A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos
Phobia of the Day: Achondroplasiaphobia
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: Achondroplasiaphobia refers to the fear of little people
The fear of little people can be debilitating as a person might refuse to go to circuses, casinos, fairs, or malls where little people are thought to be present, at least in the phobic’s mind. In one of the more extreme cases, a pregnant woman encountered a frightening dwarf during her pregnancy which led her to believe that her unborn child would be a dwarf too. This led her to have repeated nightmares about it and an eventual miscarriage. There are many physical and psychological symptoms of Achondroplasiaphobia.
- Many phobics tend to run or flee away from little people. They have nightmares about little people and often wake up screaming.
- Others may experience a panic attack that requires taking an anti-anxiety medicine to calm down. This includes symptoms like rapid breathing, dry mouth, shaking, staying rooted to the spot, crying, screaming hysterically, etc.
- In some cases, the mere talk or image of a little person can set off a full-blown anxiety attack.
- Phobics might go out of their way to avoid places where they are likely to encounter little people.
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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