A persistent excessive fear of an object or situation that is not of real danger.
Examples include claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), agoraphobia (fear of being in the open), specific phobias (as for spiders, mice, thunder, or darkness), and
social phobias (such as
excessive anxiety in the
presence of other people).
Phobias, especially specific phobias, may be isolated
abnormalities in an otherwise
normal person, or they may sometimes be a
manifestation of underlying anxiety or depression of a more general nature. It is theorized that phobias may represent a prolonged
response to an unpleasant
experience in childhood; the
original stimulus usually has been forgotten.
Phobias
produce three main kinds of response: (1) a
subjective experience of fear for the object or situation; (2) physiological changes such as palpitations or
blushing in response to it; and (3) behavioral
tendencies to avoid or
escape from it. Some
truly phobic persons rarely
experience symptoms because they
avoid the feared situation, and persons with a
severe phobia may have
difficulty seeking treatment.
Persons with underlying anxiety or depressive states often
benefit from drug therapy or psychotherapy, but most
other phobias are resistant to these techniques. Here the most effective therapy is often "desensitization," a form of behavior therapy in which the person is taught gradually to
relax while imaging the
feared object. An alternate
technique is "flooding" or "implosion" therapy, in which the person is confronted by the feared object or situation and encouraged to remain in contact with it until his
anxiety disappears.
Therapy for phobias is not
always successful, and "cures" are not always permanent, but most sufferers can be helped by current treatments. The understanding and
patience of family and
friends are essential.