Fear & Phobia

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What is Fear & Phobia ?

A fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived threat. A phobia is similar to a fear with one key difference: the anxiety they experience is so strong that it interferes with their quality of life and/or their ability to function.

Phobia is an intense fear reaction to a particular thing or a situation. With a phobia, the fear is out of proportion to the potential danger. But to the person with the phobia, the danger feels real because the fear is so very strong.

Causes of Fear & Phobia

PARTICULAR INCIDENT OR TRAUMAS : For example, someone who experiences a lot of turbulence on a plane at a young age might later develop a phobia about flying.

LEARNED RESPONSES : picked up in early life. Factors in the family environment, such as parents who are very worried or anxious, can have an effect on the way you cope with anxiety in later life. You might develop the same specific phobia as a parent or older sibling.

GENETICS : Some research suggests that some people are more vulnerable to developing a phobia than others.

RESPONSES TO PANIC AND FEAR : If you have a strong reaction (or panic attack) in response to a particular situation or object, and you find this embarrassing or people around you react strongly, it can cause you to develop more intense anxiety about being in that situation again.

LONG-TERM STRESS :Long term stress can cause feelings of anxiety and depression, and reduce your ability to cope in particular situations. This can make you feel more fearful or anxious about being in those situations again and, over a long period, could lead to you developing a phobia.