It’s the spookiest time of the year. With haunted houses, scary movies, and creepy crawlers at every turn, you’re bound to be frightened. But if you struggle with phobic anxiety disorder, your triggers won’t end with the beginning of November. Learning to recognize the signs and types of phobic disorders can enable you to successfully manage your symptoms all year long.
Here's what Baton Rouge needs to know about phobic anxiety disorder.
What is phobic disorder?
Phobic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder which can present as persistent, extreme fear of specific things or situations. Social phobia is characterized by irrational fear of embarrassment in social situations. Agoraphobia—one of the most well-known phobic disorders—can occur with panic disorder, as the person insistently avoids locations that have triggered past panic attacks. If the phobia centers around a particular object or situation, it is called a specific phobia.
Some known specific phobias:
- Arachnophobia: fear of spiders
- Acrophobia: fear of heights
- Aerophobia: fear of flying
- Coulrophobia: fear of clowns
- Cynophobia: fear of dogs
- Hemophobia: fear of blood
- Metathesiophobia: fear of change
- Nyctophobia: fear of darkness
- Technophobia: fear of technology
- Zoophobia: fear of animals
**For a more comprehensive list of defined phobias, click here.
What are the signs of a phobic anxiety disorder?
If you suffer from phobic anxiety disorder, an encounter with your phobia may trigger a panicked reaction. In such situations, you may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Overwhelming feeling of intense fear, anxiety, and panic
- Awareness that your fears are unreasonable, but an inability to conquer them
- Doing everything in your control to avoid the feared object or situation
- Sweating, rapid heartbeat, tightness in your chest, or difficulty breathing when confronted with your phobia
- Children may throw tantrums, cry, cling, or refuse to approach their fear or let go of their parent.
What causes a specific phobia?
Although the exact cause of any specific phobia is still unknown, they may be related to negative experience, genetics, environment, or brain function. If you have begun exhibiting any of the above symptoms, or if avoidance of your fear is disrupting your ability to function normally on a daily basis, it’s time to talk to an expert. Most phobias can be managed with behavioral therapy, prescription medication, or a combination of the two.
How can I treat my phobia in Baton Rouge?
The mental health experts at Psychiatry Associates of Baton Rouge are dedicated to helping you learn to manage your phobia and get your life back on track. By acknowledging your phobia, you’ve already taken the first step. Take the next step by calling us today and scheduling a consultation.
