Informative Essay On Phobias

Can you sleep at night with no lights or sound available? Are you able to venture through your backyard, without questioning the presence of harmful insects? Despite the pain, is a medical appointment that requires shots bearable? Often taken for granted, these simple trials can escalate to a fear, then continue to develop into a phobia. Patients with phobias are commonly misunderstood because, only on a rare occasion, can another person relate. Although it is known that many people claim to possess a phobia, are they just self-diagnosed extensive fears? Furthermore, how exactly does one obtain a phobia? Although the discovery of phobias cannot be pinpointed, they have proved their importance by claiming their own category in the International Classification of Diseases and consuming the time of many doctors for research. Although unknown as to who first diagnosed a phobia, cases of pervasive fear are certainly not a modern discovery. According to a credible website pertaining to phobias, (Morpheus Institute), the discovery of phobias can be traced back to the writings of Plutarch that included a specific example of a Roman hero named Germanicus that “exhibited phobic reactions in the presence of a cock.” Also, the site described that Pythagoreans related phobias to anecdotes of past lives. As claimed by the reportings of R. Reid Wilson, PhD and Spokesman for the American Psychological Association, quoted by Heather Hatfield on webMD, “Phobias are the most common mental disorder.” The doctor concludes by stating that “over their lifetimes, 11% of people will have a phobia.” While there are no specific tests to diagnose a phobia, it can be discovered by analyzing the experiences of a patient. Although, in 1947, phobias were placed into a separate category of their own in the International Classification of Diseases. (Korgeski n.p.) Finally, in the 1960s, psychoanalysts divided phobias into three different categories, including agoraphobias, social phobias and specific phobias. This timeline of discoveries, set the pathway for advancing knowledge of mental disorders including phobias. To create a list of all phobias is close to impossible. To aid in the analysis of phobias, three separate groups were created based on the type of threatening situation created. Agoraphobia includes circumstances where a place may seem difficult or humiliating to escape from, while social phobias, often referred to as anxiety phobias, pertain to those that require social activity or a performance. Lastly, specific phobias take into account, the fears of different objects that cause a certain stimulus. This group is then separated into the subcategories of animal type, natural-environment type, blood-injection-injury type, and situational type. (Rainey) The two most common phobias, arachnophobia and ophidiophobia, fall into the animal type specific phobia. The irrational fear of snakes and spiders may cause a patient to avoid walking outside because their presence is a possibility. Phobias …show more content…
When a person encounters the symptoms of phobias for at least six months, they are usually admitted under the guidance of a psychologist. A psychotherapist will continue to schedule routine appointments to gradually overcome the fear. According to an article titled “Phobias and Fears: Symptoms, Treatment and Self-Help for Phobias and Fears” displayed by Helpguide, doctors refer to the “Fear Ladder” for progress. For example, as for a patient with the fear of an animal, the therapist may request them to look at a picture of the animal, then proceed to watch a video of it. As the doctor continues, they may require the sight of the animal, face to face, then continue to interact with it, while also gradually progressing in the size of the animal being dealt. On the rare occasion, that the patient only requires self-help, they may turn to learning relaxation techniques, through a treatment called systematic desensitization, or repeatedly facing their fear. Furthermore, new technological approaches have been developed, including visual reality methods. Although this system is not used broadly yet, it allows the patient to virtually face their fear in a realistic situation, so they would have exposure to it in reality. Lastly, the medical professional may prescribe a medication. These medications can include muscle relaxers and antidepressants. According to Professor Lipp’s work displayed in ABC Regional News, “cognitive behavioural therapy is very affective, about 85 percent in reducing anxiety.” Although past doctors and explorers have developed methods to calm the fear and anxiety caused by phobias, researchers continue in the hopes of discovering a