Fears and Phobias

• Specific (Single) Phobia

  Specific phobias are when we experience high levels of anxiety in response to a specific object or situation. Examples are numerous but include:



• Fear of flying
• Fear of snakes, spiders, cats, dogs etc
• Emetophobia / fear of being sick
• Fear of ladders
• Fear of commitment
• Fear of driving
• Fear enclosed spaces



• Complex Phobia

  Fear of a number of things; one fear leading to the fear of another e.g. fear of water leading to a fear of bathing, swimming or sailing.

• Social Phobia (Social Anxiety)

  These are fears of what may happen when you are in the company of others. For example, fear of humiliation, blushing, trembling or losing self control. In the work place this may manifest itself as the avoidance of situations involving confrontations with colleagues, especially figures of authority. Parties can become stressful and this creates the need to have a drink beforehand, to "loosen up a bit", and relax enough to release those social inhibitions.
Over time, this social phobic condition may go on to develop into depressive illnesses, or because the sufferers end up avoiding so many social places, they may go on to develop agoraphobia (fear of public spaces). Some people with social phobia, may use drugs, alcohol, or medication as crutches, and sometimes become addicted to them.

Symptoms experienced by people with a social phobia may include:


• Stuttering/stammering
• Fear public speaking/stage fright
• Blushing and sweating
• Shyness accompanied with anxiety
• Performance related anxieties (including sexual)



• Panic Attacks

  Severe attacks of acute anxiety, sometimes they come with no warning or may be related to a trigger. Symptoms may include:



• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Trembling and shaking
• Feeling of choking or shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizzy, lightheaded
Some people may only ever have a single panic attack and may never have one again. It is always advisable to have a thorough medical check up if you have experienced any of the above symptoms.



• Agoraphobia

  Fear of public spaces. Not just a fear of open spaces, sufferers may experience nervousness the further they travel from home. In severe cases, people may not go out at all.