Learn about the causes of Phobias & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Phobias within New Zealand.
Phobias are constant and intense fears of people, objects, events or situations that are irrational to the majority of people. Phobias can affect a person's ability to function normally in their day-to-day life. Someone with a phobia will avoid the cause of their anxiety or fear and even the thought of it can cause them to be anxious or panic.
Causes Of Phobias
There are two different types of phobias - simple phobias (sometimes
called specific phobias) and complex phobias. Simple phobias are
associated to situations, objects or activities. Common simple phobias
include flying, going to the dentist, spiders and heights. Complex
phobias involve a number of anxieties typically associated to social
situations (known as social phobias).
The causes of simple
phobias are not always clear but they are usually linked to a traumatic
experience typically during childhood or adolescence. Certain fears can
be present in families and are passed on due to the child learning the
fear from a family member. Complex phobias such as agoraphobia (fear of
being trapped) and social phobias can begin from an intense experience
in a social situation or a confidence issue as a child.
Social
phobias in adults are linked to a fear of criticism or low self-esteem
and are often linked to other problems such as anxiety disorder,
depression or substance abuse.
The common symptom for simple and complex phobias is avoidance. People
with a phobia will use avoidance tactics to ensure they are not placed
in a situation that will cause them anxiety. This avoidance can impact
on daily life and limit activity leading to further mental problems
such as depression.
The physical symptoms of someone with a
phobia come from panic about the thought of the phobia or actually
coming into contact with it. Common panic symptoms include shaking,
sweating, dry mouth, increased heart rate, confusion, breathing
difficulty, nausea and dizziness. Symptoms of a complex phobia can be a
fear of losing control, fainting or dying. Persistent panic from a
phobia can lead to panic attacks and in turn can lead to panic
disorder.
People with a phobia are usually aware of their condition and the
majority of those with a simple phobia find ways to cope with it.
However, even simple phobias should be diagnosed by a GP. Complex
phobias require proper diagnosis from a GP who can make a referral to a
mental health professional if necessary.
When diagnosing a
social phobia, a GP will look for a number of present factors including
avoidance of situations, anxiety as a result of the situation and
symptoms that are not a result of obsession or delusion.