Fear, as a reaction to certain events, is necessary to prevent or avoid dangerous situations. However, not all fears are logical and useful. Irrational fears — phobias — can significantly impair quality of life.
Why do persons have phobias and how to deal with them, we will tell in this article. And & nbsp; at the same time, we will give a list of the strangest phobias that are recognized as real.
- The Roots of Fear: Where Human Phobias Come From
- Phobias in humans: 10 strangest fears you didn't know about
- Phobias in a person: is it necessary with to fight them
Roots of fear: where do human phobias come from
Obsessive, irrational fear can arise at any age, but most often the roots of phobias grow from childhood. For example, falling from a height or being in a cramped space, the child is likely to cry and forget. And many years later, as an adult, he will wonder why it is so scary to look out the window on the 9th floor or reluctance to enter the elevator. Such phobias are the most common, they are easily diagnosed and treated.
Also, phobias in a person can occur as a result of external factors. Any negative experience can turn into a phobia if you dwell on it. Curiously, in this case, something that has nothing to do with the experienced event can become a source of fear. For example, something terrible happened in the room. Witnessing this, a person may become afraid of flowers, because the room had wallpaper with a floral print.
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Another reason that indirectly affects the occurrence of phobias is the lack of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It acts as a neurotransmitter that inhibits the nervous system (calms, reduces sensitivity). With its lack, a person constantly feels mild anxiety, which can develop into a phobia if the subconscious mind associates it with any situation. You can check the level of GABA by taking a blood test for amino acids.
Phobias in humans: 10 strangest fears you didn't know about
Many phobias are familiar and habitual, but there are some that surprise even psychiatrists. One can only guess what could cause such strange obsessive states to appear in people. We offer you to get acquainted with far from complete list of amazing phobias in a person:
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U-phobia (fear of the letter U). As one of patients described this fear: I imagine falling from the top to bottom and I just can can get out . As if the letter had swallowed me.
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Xylinalinophobia (fear of cotton wool). British singer Cheryl Cole suffers from this phobia, she never uses cotton wool, she even removes nail polish with using a tissue disc.
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Goniphobia (fear of knees arching backwards).People with this phobia are constantly afraid that in one moment their knees will bend backwards, so they avoid sudden leg movements.
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Microphobia (fear of shrinking, becoming microscopic). Such people are afraid of becoming small as a result of some action (conspiracy, witchcraft, etc.).
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Phronemophobia (fear of thinking). It can manifest itself as fear of a certain thought, or fear of thinking in general (in this case, patients suffer from the inability not to think and the horror caused by this condition).
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Incontinephobia (fear of pissing). Even people who do not suffer from diseases of the genitourinary system may experience such fear. They are afraid to stay in a place where there are no toilets and plan their day so that the toilet is always nearby.
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Vestiphobia (fear of dressing). Yes, there are people for whom even to put on underwear — torture. They mostly wear loose, single-layer clothing and take every opportunity to undress.
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Eupophobia (fear of hearing good news). Most likely, this fear is connected with the belief that the good will always be bad. But in in any case, you won not envy those suffering from this phobia.
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Optophobia (fear of opening one's eyes). On the one hand, this phobia has a rational grain, it's scary to open your eyes and see something terrible in front of your face. But those suffering from this phobia are afraid to wake up, do not close their eyes when they wash their hair or dive. This, of course, greatly reduces the quality of life.
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Penteraphobia (fear of mother-in-law). Does such a phobia really exist or is it male psychiatrists who joked — unknown. But the fact remains: the phobia is recognized, you can now use it to justify your unwillingness to go to mother-in-law.
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The first phobia guide was published in 1940 . The 19th edition of this handbook has been released today. Some phobias are added, for example, the fear of computers (cyberphobia), some disappear, for example, the fear of preaching (homilophobia). According to psychiatrists, any existing phenomenon or object can cause horror in someone. And means 19th ed handbookfar from the latest.
Phobias in a person: is need to fight them
Few people will be delighted with a spider that has fallen on hand, many are uncomfortable in cramped spaces (or in open fields), and and lovers to walk over the abyss also have to search. In this form, a person's phobias do not significantly affect his life and are a "remembrance" about those ancient times when such fears were justified.
However, some phobias can become a serious problem. A successful businessman who is afraid of flying on an airplane, or a student who dreams of becoming a doctor, but faints from the sight of blood, will confirm this. Examples when phobias only interfere — weight. In and them, of course, must be fought. But the trouble is that phobias are irrational and it is very difficult to deal with them on your own. The help of specialists is needed. At present, the following methods have proved their effectiveness:
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hypnotherapy;
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use of antidepressants;
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"rapprochement" or systematic desensitization;
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implosive therapy (immersion in memories);
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the "thought-stopping" method.
Read also: Top 5 Mysterious &Nbsp;Rare Diseases That Science Cannot Explain
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