What is a simple definition of phobia?
A phobia is an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. Phobias are more pronounced than fears. They develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object.
Is phobia a Latin word?
The form -phobia comes from Greek phóbos, meaning “fear” or “panic.” The Latin translation is timor, “fear,” which is the source of words such as timid and timorous.
What is the name of fear?
A phobia is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself comes from the Greek word“phobos,” which means “fear” or “horror.”
Are phobias bad?
Phobias cause people to worry about, dread, feel upset by, and avoid the things or situations they fear because the physical sensations of fear can be so intense. So having a phobia can interfere with normal activities.
Is phobia an illness?
Phobias are among the most common of all mental illnesses, and they are usually the most successfully treated. Phobias are divided into categories according to the cause of the reaction and avoidance. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations in which a person cannot get help or escape.
What causes a phobia?
Genetic and environmental factors can cause phobias. Children who have a close relative with an anxiety disorder are at risk of developing a phobia. Distressing events, such as nearly drowning, can bring on a phobia. Exposure to confined spaces, extreme heights, and animal or insect bites can all be sources of phobias.
Does phobia mean hate?
Phobia definition. Frequency: A strong fear, dislike, or aversion. An irrational, excessive, and persistent fear of some particular thing or situation.
Can phobias make you cry?
Types of Phobic Reactions. Symptoms of phobias, or phobic reactions, can be psychological (such as an intense feeling of unease or foreboding), cognitive (such as negative thoughts), physical (such as crying or gastrointestinal distress), or behavioral (such as avoidance tactics).
What are signs of a phobia?
Signs and symptoms of phobias
- being excessively fearful of a situation or object on an ongoing basis, for six months or more.
- feeling an intense need to avoid or escape from the feared situation or object.
- experiencing panic or distress when exposed to the situation or object.
How do I know my phobia?
Signs you may have a phobia include:
- being excessively fearful of a situation or object on an ongoing basis, for six months or more.
- feeling an intense need to avoid or escape from the feared situation or object.
- experiencing panic or distress when exposed to the situation or object.
Is phobia a disease?
Phobias are diagnosable mental disorders. The person will experience intense distress when faced with the source of their phobia. This can prevent them from functioning normally and sometimes leads to panic attacks. In the United States, approximately 19 million people have phobias.
What are the symptoms of phobia?
People with phobias often have panic attacks. These can be very frightening and distressing….Physical symptoms
- sweating.
- trembling.
- hot flushes or chills.
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- a choking sensation.
- rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- pain or tightness in the chest.
- a sensation of butterflies in the stomach.
Can phobia make you sick?
Physical symptoms of phobias The physical symptoms you can experience may include: feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded or faint. feeling like you are choking. a pounding heart, palpitations or accelerated heart rate.