anxiety with this treatment.
The goal of treatment is to discover and alter unhelpful ideas, unhealthy convictions, and unfavourable responses to phobic circumstances. Virtual reality technology is used in new CBT approaches to safely expose patients to the causes of their fears.
2. Counterconditioning
Counterconditioning is another approach frequently employed in the treatment of phobias. With this approach, the individual learns a new reaction to the frightening thing. The person learns relaxation skills to counteract their worry and fear, so they don't panic when they encounter the feared object or circumstance.
3. Meditations
You can calm your tensions and become more at ease overall by practicing meditation. Even if you might still have a phobic reaction, meditating beforehand helps lessen the severity of your feelings.
According to research, people with a social anxiety disorder who practice mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), which is based on mindfulness meditation, are better able to control their emotions.
4. Practice visualisation
The art of visualisation involves leading your mind through a sequence of calming images. When a phobic reaction is already underway, some phobia patients find that adopting visualisation techniques can assist to diminish it.
Phobias are unreasonable, continuous, and severe worries about a particular thing or circumstance. Specific events and objects might trigger phobias. They frequently involve worries about animals, the outdoors, health conditions, or circumstances.
Therapy and medicine can help, even though phobias can be very uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. Consult your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment options if you suspect you may have a phobia that is interfering with your life.
When you decide to seek help, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bakshi.
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