Phobias

phobias

irrational fears that are life-limiting. Anyone with a phobia, when they get near to their phobic situation or object, will experience strong anxiety. Symptoms may include fast breathing, feeling sick, dry mouth, fast heart rate and chest pain. Phobias tend to mean people avoid certain situations

DSM-5 categories of phobias

•All phobias are characterised by excessive fear and anxiety cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation.

•The extent of the fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by the phobic stimulus.

•Categories of phobias and related anxiety disorders:

•

•Specific à object or situation

•Social anxiety (social phobia) à social situation

•Agoraphobia à being outside or in a public place

phobia categories

•Social Phobia

•Agoraphobia

•Specific Phobias

Specific Phobias- Phobia of an object or a situation

4 major sub-types:

Animal types: Spiders, birds

Situational types: Flying, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

Natural environment types: Heights, water

Bodily types: Blood, injections, needles

social phobias

Excessive fear of social situations based on a fear of exposure/humiliation

Some sufferers fear eating in restaurants, using public toilets, meeting strangers or public speaking. 

As a result they try to avoid certain social activities and situations.  The feared social situation induces extreme anxiety and may be accompanied by anxiety attacks.

agoraphobia

The most common of phobias.   This is a fear of being outside in open or public places.

It is usually accompanied by panic disorder.  Safety, rather than embarrassment is their main concern.

cognitive characteristics

•Selective attention: keeping attention on the phobic stimulus

•Irrational beliefs: irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus

•Cognitive distortions: distorted perceptions about the phobic stimulus

emotional characteristics

•Anxiety: an unpleasant state of arousal making it difficult for the sufferer to relax or experience positive emotions

•Unreasonable emotional responses: disproportionate emotional response to the danger posed by the phobic stimulus

behavioural characteristics

•Panic: crying, screaming, running away, freezing

•Avoidance: going to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus

•Endurance: remaining in the presence of the phobic stimulus whilst feeling great anxiety