If you feel extremely frightened by something that other people think is not scary or dangerous and you do your best to avoid the thing that triggers your fear, you may have a phobia.
Phobias are a kind of anxiety disorder or irrational fear. In itself, anxiety is not a problem. We all need to feel anxious sometimes so we can be alert and deal with problems or danger. It is hard to live with though, if you feel it all or most of them time, or when it is so strong that you cannot carry on.
We are all familiar with the symptoms of anxiety: those tell-tale butterflies in the stomach, the need to go to the toilet again and again, the sleepless night. They are all natural ways of dealing with something challenging or dangerous, and usually they vanish once the danger is past. When you have a phobia however, your worry about the thing or situation you fear feels out of control and the symptoms more extreme. Your anxiety and panic may seem to take over your life.
Phobias fall into five main areas:
Some people have overlapping phobias.
The good news is that you are not alone. Phobias are extremely common – and you can overcome or find ways of coping with your phobia.
You can help yourself, perhaps by talking to someone close to you whom you trust or join a self-help group and find out how other people have dealt with a similar phobia. You can learn to relax, to reduce the overall level of anxiety you feel, or use a self-help book, perhaps one that uses the principles of CBT.
If these self-help methods don’t work for you, it is worth asking for help from a professional. Many people put this off, but phobias really are common and treatable so it is well worth getting specialist support.
This support is likely to include a talking treatment like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that helps you to understand the reasons for your phobia. Your doctor may also suggest you try antidepressants to relieve your feelings of anxiety, perhaps in combination with CBT.
Anxiety UK: A charity for people with all kinds of anxiety disorders, including phobias. Helpline: 08444 775 774
No Panic (The National Organisation for Phobias, Anxiety, Neurosis, Information and Care): Support for people with a range of disorders including phobias. Helpline: 0844 967 4848
TOP UK (Triumph Over Phobia): Help for sufferers of phobias, OCD and related anxiety.
A fear is a natural response to danger or a threatening situation, while a phobia is an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Phobias often lead to avoidance behaviour and can interfere significantly with daily life.
Some mild phobias may lessen over time, especially if the person is not frequently exposed to the trigger. However, more persistent phobias usually require some form of treatment, such as therapy or self-help strategies, to improve or resolve.
Phobias can develop due to a combination of factors including past traumatic experiences, learned behaviours from family or peers, or genetic predispositions to anxiety. Sometimes, the cause isn’t clear at all.
Not always. Many people successfully manage or overcome phobias through talking therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). However, in some cases, medication such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed to support therapy.
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for phobias. It helps individuals understand and change negative thought patterns and behaviours related to their fears. With practice and commitment, many people experience significant improvements.
