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There
is No Explanation for the Fear
No one knows for sure how phobias develop. In many cases, though, a person
can readily identify an event or trauma, such as being chased
by a dog, that triggered the phobia. What puzzles experts ís
why some people who experience such an event develop a phobia
& others do not. Many psychologists believe the cause lies
ín a combination of genetic predisposition mixed with
environmental & social causes.
Phobic disorders are classified as part of the group of
anxiety disorders, which includes panic disorder,
post-traumatic stress disorder & obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Several drugs regulated by the Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) are now being used to treat phobias &
other anxiety disorders
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Repeated
Experience
Many people with PTSD repeatedly
re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback
episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts,
especially when they are exposed to events or objects
reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can
also trigger symptoms. People with it also experience
emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety,
and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of
intense guilt are also common. Most people with it try
to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. It is
diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.
Physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal
distress, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain,
or discomfort in other parts of the body are common in
people with it. Often, doctors treat these symptoms
without being aware that they stem from an anxiety
disorder.
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