Freaky Phobias

Phobias

A phobia is an intense, irrational fear. But unlike regular fear, which can cause a significant amount of anxiety, phobias can lead to avoidance behaviors that are extremely disruptive to daily life. When faced with the object or situation associated with a phobia, patients may have a panic attack, have difficulty breathing, fear they will die or pass out.

There are three main categories of phobias: agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobias. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in a place or situation where escape may not be possible or help may not be available. Common triggers are bridges, elevators and crowded stores. In some cases, people become so fearful they won’t leave their homes. Researchers estimate about 1.8 million American adults have agoraphobia. Two-thirds of patients are women. Age of onset is typically between late adolescence and the mid 30s.

A social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is the fear of being watched by others. People with social phobia are afraid of being judged or are embarrassed by their behaviors or actions while in public. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 15 million Americans have a social phobia. The most common type one is fear of public speaking.

A specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or situation that, in reality, poses little or no actual danger. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America estimates 19 million Americans have at least one specific phobia. Women are affected twice as much as men. Often the fear starts in childhood or adolescence and persists into adulthood. Some common specific phobias include: spiders, snakes, dogs, flying and heights.

Triskaidekaphobia

One specific phobia is triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13. The exact incidence of triskaidekaphobia isn’t known. Thomas Fernsler, D.Ed., Math Professor/“Dr. 13” with the University of Delaware, has been fascinated by the number 13 for many years. The origins of the fear are believed to date back to the time of Christ, because Jesus, who was the 13th person in the room during the Last Supper, was killed the next day. That day of the week, a Friday, became even more entwined with superstition, with Friday the 13th being considered very unlucky in some circles. Today, many people go to great lengths to avoid any encounters with the number 13. Some hotels omit the 13th floor. In France, professional diners are hired to round out dinner parties of 13 guests to 14.

On the other hand, some people believe the number 13 to be associated with good things. Fernsler points out the United States started with 13 colonies. Woodrow Wilson considered 13 to be a lucky number. When traveling to France to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles, he insisted on docking on Friday, December 13th.

Dealing with Phobias

Psychology Professor, Robert Simons, Ph.D., says some phobias are grounded in reactions to an encounter early in life. Other fears may be passed down through families. When phobias greatly interrupt the ability to go to work or school or participate in social activities, patients should seek help.

While phobias create anxiety, Simons says the only way for people to get over the fear is to learn to face the object or situation. That’s done through exposure therapy. A client is first taught how to use relaxation exercises or imagery to reduce stress and anxiety. Then, he/she is gradually exposed to the feared object or situation. Eventually, the patient is able to have direct exposure to the phobia, like holding a spider or snake, standing on a tall bridge or flying on an airplane.

For general information on phobias: American Psychiatric AssociationAnxiety Disorders Association of AmericaNational Institute of Mental Health