Fears and phobias

[Spidy]

A phobia is an irrational fear says Professor Gavin Andrews, director of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, based at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

In other words, your fear reaction – the 'fight or flight' response – is quite out of keeping with the actual danger. That's mostly because of what you think about the situation, rather than the situation itself.

The 'fight or flight' response is the changes in your body that you need if you have to run away from a dangerous situation. These changes can create symptoms of anxiety, apprehension, breathlessness, cold sweats, trembling, dilated pupils, nausea or shaking.

The most common type is a fear of small animals such as spiders and snakes. Much less common – but far more debilitating – are social phobias and agoraphobia.


thanks,
spidy.

[matewzin]

Phobias are intense and irrational fears that create strong fear and panic in a person. They interfere with a person's ability to socialize, work and in severe cases, live normally. Traditional methods of dealing with phobias include the use of medications to block feelings of anxiety and panic, and cognitive-behavioural therapy which helps people to retrain their thoughts and responses.
http://www.myanxietyattacks.com/anxiety-disorders/panic-disorder/