Phobias

What is a Phobia

An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

What is a fear?

An unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.

What is your phobia

I have a phobia of when trees and scratching on the window because I always think it is someone or something is tapping or scratching on the window.

Acrophobia – Fear of Heights

Acrophobia, or fear of heights, is a very common phobia. Depending on the severity of the phobia, acrophobes may fear everything from being on the upper floors of a tall building to climbing a ladder. Being at heights will cause sufferers to experience classic anxiety symptoms such as heart palpitations, shaking, and sweating. Acrophobics may also experience feelings of vertigo (although vertigo is a separate medical problem) or lose trust in their own sense of balance. Descending as quickly as possible is usually crucial to overcoming these feelings of anxiety. However, sufferers may feel frozen, or too frightened to move quickly from the situation that is causing them distress.

Arachnophobia – Fear of Spiders

Arachnophobia is more common in women, but it does affect men in large numbers as well. Psychologists have speculated that a phobia of spiders arises from an evolutionary instinct – most spiders are venomous, although very few are dangerous to humans. Others speculate that arachnophobia comes more from common cultural misconceptions about spiders than from any real threat.

Arachnophobes may be unable to deal with spiders that appear in their home, and may even resort to leaving the house if no one is available to assist them. They may also avoid outdoor activities such as camping that put them at greater risk of coming into contact with spiders.

Ophidiophobia – Fear of Snakes

Speculations about the causes of ophidiophobia generally run along the same lines as the possible origins of arachnophobia. Ophidiophobes are likely to avoid the same kinds of outdoor pursuits as arachnophobes, but, fortunately for them, snakes are much less likely than spiders to visit a home uninvited.