What Causes Phobias? Key Factors Behind Irrational Fears

What Causes Phobias: A phobia is a disorder associated with excessive and irrational fear. If you have a phobia, you may feel an intense fear or panic when you are confronted with your fear. Fear can be of a particular place, object, or situation.

There are several types of phobias, such as fear of heights, public places, or quiet places. You may have social phobia if you feel anxious and extremely shy in everyday social situations. Some common phobias include fear of tunnels, highways, too much water, flying, animals, and seeing blood.

Phobias can cause the sufferer anything from distress to severe disability. People with phobias often feel that their fear is completely unreasonable, yet they cannot do anything about it. Such problems interfere with personal relationships, work at school, or the office.

What are the signs or symptoms of a phobia?

Sudden intense fear or anxiety upon encountering or remembering the source of the fear.
Even knowing that the fear is unwarranted, we still feel unable to control it.
The closer the object of fear is to you, the more intense the anxiety.
Doing everything to avoid that object or situation or trying to cope with the anxiety or fear.
Difficulty in normal brain function due to feelings of fear.
Physiological reactions and sensitivities may include salivation, increased heart rate, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
Nausea, stumbling or fainting at the sight of injuries, blood, etc.
Children may show anger, stubbornness, screaming, or refusing to leave their parents.

Some specific phobia symptoms include the following:

Excessive or irrational fear of a particular object or situation.
Trying to avoid that object or situation or dealing with a serious crisis.
Symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack such as rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, shaking, difficulty breathing, dizziness, etc.

Causes of Phobia:

It usually occurs in children aged 4 to 8 years. In some cases, it is also caused by certain events in life.
Recollection of a frightening event by one family member can trigger a phobia for other members, most likely in children.
If a child's mother has a fear of spiders (Arachnophobia), then the child is more likely to develop this phobia.

What is the treatment for phobias?

Phobias can be treated with medication and specific therapy, or a combination of both. In most cases, both medication and therapy are used.