A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos
Phobia of the Day: What is Gymnophobia?
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an irrational response.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.
Most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:
- Fears of the natural environment
- Fears related to animals
- Fear related to medical treatments or issues
- Fears related to specific situations
Phobia of the Day: Gymnophobia refers to an actual fear of nudity,
The first symptoms that the person consciously perceives when facing the phobic stimulus are the physical symptoms. These are due to a hyperactivity of the nervous system which causes all kinds of changes and alterations in the body:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased respiratory rate
- Palpitations
- Feeling short of breath
- Muscular stiffness
- Increased sweating
- Headache
- Gastric disturbances such as stomach pain and/or diarrhea
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Feeling dizzy or dizzy
- Fainting and loss of consciousness
SELF-CARE TIPS FOR PHOBIAS THAT BRING ON ANXIETY
- Talk to someone you trust.
- Learn to manage panic and anxiety.
- Look into joining a support group.
- Use self-help resources.
- Take a course for your specific phobia.
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