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Learning to live with phobias

by Susan Eskdale

This article is in response to request for information on how to find treatment options for phobias. Thanks to the readers, MetaHealing can help you to get the information that you need or that interests you.

Please note the most important thing about living with phobias is understanding and willingness to enter a treatment program.

If you suffer from phobias please contact your family doctor as soon as possible. It is through your doctor that treatment options will become available; remember that your doctor has the responsibility to keep your visits confidential so don't be afraid to talk to him or her.

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Learning to live with Phobias

Phobias are misunderstood by a majority of the population; this leads to negative assumptions based upon lack of knowledge and serves to perpetuate the situation.

Phobias are common in today's world, yet the publicity these fears have received remains surprisingly low. Given that most individuals either know someone or are themselves suffering from phobias. Why the difference in reported phobias? Primarily phobia sufferers are reluctant to share their fears with others, often believing that they will be ostracized, criticized or ridiculed.

As a result of anticipated ridicule, the sufferers are forced to deal with a very complex disorder without help. A self-imposed exile is due to the anticipated reactions of others to his or her phobia. Most of us will interact with individuals suffering from this disorder on almost a daily basis, but most of us will never know who may be dealing with phobias.

Anyone can become a victim of fear; from doctors, actors, singers, teachers, coal miners, mechanics and politicians. Phobias do not typically target one group within a population. An important consideration is the realization that two sufferers may have the same phobias, but it is the life experience that can make the impact of these phobias vastly different. The root of the phobia comes from socialization and life experience and can be passed from one individual in society to the next with the result being individuals who are frozen with fear at the mention or site of the object of the phobia. It is important to remember that others can 'learn' a phobia from someone they observe while others experience a traumatic event surrounding the object of the phobia.

What is a phobia?

The concept of phobias is dependent upon an event or experience that has been imprinted on an individual. The phobia is likely to impact the activities and can actually serve to disable someone through a fear based paralysis.

For a more technical definition, we refer to the Hyper Dictionary of the English Language (http://www.hyperdic.net/):

An anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situations.

This listing is by no means a complete accounting the entire library of phobias, but is representative of a small fraction of the phobias that may affect you or someone you care about.

1. Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces
2. Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia. - fear of spiders
3. Claustrophobia - fear of enclosed spaces
4. Cynophobia - fear of dog or rabies
5. Ephebiphobia - fear of teenagers
6. Gephyrophobia - fear of bridges or a bridge
7. Glossophobia - fear of public speaking
8. Hydrophobia - fear of water
9. Technophobia - fear of technology
10. Testophobia - fear of tests, fear of taking tests

For a more complete listing of the terminology related to phobias please visit The Phobia List.

Phobias curtail the activities, socialization and participation of the sufferer. Modern medicine has been treating the disorder of phobias for a number of years. The result of the treatments has resulted in a wide array of theories for curing an individual's phobia. Each treatment plan has been supported by scientific study, focus group studies and actual clinical data.

Determining which therapy will be the best for you requires a willingness to be open and honest with a medical professional. By speaking to your medical doctor about your fears and concerns will provide the best starting place for getting a treatment plan in place.

The right therapy will be different for each person, despite the shared fear. The program must address the life experiences of the sufferer in order to have any opportunity to be successful.

How can you learn to confront and even overcome your phobias?

Admit that you have a fear that impedes living a 'normal life'. It is important to remember that your definition of normal is based upon your experiences with others who live in the same community, function within the same society, work within the same fields or otherwise serve as a guide for behaviour.

What scares you?

Why does it scare you? Did something happen in your life that led to the development of fear. For example, if you are afraid of being trapped in a small or confining space, is it as a result of being trapped in that space during an actual event in your lifetime?

What impact does this fear have on your daily living?


Have you shared your phobia with anyone else? If you are ready for help then you will need to prepare yourself to speak with others about the issues that terrify you.

Prior to visiting the doctor it is vital to write down all the facts you can remember about the phobia.

When did the phobia start? - was it when you were a small child? A teen? Or an Adult?

What experience triggered the phobia? - if your phobia was not as the result of a personal experience be sure to note this fact to provide to the doctor.

How is the phobia impacting how you live your life? - if your phobia stops you from leaving the house then the impact is very easily defined; if your phobia is related to seeing blood then the impact will be heightened by situations wherein you must be around blood, have blood drawn or see someone else bleeding - this will be a different kind of impact than the individual fearing leaving their home.

Are you aware if any family members or friends suffered from fears that impacted lifestyles.

Book an appointment with your family doctor; for those without a family doctor it is important to book an appointment at a community health centre or visit a walk in medical clinic.

Bring the information sheet that you wrote down with the information about your fears. You will need to have the paper with you so that you can speak about the situation without forgetting any vital information.

Answer the doctor's questions as openly and honestly as possible. This is of great importance; the questions the doctor asks will help determine the variables that are at play for the phobia and resulting life impact.

Listen carefully to the suggested treatment; in fact write it down so that you have the information to review when you get home.

• The doctor may prescribe medications
  
• Referral to a mental health specialist or councillor
  
• Support groups - provide a place to speak to others suffering the same issues as you are trying to deal with.
  
• A combination of private therapy, medication and group therapy may be required.

Among the professionals who can help are psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. However, it's best to look for a professional who has specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or behavioral therapy, as appropriate, and who is open to the use of medications, should they be needed. (Quotation from NIMH site ).

Review any information that the doctor provided for your education; often pamphlets help to define the boundaries and variables affecting people with a phobia disorder.

Follow up on the suggestions with either your family doctor or the professional you were referred to.

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