Friday, August 21, 2020

Common Myths and Facts About Phobias

Common Myths and Facts About Phobias Phobias Print Misconceptions and Facts About Phobias By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 29, 2019 Jupiterimages / Getty Images More in Phobias Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Common myths about phobias develop because whenever seemingly rational people develop entirely irrational habits, someone may question their sanity. At the opposite extreme, friends and loved ones may downplay and brush off your diagnosable psychological disorder as simply nerves. Heres the information you need to separate fact from fiction. The Truth About Common Misconceptions About Phobias Lets clear up some of the common misconceptions about phobias. You Are Crazy If You Have a Phobia Crazy is a loaded term sometimes carelessly thrown about by the general public to describe people who have a wide variety of mental health challenges. The word conjures up images of long-term, incurable psychological disorders  as well as insane asylums and potentially dangerous behavior. Actually, all types of phobias are highly treatable with the guidance of a clinician and there are a variety of successful approaches, such as cognitive behavior therapy techniques. Treatment of specific phobia can be as short as one to three sessions. Phobias Are Just Overrated Fears How often are people with phobias told to simply deal with it or get over it? Those who never suffered from a phobia may find it difficult to comprehend the depths of terror that a phobia can cause. The difference between a fear and a phobia is the latter is life-limiting and affects your:    Personal relationships    Ability to perform your job or go to school    Ability to do essential daily tasks, including taking a shower or going to the grocery store Simply confronting an ordinary fear may be helpful, but confronting a phobia successfully usually requires the help of a mental health professional. Phobias Are Deeply Rooted Personality Traits Those who believe this myth erroneously think you cant overcome phobias and Thats just the way she is, may be a common reaction to your fear from friends and family. Although some phobias are more difficult to treat than others, there is little evidence to support this personality traits theory. The success rate of both short- and long-term phobia treatment is very high. Phobias Are Genetic There may be some truth to this long-standing myth, although research is far from conclusive. According to researchers Villafuerte and Burmeister in their presentation named Untangling Genetic Networks of Panic, Phobia, Fear, and Anxiety, first-degree relatives of those with phobias are more likely to develop a phobia. This was especially true in twins. Children Automatically Develop Parental Phobias Although there is some evidence children are more likely to develop phobias if their parents have them, having one or both parents diagnosed with a phobia is just one of many risk factors. You can also develop a phobia from watching a stranger have a bad experience, such as falling down a flight of stairs, or from seeing something unfortunate happen to someone in a movie. As some believe both nature and nurture play a role in phobia development, it is not surprising that much depends on other adults influence in the childs life, the childs individual personality and how parents present their phobia in the home. Myths about phobias and other mental health disorders are rampant, and information gathered from family or friends may be inaccurate. If you have a fear affecting your life, consider seeking professional guidance. With proper treatment, you can successfully overcome most phobias.

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