Phobias

Phobias

A phobia can be defined as an irritating fear of a stimulus that gradually evolves into a severe anxiety which can heavily disrupt and interfere with ones daily activities. Fear naturally begins to surface in childhood, though gradually dissolves as a child ages. If a child enters adolescence and a fear begins to interrupt his or her lifestyle, the fear can potentially evolve into a phobia. Phobias are the result of a negative experience, the fear of an unfavourable occurrence, or inheritance of genes, and the most effective way to deal with this problem is to embark upon behaviour therapy because the patient will be exposed to his or her phobia in a controlled and harmless atmosphere. In society today, psychologists collectively link the primary factors of phobias, which include symptoms, children, the inner ear system, basic categories, and different types of treatment. Though fear is the primary basis of phobias across the globe, it is not just that; fear evolves into a phobia when avoidance and refrain is apparent.

Symptoms an individual with phobias may experience chest and abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, trembling, and sweating (Edelmann, 1992). A phobia is not something one can predict nor control, and it is more stressful when danger takes an individual by surprise. Numerous people worry about fear and the outcome which may bring about several symptoms (Rachman, 1968). Phobias can either be genetic, or generate from a negative experience in ones past. Several individuals are born with a cautious personality, and have a natural tendency to be vulnerable to new situations which may contribute to social phobia, which is a fear of being around a group of people (Edelmann, 1992). Puberty is the explanation of the reason individuals are more likely to develop a phobia during adolescence. As teenagers develop, personalities begin to mature and people become sensitive to new atmospheres. An

individual with a concerned and timid attitude, who may have trouble dealing with sudden danger, may easily develop a phobia (Gorman, 2004). In a situation where a parent has a phobia or is constantly preoccupied with being perfect, it is only natural that the child will develop the same worry and anxiety which may eventually become a phobia (Klein, 1981). When a phobia intensifies, a person may take extreme measures to avoid his or her fear. For example, if it is imperative that an individual is brought to an emergency room and the driver has a phobia of heights, he or she will travel for miles to avoid necessary bridges to get to the hospital. Heredity and genetics combine with personality and life experiences to take a significant role in the development of phobias (Rachman, 1968).

A phobia sometimes develops during childhood, which is a crucial time for a child to develop physically and emotionally. Along with children, adults experience stress and are more sensitive to traumatic events which may occur. Any child with a phobia may experience a stage of tantrums, crying, sensitivity, avoidance, and physical symptoms such as a stomach ache or headache (Gorman, 2004). It is crucial for a child comprehend that the fear is out of proportion and irrational in order to grow out of it. Children have a better chance of developing a specific phobia, which is a fear of a specific object or situation (Klein, 1981). Parents have a significantly large effect on a child's development, and the job of a parent is to recognize and treat the anxiety, and understand that avoidance will not erase a child's phobia (Rachman, 1968). In a situation where a child is afraid of dogs, and the parent is walking down a sidewalk that a dog is approaching with its owner, it is wrong for the parent to cross the street. This action will only temporarily relieve the child's stress, and may teach the child that avoidance is the answer to his or her problems. Response to a child's behaviour is key, and when a child has a normal reaction to a fear, a parent should praise the child and discuss the change in behaviour. To experience fear is necessary in the development of a child's personality and confidence (Edelmann, 1992). With certain situations it is good for children to fear because they may stay away from dangerous objects and situations. For example, fire may terrify a child, causing him or her to stay away from a stove or from an actual fire if one is present. Necessary steps which must be taken to resolve a phobia is confronting and adjusting the situation or object over a period of time.

Harold Levinson is the author of the book, "Phobia Free: A Medical Breakthrough Linking 90% of all Phobias and Panic Attacks to a Hidden Physical Problem", which explains that a defect with an individuals inner ear system could bring upon one, or several phobias within an individual. Discoveries made by scientists match perfectly with the symptoms concerning the inner ear system (Levinson, 1986). A strong relationship exists between phobic symptoms and illnesses which affect the inner ear such as the presence of ear infections, concussion states, sinus infections, and mononucleosis. The inner ear system affects the ability of an individual to control anxiety, the individual's sense of time and rhythm, and tunes all of the information that enters the brain; these functions may be impaired if the inner ear system is impaired (Levinson, 1986). Several people are born with problems with their inner ear system, though a phobia can originate at any age. If an inner ear problem is genetic, it is possible that other family members may experience the same level of anxiety. More than 20% of the population have an inner ear dysfunction; some individuals have been phobic their whole lives, while some have not suffered from a single phobia (Levinson, 1986). Thousands of cells and circuits make up the inner ear system, and the probability of phobic behaviour depends on how many of these cells are malfunctioning. Mechanisms are developed in the brain to neutralize phobic symptoms and allow the individual to adjust to the problem (Levinson, 1986). An individual may never become aware of a problem if the brain successfully heals. Levinson discovered that more than three-quarters of phobic patients had never realized that they had an inner ear dysfunction until they learned the symptoms that characterized such a problem (Levinson, 1986). Identifiably, the greatest obstacle to discovering the true basis of phobic behaviour is the ability of an individual to consider the possibility of a physiological problem. When the inner ear system malfunctions, the sensory system can be lost, and as a result, the brain may be starved of vital sensory information or contain more information than it can handle (Levinson, 1986). People believe that a phobia can easily establish and quickly resolve, though