What is a phobia? Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder where somebody has an irrational and debilitating fear of something—whether it be an animal, a situation, or natural phenomenon.
The Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears and Anxieties 3rd Ed.
An estimated 19.2 million adults in the United States have experienced some form of phobia, ranging from the common fear of large dogs to the unusual fear of gravity, fear of developing a fever, or fear of strange people. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the U.S., afflicting approximately 13.3 percent of all adults. Although phobias and anxiety disorders can be devastating, there are many effective treatments and therapies that can lead to successful outcomes."The Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears, and Anxieties, Third Edition" covers all aspects of these mental disorders, from the mildest to the severest.
Phobias - Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry Volume 7
Phobias are extremely common in the general population and can involve a very significant social disability and burden for the family. Most cases remain undiagnosed, and many of those that are diagnosed are treated inappropriately. It is therefore essential to reduce the gap between scientific evidence and clinical experience to improve diagnosis and treatment of these mental disorders. This volume provides Coverage of different types of phobias including agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobias, including diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, as well as a discussion of the social and economic burdens caused by phobias An unbiased and reliable reference point.
Most fears are learned. Some of these are useful, e.g., the fear of touching a hot saucepan. Other fears appear to not be useful; such fears are considered irrational. We know them as phobias. A phobia is an anxiety about a person, place or thing, which: - Is out of proportion to any actual danger - Can not be reasoned or explained away - Appears silly to the sufferer, but - Can not be voluntarily controlled, and - leads to avoidance of what is feared.
"I Am Fearless!" NLP and Hypnosis Audio CDs Agoraphobia & Phobia Hypnosis CDsThe truth is that no amount of conscious effort or willpower can eliminate a phobia or actual panic attack, because the root of the problem is at the unconscious level of mind.