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Types of Phobia: Causes and Symptoms Suffered by the Person

Hello FlokqDecember 15, 2020

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Those with phobias will go to great lengths to avoid the situation or object, to a degree greater than the actual danger posed. If the object or situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant distress and much more.

Phobias can be said to hamper the lives of those who have them. For some people, the fear of a person with a phobia is difficult to understand. That is why people with phobias are often ridiculed by other people.

To help you so that you don’t get confused when someone experiences excessive fear of something suddenly, here is the list of phobia that exists.

Most Common Types of Phobia

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 (DSM-5), the American Psychiatric Association outlines some of the most common types of phobia, including:

1. Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of places or situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape. These places or situations can include open spaces, public transit, shopping centers, or simply being outside their home. Being in these situations may result in a panic attack.

This phobia symptom occurs nearly every time the situation is encountered and lasts for more than six months. Those affected will go to great lengths to avoid these situations. In severe cases, people may become completely unable to leave their homes.

2. Social Phobia

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or social phobia is a fear or anxiety of social situations, causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some aspects of daily life. These fears can be triggered by perceived or actual scrutiny from others. Individuals with social anxiety disorder fear negative evaluation from other people.

Physical symptoms of this phobia often include excessive blushing, excessive sweating, trembling, palpitations, and nausea. Stammering may be present, along with rapid speech. Panic attacks or even passed out can also occur under intense fear and discomfort.

3. Specific Phobia

Specific phobias are a broad category of unique phobias related to specific objects and situations. According to the DSM, specific phobias typically fall within five general categories:

• fears related to animals (spiders, dogs, insects, etc.)
• fears related to the natural environment (heights, thunder, darkness, etc.)
• fears related to blood, injury, or medical issues (injections, broken bones, falls, etc.)
• fears related to specific situations (flying, riding an elevator, driving, etc.)
• other (choking, loud noises, drowning, etc.)

A person who encounters that of which they are phobic will often show signs of fear or express discomfort.  In some severe cases, it can result in a panic attack or even passed out. The fear or anxiety associated with specific phobia can manifest in physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, muscle tension, or sweating.

Also read: Online Psychologist and Therapy in Indonesia

100 Types of Phobia that Exist

Learning about a phobia is a complex process. Most people don’t seek treatment for this condition, so most cases go unnoticed. Phobias come in all shapes and sizes. Because there is an infinite number of objects and situations, the list of specific phobias is quite long. Phobias also vary based on experience, culture, gender, age, and many other factors.

Therefore, there are still many phobias of people whose types and names are unknown. Here are 100 types of phobia that are most likely to be encountered on a daily basis.

Also read: 5 Best Mental Therapists and Counseling in Jakarta

That is all! That was the list of the most common types of phobia that most people have. After you know what can be a phobia, as well as the symptoms that might occur, now you are no longer wondering about phobias, right?

By the way, is the fear of something that you experience on the list of the most common phobias? If it is, feel free to comment down below, Flokqers!