There are hundreds and hundreds of phobias. Google “phobia” and you will see a list of every imaginable phobia from A to Z. You will probably find one or two that may fit you nicely. Dare you look?!

What is the definition of a phobia? An accurate description is presented on the AAMFT website. “Phobias are constant excessive fears of an object or situation that interfere with one life and/or cause personal distress.”

Phobias are among the most common types of psychiatric disorders with 11 percent of the population subject to a phobia at some point in their lives. There are effective treatments for phobias that are successful in up to 90 percent of cases.

Phobias are all about fear. According to one source the ten most common phobias are:

1. Agoraphobia: open spaces, leaving a safe place, crowded public places.

2. Claustrophobia: confined places

3. Acrophobia: heights

4. Mysophobia: being contaminated with dirt or germs

5. Xenophobia: strangers or foreigners

6. Necrophobia: death or dead things

7. Brontophobia: thunder and lightening

8. Carcinophobia: cancer

9. Aviophobia: flying

10. Arachnophobia: spiders

Did you find yourself identifying with any of these? Probably so. Most people admit that they are afraid of certain things or situations. A phobia is when 1) the fear is excessive or unreasonable. 2) you almost always have an anxiety reaction when you encounter the feared object or situation. 3) the feared object or situation is either avoided or endured with extreme distress. 4) the avoidance, anxious apprehension, or distress in the presence of the feared object or situation disrupts one or more aspects of your normal routine.

The key here is the extent that it interferes with your life and how extreme is your distress. That makes the diagnosis somewhat subjective because only you can answer the degree of fear and anxiety that you have relative to the particular phobia. To get some objectivity to this anxiety concern you may want to consult with a professional conversant with the recognition and treatment of phobias.

How do you develop a phobia? Most psychologists believe that a combination of factors explain phobias. Some of these might include a vulnerable genetic brain wiring, traumatic experiences with feared objects or situations, observations of others reacting fearfully to certain objects or situations, and learning certain information about the danger of certain objects and situations. Given these experiences phobic individuals will develop problematic ideas about the feared object or situation such as the danger it poses, the frequency with which it will be encountered, and the ability to cope with it.

Phobias can cause significant problems in close relationships because phobic persons make fear reducing choices, which limit their activities and, thus, the participation with others. Significant others may become impatient with the phobic person’s reluctances, rituals, and resistances.

Treatment methods are available to treat phobias. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the best. Flooding and Desensitization also are treatments used by various mental health professionals.  Medication is generally limited here except to reduce some of the anxiety provoked by the phobic object or situation.

If you or a significant person in your life has a phobia-like condition, seek assistance.  In most cases the phobia can be cured or reduced to a much more manageable existence.

Dr. Stathas can be reached at (706) 473-1780. E-mail: Stathas@plantation

cable.net.