Phobias

Phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation that persist although the person may recognize it as unreasonable. It is associated with panic level anxiety if the object, situation, or activity cannot be avoided. The word of phobia is used as a combining form in many term expressing the object that inspires the fears.

Types of Phobias:

1. Acrophobia : fear of heights
2. Agoraphobia : Fear of open spaces
3. Astraphobia : Fear of electrical storms
4. Claustrophobia : Fear of closed spaces
5. Hematophobia : Fear of blood
6. Hydrophobia : Fear of water
7. Monophobia : Fear of being alone
8. Mysophobia : Fear of dirt or germs
9. Nyctophobia : Fear of darkness
10. Pyrophobia : Fear of fire
11. Social Phobia : fear of situation in which one might be embarrassed or criticized
12. Xenophobia : Fear of strangers
13. Zoophobia : Fear of animals.

How to care patient with phobias:

• Identify the basic of the anxiety
• Stay with the patient when the anxiety is high
• Encourage patient to verbalize feeling
• Desensitization : gradually introducing the patient to the feared object or situation in small doses
• Using relaxation techniques such as breathing, muscle relaxation, exercises, and visualization or pleasant situation.
• Try not to force the client to have contact with the phobic object or situation.