Phobia Stress
Lions & tigers & bears, oh my!!
It may be imagined monsters in the closet
or under the bed, scary stories told by an older brother or sister, being
startled by an animal or being frightened by an accident or close call, but
panic and phobias often have their roots in childhood. That is expected and
usually accepted as a normal part of growing up, but what happens when
irrational fears invade the adult life?
The FDA says that 18% of the population suffers from phobias. The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) says that upwards to 21.5% of Americans suffer from this mental ailment. It is the most common psychological problem among women in all age groups, and the second most common problem among men older than 25.
What is a phobia?
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A phobia is an irrational fear, panic, dread or terror that occurs in harmless situations. |
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The individual with this problem realizes that the fear exceeds a normal level of response. |
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There exists such physical symptoms as shortness of breath, a racing heartbeat, uncontrolled trembling and an overwhelming urge to run. |
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The fear response interferes with work, socializing or care of self. |
There are solutions for fears & phobias
There are times when, "just toughing it out" may be the only thing a person can do, but why suffer and struggle when it is not necessary to do so? Phobias place severe restrictions on a person's life. There may be some who use fears as excuses to avoid life, but the vast majority of those who suffer from phobias want to rid themselves of panic and dread.
We want to help you:
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Learn new methods of dealing with expected and unexpected fears |
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Come to realize that past responses do not control the future |
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Gain confidence in your ability to master dread and anxiety even in the middle of a phobic response |
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Live a life with more freedom and greater self-assurance, not restricted by irrational fears |