A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.
Most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:
- Fears of the natural environment
- Fears related to animals
- Fear related to medical treatments or issues
- Fears related to specific situations
Phobia of the Day: Ablutophobia is the overwhelming fear of bathing, cleaning, or washing.
Fear of bathing is mostly caused by negative experiences, you had some traumatic experience that involved bathing or washing. The symptoms of ablutophobia are the same as with most specific phobias. Symptoms may occur when faced with bathing or washing. They may also happen when just thinking about it. Symptoms include
- Intense fear or anxiety that increases the closer you get to the situation
- panic attacks
- knowing that your fear is irrational but unable to stop it
- avoidance of bathing or washing to avoid the fear and anxiety
- the fear of interfering with your daily life
- sweating
- rapid heartbeat
- difficulty breathing
- in children, clinging, crying, or tantrums
SELF-CARE TIPS FOR PHOBIAS THAT BRING ON ANXIETY
- Talk to someone you trust.
- Learn to manage panic and anxiety.
- Look into joining a support group.
- Use self-help resources.
- Take a course for your specific phobia.
RECENT PHOBIA WORD POSTS:
Chloephobia
Globophobia
Chrometophobia
Anemophobia
Amaxophobia
Zuigerphobia
Do you have a phobia you suffer from that you’d like to share?
If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 and we’ll publish the ones that we feel are most interesting!
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