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t is estimated that at least one quarter or more of the population suffers from anxiety or some anxiety-related disorder at any given time. Anxiety is the leading instigator for why people are worrying themselves literally sick. Unfortunately, we live in a quick fix society where drugs are handed out like candy! Instead of worrying ourselves to disease, we place chemicals in our bodies (biological treatment) to deal with a psychological cause.

This can be a huge root in alcohol and drug addiction. Many drink and abuse drugs, especially prescription drugs, simply to cope with normal everyday living. Their underlying issues like fear and anxiety become so overwhelming; they need mind-numbing toxins to live a manageable life.

It’s simply mind over matter—in this case we’re allowing the mind to manifest a mental and physiological illness that does not have to exist!

One of the greatest by-products of anxiety is phobias. Today, more people suffer from or possess specific phobias which in some cases rule their lives. Interestingly, when you ask most people why they possess a “specific” phobia, they can’t tell you why or where it came from! Where do phobias come from and why do they exist? For that matter, what is a phobia?

What is a phobia?

A phobia is an irrational fear to a specific object/thing, situation or experience. The most common ones are fears of: heights, water, enclosed places/spaces, public speaking, people/public places, spiders, snakes, flying (planes) and blood. Anything or any situation could potentially lead to a phobia, but it depends on the individual, their interpretation of the event, and of course the situation in general.

What causes a phobia?

A phobia is caused by an event or situation which is perceived to be negative. The event or object/thing within the event was understood as being threatening, or causing a degree of psychological or physical discomfort.

Interestingly, phobias can also be generated “by proxy”- not needing to experience the event first hand. As a matter of fact, they may never come in contact with the specific precipitator causing their phobia. They may develop their phobia by seeing it on television, reading about it in the media, or they are forewarned by a role model usually a parent or older sibling. Interestingly, if you were to ask the role models if they ever had an encounter with what they are most afraid of, they will tell you “no”! They’ve learned by proxy as well.

What can phobias do to a person?

For many, the specific phobias they possess allow them to lead normal lives. What they fear most doesn’t interfere with everyday activities in work, school or home life. People who are afraid of spiders, snakes or flying are less likely to come in contact with those situations since they know how to avoid them.

Conversely, many individuals possess livelihoods and careers which lead them to come in contact with people every day. When these individuals develop public speaking phobias, or agoraphobia (fear of public places), then it can debilitate their lives immensely. Furthermore, the anticipation of the event or the event itself produces overwhelming anxiety. This anxiety creates and fuels the phobia into its own entity-an illness. This eventual illness can become so overwhelming that individuals have to avoid situations which greatly affect their livelihoods and can eventually cost them their jobs and health!

Many people deal with their phobias through self-medication-drugs, alcohol or some other vice. Have you ever heard of the expression “courage in a bottle”? This inference has been made to alcohol and how some individuals need drink to alleviate the symptoms of fear. In essence, alcohol gives them a false sense of courage. Drugs, both over the counter and prescribed anti-depressants/mood stabilizers cloud the perceptions of fear and anxiety by pushing those thoughts in the background. However the repression of such emotions often manifest in harmful physical ways.

For some, the anxiety generated by their phobias leads to excessive smoking, coffee consumption, eating addictions, and sexual promiscuity. If one is not mindful, a fear can create phobias, addiction and illness.

What can be done?

The best treatment approaches for phobias and the anxiety which causes them are:

1.    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A style of therapy that focus on dysfunctional emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through goal oriented, systematic processes.

2.    Relaxation Techniques: Progressive muscle relaxation, hypnotherapy, and meditation are great methods to achieve a relaxed state of mind. In this process, fears and anxieties are quelled allowing the exploration of underlying issues.

Seeking out a qualified professional can help alleviate both the stress and anxiety one is causing them self and help them to lead normal, healthy lives. Best of all, it helps stop and/or prevent substance use/abuse.

Common Phobias

•    Acrophobia – the fear of heights
•    Agoraphobia – the fear of open spaces, can be fear of new unfamiliar territories
•    Mysophobia aka Germophobia – the fear of germs, related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD
•    Claustrophobia – the fear of enclosed spaces and being trapped