Phobias, Fears and Panic

By Katie Ransahoff, student writer

It's normal to be scared of some things, but when the fear is so bad that it disrupts everyday life, it is called a phobia. Phobias can affect people's lives because they prevent people from carrying on everyday activities. In extreme cases, a phobia can cause a panic attack.

What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a physical reaction to a fear or phobia. They usually don't last very long, but they feel like forever for the person who's experiencing them. Symptoms of a panic attack include:

• A faster heartbeat


• Dizziness


• Difficulty breathing


• Shaking or sweating


• Feeling hopeless or closed-in

Common Phobias
There are many types of phobias, but the more common ones include:

• Social phobia: The fear of being embarrassed in social situations. There is a difference between shyness and social phobia. A shy person might feel more comfortable in small groups of people, but a person with social phobia will do everything they can to avoid social situations.


• Agoraphobia: The fear of having a panic attack in public place. People with agoraphobia may avoid public places that are crowded.


• Claustrophobia: The fear of a closed-in space, such as an elevator or a plane.
  
• Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders.


• Ablutophobia: The fear of baths, showers or washing.


• Atelophobia: The fear of things that aren't perfect.


• Hypsiphobia (also called acrophobia): The fear of heights.


• Zoophobia: The fear of animals.

Why do people develop phobias?
Doctors think that a tendency to develop phobias could be genetic. This means that if someone in your family has a phobia, you could have one too. Phobias can also be caused by a trauma or big change, such as a divorce, move or illness. If you have a phobia, don't worry -- phobias can be treated.

How are phobias treated?
Behavior therapy with a psychologist, therapist or psychiatrist is the standard treatment for phobias. There are also medicines to treat phobias, used in conjunction with behavior therapy.

For more information, read Katie's article on our We're Talking Too preteen site.