Phobias – are not Treated by Drugs and Alcohol

A phobia is a fear. Social phobia is a strong fear of being judged by others or being embarrassed. This fear can be so strong that it gets in the way of going to work or school or doing other everyday things.

Everyone has felt anxious or afraid at one time or another. For example, meeting new people or talking in front of others can make anyone nervous. But people with social phobia worry about these and other things for weeks before they happen.

People with social phobia are afraid of doing even simple things in front of other people. For example, they might be afraid to use a coupon at the grocery store, or they might be afraid to eat in front of other people. Most people who have social phobia know that they shouldn’t be as afraid as they are, but they can’t control their fear. Sometimes, they end up staying away from places or events where they think they might have to do something that will embarrass them. For some people, social phobia is a problem only in certain situations, while others have symptoms in almost any social situation.

What causes this

Kids, teens, and adults can all have social phobia. Most of the time, it starts when a person is young. Like other anxiety-based problems, social phobia most likely develops because of a combination of four factors:

(1) Social phobia could be partly due to the genes. Some people are born a bit shy and tend to be sensitive in new situations. Most people who develop social phobia have always had a shy personality

(2) Behaviors learned from role models (especially parents). A person’s naturally shy nature can be increased by what is learned from the people around them. If parents react by overprotecting a child who is shy, the child won’t have a chance to get used to new situations. Over time, shyness can build into social phobia.

(3) Life events and experiences. If people born with a cautious nature have stressful experiences, it can make them even more scared and shy. Feeing pushed to interact in ways they don’t feel ready for, can make it more likely for a  fearful person to develop social anxiety.

(4) People who constantly receive criticism, may start to expect disapproval. Being teased will also make  people who are already shy retreat into a corner. They’ll be scared of making a mistake or disappointing someone.

Who has phobias?

You might be surprised that bout 5 out of 100 people in the United States have one or more phobias. Women are slightly more likely to have phobias than men.

Psychology.about List of Common Phobias

1. Arachnophobia:

The fear of spiders. This phobia tends to affect women more than men.

2. Ophidiophobia:

The fear of snakes. Often attributed to evolutionary causes, personal experiences, or cultural influences.

3. Acrophobia:

The fear of heights. This fear can lead to anxiety attacks and avoidance of high places.

4. Agoraphobia:

The fear of situations in which escape is difficult.This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. People will begin avoiding these trigger events, sometimes to the point that they cease leaving their home. Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

5. Cynophobia:

The fear of dogs. This phobia is often associated with specific personal experiences, such as being bitten by a dog during childhood.

6. Astraphobia:

The fear of thunder and lightening.

7. Trypanophobia:

The fear of injections. Like many phobias, this fear often goes untreated because people avoid the triggering object and situation.

8. Social Phobias:

The fear of social situations.
In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

9. Pteromerhanophobia:

The fear of flying. Often treated using exposure therapy, in which the client is gradually and progressively introduced to flying.

10. Mysophobia:

The fear of germs or dirt.
May be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Treatment

Social phobia is generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. Family and friends are especially important for people who are dealing with social phobia. The right support from a few key people can help those with social phobia gather the courage to go outside their comfort zone and try something new.

Dealing with social phobia takes time and commitment.