How can the people overcome with the most common phobias?
We know that each person has their fears different from each other and among the most common phobias that afflict people are spiders and snakes. A phobia is an intense fear of a particular situation or object that is generally unreasonable in nature and which often has a direct impact on a person’s life. According to a survey by YouGov, these are just two of the most common phobias example that plague the people of Great Britain — but what causes them in the first place?
In the survey more than 2000 people were asked and this is what they answered:
1. The most common phobia out of the bunch was a fear of heights, or acrophobia.
Of those surveyed, 23 percent answered that they were very afraid of heights, and 35 percent said they were a little afraid. If you are afraid of heights, you are not alone. Do not give up; It is possible to conquer your phobia and make it a distant memory.
How can I Overcome a Most Common Fears of Heights?
The first step to overcome your fear of heights is to want to overcome it. While some people want to overcome fear, they are not ready to face the physical and emotional obstacles involved in doing so.
One way to overcome your fear of heights is to do an activity that does not involve more than heights. For example, you can try skydiving, bungee jumping or riding a very high roller coaster. While it may seem ridiculous, it may be just what you need. This option is not for everyone and may seem too overwhelming to consider in the initial stages.
For those who want to take smaller steps, the following can help you. For example, start by standing on the top step of a ladder. Continue with that by looking at your railing on the second floor or looking out the window of a third floor in an office building. Each time, climb to a higher space and keep progressing.
2. The respondents’ second biggest fear was snakes.
with 21 percent stating they were very afraid and 31 percent being only a little afraid. Fear of snakes, also known as ophidiophobia, is a very common form of phobia. Like other phobias, fear of snakes is learned. People can learn to be afraid of snakes as a result of not knowing very much about snakes, reading about frightening snakes, seeing snakes used in practical jokes to scare people, and through cultural beliefs about snakes. Many societies reinforce fear of snakes with religious beliefs and superstitions, making people on edge around snakes and contributing to the development of a fear of snakes.
How Common is the Fear of Snakes?
For someone who has a fear of snakes, being around snakes, hearing conversations about snakes, or seeing representations of snakes in pictures and videos can be very stressful. Panic symptoms like a cold sweat, racing heart, nausea, dizziness, and confusion can develop. People may go out of their way to avoid settings where snakes may be present or where people might talk about them. Treatment of snake phobia involves slowly desensitizing people in controlled settings.
If someone is in treatment for fear of snakes, surprising the person with snake-related things can set back the person’s therapy and potentially make the phobia worse.
3. In third place on the list is a fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia.
Twenty percent of those surveyed were very afraid of speaking in front a crowd while 36 percent were a little afraid. A glossophobic might, for example, make a conscious effort to avoid situations in which he or she may be obliged to engage in public speaking, thus limiting his or her life and career choices.
What can cause glossophobia?
A wide variety of things can cause glossophobia, and often the cause is complex, with several factors being involved. One common reason to become glossophobic is childhood trauma, or even traumatic situations which occur as an adult. It can also be caused by a tendency to avoid public speaking, which can create anxiety around the idea, thus causing someone to become glossophobic. The condition can also be related to psychological conditions which may require complex treatment.
One way to address the condition is to take public speaking classes, some of which are targeted at people who fear public speaking. It is also possible to undergo hypnosis and other psychotherapy treatments, or to use techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga. Certain drugs may also be utilized to encourage people to relax before public speaking engagements, although ideally medication should be used in combination with a course of therapy.
4. Fear of Spiders.
According to 18 percent of respondents who reported being very afraid of them as well as the 24 percent who were a little afraid. The fear of spiders usually comes from some kind of occurrence in a person’s background. A spider may have bitten them or they might have some other traumatic experience from childhood. Some experts think there might be a genetic component, at least in terms of increasing a person’s susceptibility to fear of spiders. There is also evidence to suggest that a normal healthy fear of spiders and snakes is actually an inborn instinct in people, but this is still disputed.
How do I Overcome a Fear of Spiders?
The best way to overcome the fear of spiders is to inform oneself, since false beliefs about them spur fear and information can correct the problem. Then the gradual exposure to the spiders will allow the person to get accustomed, if he wants to overcome his problem. This can be supplemented with anti-anxiety medications, everything will greatly reduce your fear.
The real key to overcoming the fear of spiders is exposure therapy, that is, starting from very little how show the person the image of a spider and then ask him to hold a false but very realistic spider. at the end of the process the patient is asked to touch a living spider. The purpose is for patients to develop sufficient tolerance, since all will not advance at the same rate according to their fear.
5. At number five is claustrophobia, or the fear of being closed in a small space.
Fourteen percent of the people surveyed said they were very afraid while 29 were a little afraid.People who have this phobia are frightened in closed spaces that could include elevators, closed rooms, some traffic congestion, etc. Even if the person knows that this enclosed space does not represent any danger, he can suffer panic as well.
what are the symptoms of claustrophobia?
The symptoms of claustrophobia are manifested when the person is in a closed space, and are:
- anxiety,
- feelings of restlessness,
- panic attacks,
- crying,
- increased heart rate and respiratory, in other aspects.
and try to leave as quickly as possible from the closed space. Almost all phobias follow a similar treatment, a psychiatrist can prescribe medication to combat the anxiety generated by it. The other part is counseling called desensitization therapy. First, identify when fear appeared, if possible. The next step is to gradually help the person feel safe in smaller spaces.
The size of space is not always that important; Sometimes, the fear focuses more on the fact that the person feels trapped or locked up. Even in a large mall with few windows, a person with significant claustrophobia may feel confined and restricted.
Fortunately, the treatment for this condition is often very effective. It can gradually help the person overcome the fear of confinement. Watch this Video
Video: What is a Phobia