Phobias
Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash
Phobias
Many people have phobias. Think about when it comes time to visit the dentist or to get your annual flu shot. How do you react when you see a big spider or a snake? Do these cause you anxiety? When the anxiety is out of proportion with the actual danger, you may be diagnosed with a phobia.
A specific phobia is characterized by a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation such as flying, heights, animals, receiving and injection or seeing blood to name a few. The phobic object or situation almost always provoked immediate fear or anxiety and is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety. The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed and is persistent, often lasting 6 months or more. The fear, anxiety or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder.
Specific phobias identified in the DSM-5 are:
Animal - spiders, insects, dogs, etc.
Natural Environment - heights, storms, water, etc.
Blood-injection-injury - needles, invasive medical procedures, injury, etc.
Situational - airplanes, elevators, enclosed spaces, etc.
Other - situations that may lead to choking or vomiting, etc.