Phobias The word "phobia" is a term that refers to a group of symptoms brought on by feared objects or situations. People can develop phobic reactions to animals, social situations and activities. Phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders, which affect people of all ages, at all income levels and in all geographic locations, according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), between 5.1 and 12.5 percent of Americans suffer form Phobias. Broken down by age and gender, the NIMH study found phobias were the most common psychiatric illness among women in all age groups and the second most common illness among men older than 25. Symptoms A phobic disorder can be so mild that it hardly affects a person's life. The feared object or situation may enter the person's life so rarely that the phobia doesn't interfere with the ability to work, socialize and go about a daily routine. But other phobic disorders may focus on something as common as running water and may thus prevent showering, bathing or brushing one's teeth. Or they may arise whenever the person ventures from home, preventing work, social life or grocery shopping. A phobia that interferes with daily living can create extreme disability and should be treated. * A phobia is defined by the psychological and irrational panic, dread, horror, or terror when he is in a situation that is harmless. The person recognizes that the fear goes beyond normal boundaries and the actual threat of danger. * The phobic reaction is automatic, uncontrollable and pervasive, practically taking over the person's thoughts in a barrage of imaginary threats and dangers. * The person suffers from all the physical reactions associated with extreme fear: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling and overwhelming desire to flee the situation, * The person flees the feared object or situation and goes of his way to avoid it. When avoidance causes distress or interferes with the ability to work, socialize and care for day to day needs, he should seek an evaluation. Categories of Phobias Phobic disorders are divided into categories that closely define the cause of the reaction and avoidance. Phobias may develop as a result of panic attacks that seem to appear out of nowhere. Panic attacks may push some people into fearing and avoiding the situation or object associated with such an attack. However, other phobia patients never experience a panic attack, even when they are confronted with the object or situation they fear. ------------------ These files may be accessed through the web at http://firstaid.ie.eu.org/ I would like to thank the IEASR for allowing me to convert their pages over to the Pilot. Gordon Thomas #admin@dogpatch.org (Remove the # character in order to e-mail.) http://www.dogpatch.org ------------------ DISCLAIMER: Information in these files is presented in order to impart general information relating to first aid of various injuries and conditions. Such information is not complete and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation or visit with your physician or other health care provider, or as a substiture for actual training in first aid and/or CPR. While all reasonable care has been taken in compiling this information, Mary Jo Sminkey and Irish Emergency Ambulance Services Resource (IEASR) make no warranty as to the information's completeness, reliability or accuracy. Access to and use of the information contained herein is entirely at the risk of the user, Mary Jo Sminkey and IEASR shall not be liable, directly or indirectly to the user or any third party for any damage resulting from the use of the information contained or implied in the Pilot First Aid files.