CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Phobias differ from fear, take over daily routines

Topeka Capital Journal (KS) - 2/26/2015

Dear Doctor K: I have a terrible fear of heights, dogs and public speaking. My sister calls them "phobias" and says I should seek help. How do I know if my fears are normal, or if I need treatment?

Dear Reader: We all have things we worry about or are afraid of. And with most of them, we are right to be fearful. But in people with a phobia, the fear is persistent, excessive and unrealistic. As many as one in 10 people suffer from phobias at some time during their lives.

How can you distinguish a justifiable fear from a phobia? In a phobia:

- There are fears that are irrational, given the reality of the situation. For example, anyone may be afraid of an unrestrained, menacing dog. But most people do not run away from a calm, quiet animal on a leash. People with dog phobias avoid all dogs.

- There is avoidance of triggers. People with phobias may go to great lengths to avoid the things that trigger their phobia. For example, they may walk up 10 flights of stairs to avoid using an elevator.

- There are anxiety-related physical symptoms. These can include tremors, palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea.

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. A mental health professional is best qualified to diagnose them. Tell him or her about any experience or trauma that may have set off the phobia. For example, maybe a dog attack led to your fear of dogs. Discuss how you react -- your thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms. Also, describe what you do to avoid fearful situations. How does the phobia affect your daily life, including your job and personal relationships?

A combination of medication and "talk therapy" can help. For short-term treatment of phobias, your doctor may prescribe an anti- anxiety medication.