The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that phobias affect approximately 10% of U.S. adults each year. These phobias typically emerge during childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood. They also impact twice as many women as they do men. There are a number of explanations for why phobias develop, including evolutionary and behavioral theories. Whatever the cause, phobias are treatable conditions that can be minimized and even eliminated with cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques and medication. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts
Arachnophobia: an intense fear of spiders and other arachnidsOphidiophobia: an intense fear of snakesAcrophobia: an intense fear of heightsAerophobia: an intense fear of flyingCynophobia: an intense fear of dogsAstraphobia: an intense fear of thunder and lightningTrypanophobia: an intense fear of injectionsSocial phobia: an intense fear of social interactionsAgoraphobia: an intense fear of places that are difficult to escape, sometimes involving a fear of crowded or open spacesMysophobia: an intense fear of germs, dirt, and other contaminants
These phobias lead to marked fear and can result in experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and breathlessness. In some cases, they may escalate into a full-blown panic attack. Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) and agoraphobia are in their own category of anxiety disorders, whereas the remaining eight phobias are considered “specific phobias,” related to a particular object or situation. Overall, these common phobias involve an intense or extreme fear of the environment, animals, injections and blood, or certain situations. Here’s a more in-depth look at each one. So why are so many people terrified of arachnids? While there are an estimated 35,000 different spider species, only around a dozen pose any type of real threat to humans. One of the most common explanations for this and similar animal phobias is that such creatures once posed a considerable threat to our ancestors who lacked the medical know-how and technological tools to address injuries from animals and insects. As a result, evolution contributed to a predisposition to fear these creatures. Another theory suggests that the fear of snakes and similar animals might arise out an inherent fear of disease and contamination. Studies have shown that these animals tend to provoke a disgust response, which might explain why snake phobias are so common yet people tend not to exhibit similar phobias of dangerous animals such as lions or bears. While in some cases this fear of heights may be the result of a traumatic experience, current thinking suggests that this fear may have evolved as an adaptation to an environment in which a fall from heights posed a significant danger. While it is common for people to have some degree of fear when encountering heights, this phobia involves a severe fear that can result in panic attacks and avoidance behaviors. The fear of flying sometimes causes people to avoid flying altogether. It is often treated using exposure therapy, in which the client is gradually and progressively introduced to flying. The individual may start by simply imagining themselves on a plane before slowly working up to actually sitting on a plane and finally sitting through a flight. This phobia is not just a normal apprehension of unfamiliar canines; it is an irrational and excessive fear that can have a serious impact on a person’s life and functioning. For example, a person with cynophobia might feel unable to walk down a certain street because they know that there is a dog living in that neighborhood. This avoidance can impact the individual’s ability to function in their daily life and make it difficult to get to work, school, or other events outside of the home. During a thunder or lightning storm, people with this disorder may go to great lengths to take shelter or hide from the weather event such as hiding in bed under the covers or even ducking inside a closet or bathroom. People with this phobia also tend to develop an excessive preoccupation with the weather. They may spend a great deal of time each day tracking the local and national weather in order to know when any type of storm might take place. In some instances, this phobia may even lead to agoraphobia in which people are so afraid of encountering lightning or thunder that they are unable to leave their homes. When people with this phobia do have to have an injection, they may experience feelings of extreme dread and elevated heart rate leading up to the procedure. Some people even pass out during the injection. Because these symptoms can be so distressing, people with this phobia sometimes avoid doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals even when they have some type of physical or dental ailment that needs attention. People with this phobia fear being watched or humiliated in front of others. Even ordinary, everyday tasks such as eating a meal can be anxiety-provoking. Social phobias often develop during puberty and can last throughout life unless they are treated. The most common form of social phobia is a fear of public speaking. In some cases, social phobias can cause people to avoid social situations including school and work, which can have a major impact on the individual’s well-being and ability to function. Approximately one-third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia. Agoraphobia usually develops sometime between late-adolescence and mid-30s. Two-thirds of people with agoraphobia are women. The disorder often begins as a spontaneous and unexpected panic attack, which then leads to anxiety over the possibility of another attack happening. This common phobia can also result in people avoiding physical contact with other people out of fear of contamination, overuse of disinfectants, and excessive preoccupation with media reports about illness outbreaks. People with this phobia may also avoid areas where germs are more likely to be present such as doctor’s offices, airplanes, schools, and pharmacies.
A Word From Verywell
Phobias are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders and can create a significant disruption in a person’s functioning and well-being. Fortunately, safe and effective treatments are available which may include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both. The appropriate treatment depends upon a variety of factors including the symptoms and severity of the phobia, so it is always best to consult with your doctor or therapist in order to develop a treatment plan that works for your specific situation.
