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WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO DEVELOP PHOBIAS?
Introduction
Phobia is usually linked with anxiety disorders accompanied by irrational fear of a certain situation or things. Phobia is also associated with intense aversion towards certain things. Phobias vary from one individual to another. The level of phobia is also different among the affected individuals. The events that cause phobias are usually directly linked to the individual’s darkest past experience. A phobia can occur during any phase of people's life. It can develop during childhood, puberty or adulthood. This paper will seek to identify the possible causes of phobia. It will also identify the different types of phobias that people suffer either directly or indirectly. This essay will seek to ascertain whether the development of phobias by different individuals is a mental disorder (Nhs.uk).
Background
Researchers have categorized phobias into two distinct groups. The first type of phobia is known as the specific or simple phobia. This type of phobia is usually associated with early childhood experience. The childhood experience is usually negative in nature. The simple phobia usually evolves to higher levels when an individual becomes an adult. People develop anxiety disorders from their past, making it difficult to get rid of them when they have matured. The second type of phobia is the complex or social phobia. There is no specific cause of complex phobias. Most scientists argue that the complex phobias are usually caused by different elements of the human body and the individual's experience. The people suffering from complex or social phobia have either a genetic problem or a brain chemistry issue that makes them neurotic (Healthline).
Causes of Phobia
There are many known causes of phobia, and many factors contribute to the creation of phobias. One of the main causes of phobia is the response to fear. This is usually associated with the brain component that is affected by anxiety attacks. The field of neuroscience has indicated that the prefrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortexes are responsible for dealing with memory and phobia issues. The brain stores both good and bad information. An individual’s potential survival instinct may lead him or her to capture information about a deadly event. An incident of a similar event in the future may cause the brain to recall or trigger a phobic condition. A phobia can also be caused by particular incidents or traumatic experiences. People develop phobias when their minds associate some events with danger. Scary stories play a huge part in developing a phobia, especially in children. The more realistic these stories appear in the mind of an individual, the more phobic the individual get (Nhs.uk).
Chronic anxiety occurs when people are born with the disorder of being more anxious than others. Chronic anxiety mainly involves an individual experiencing a tense sensation and increased awareness of everything happening around him or her. The brain functions are usually channeled towards the particular situations or scenarios. This greatly contributes to the creation of phobia and phobic attacks. Long term stress is directly linked to the human brain functions. The body secretes adrenalin, a chemical component in the body that handles tachycardia, sweating, and trembling (Nhs.uk).
Symptoms of Phobias
Symptoms of phobia are easily manifested when an individual's mind gets restless and thoughts of fear. Some of the immediate symptoms of a phobia are increased heart beat pace. The people with extreme phobia conditions tend to have increased rates of their heart beats. This is also accompanied by shortness of breath and elevated blood pressure. Spoiled or accelerated talk can additionally be induced by high phobic levels. The other symptoms of phobia are dry mouth, nausea, chest pains, and shaking. A phobia can also make an individual to have a sense of impending doom and profuse sweating. The level of anxiety varies among the people, making it difficult to give an accurate diagnosis for panic attacks (Mind.org.uk).
Treatment for Phobias
One of the central treatments for phobias is the administration of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy involves the exposure of the phobic to the core source of his or her fear. The exposure to the source of fear is usually made in a controlled environment to enable the patient in reducing his or her anxiety levels. The therapists usually focus on determining and changing every possible negative thought or dysfunctional belief associated with the fear. Modern day hospitals utilize virtual reality technology that ensures safe exposure of the patients to the core origin of their fear (Mind.org.uk).
Phobias can also be treated by use of medication. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine help ease the mind and any form of physical reaction that the body experiences due to fear. The antidepressants are usually prescribed by a qualified doctor since the levels of anxiety vary from individual to the other. It is very important for the patients to use the antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs as prescribed. The abuse of these drugs may worsen the patient’s phobic condition (Mind.org.uk).
Conclusion
The best way to deal with a phobia is to seek professional treatment. Most people find it difficult to overcome their phobias. People suffering from social phobia must learn to overcome it without isolating themselves. Understanding how the phobias are developed makes it easier to come up with the best solutions for reducing them. People who have extreme phobia conditions must not give up on the race to overcoming their fears.
Works Cited
Healthline,. 'Phobias'. N.p., 2015. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
Mind.org.uk,. 'Causes | Mind, The Mental Health Charity - Help For Mental Health Problems'. N.p., 2015. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
Nhs.uk,. 'Phobias - Causes - NHS Choices'. N.p., 2015. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.