Fear of becoming irrational

2001/04/22 Mendiburu, Joana - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza
• Giza zientziak

Phobias are irrational and disproportionate fears. It is the fear that can be had to certain animals, objects, or situations. MA As expert Marks writes in his book Ikarak, phobias and rituals, phobias are absolutely disproportionate to reality and cannot be explained or reasoned. Being stronger than control itself, it is very difficult to cope with and avoid a situation of anguish is the only solution for the person with phobia. After all, it is the fear of being afraid. When it is not possible to avoid it, start looking for a friend or object that protects you.

In today's society, the circumstances and causes that generate phobia and the number of people suffering from it have increased, especially in areas with high population density. According to one study, 77% of the population has phobia. Whatever the distress, the physical symptoms are the same: pulse acceleration, breathing difficulties, sweating, vibrations, desiccation of the mouth and blockage and paralysis in extreme cases. They also have dramatic thoughts, such as the impression of dying and maddening.

Unsustainable Unsustainable

While 77% of the population suffers from some phobia, it is usually not very evident that some situations are not difficult to avoid. For example, if you fly by plane, just travel by car, train or boat. But there are other much more unsustainable and annoying phobias. For example, agoraphobia, phobia to open spaces, can be unsustainable for anyone. And imagine what it can mean to live frightened by the idea of entering a bar or a shop and seeing you in society. The person who lives with this terror, in the long term, is condemned to live without leaving home. In these cases, psychiatrist assistance is greater than in other cases of phobia, and usually psychotherapeutic and antidepressant treatments give good results.

The reverse phobia, based on the fear of closed places, is claustrophobia. This phobia is easier to avoid if the house is not in the Esta11 at least. And it is that the most habitual thing is that the anguish enters in elevators and small rooms. Experts say it can be the result of a bad experience, for example, by being enclosed in the small bathroom room.

New investigations into new research

Most phobias are known and common. For example, traveling by plane, closed places, snakes or spiders can cause distress. Some psychologists who have studied this behavior claim that phobia is not a disease, but an emotional reaction learned. In short, people who feel phobias can feel fear, but not as much as their behavior can make known. These behaviors are learned responses. But why do they behave like this without any measure or control? What kind of neurochemical changes does phobia produce? These have been the questions of those who work on this topic in recent years.

According to the results of some studies, phobia is learned as many other things. Normally, a person who suffers a terror of this type imitates the gestures of another person who surrounds him or has lived a terrible experience.

The plane scares more than one, but to travel it is enough to use another means of transport to avoid the anguish.

According to other experts, phobias have symbolic meanings. For example, the fear of snakes may be due to a repression of sexual impulses. Phobias can also occur in the separation of the couple, especially in children and in people with great dependence.

As the answers to these questions have been clarified, different treatments have been published. According to Boston University researcher David Barlow, "in recent years there have been great advances in the treatment of phobias." Thanks to this work, last year the first drug for social phobias was published.

Another therapy to overcome phobias is behavioral therapy. Through this therapy, the patient learns to change disproportionate behaviors and to forget those habits. People with phobias dare to accept panic, to learn relaxation techniques and, little by little, to put themselves in committed situations.

The most recent treatment, although still in the research phase, is based on virtual reality. The goal, as in horror films, is to be able to control the situation. The patient is represented as a phobic object, but he controls the situation. Includes aircraft, balconies, bridges, elevators, etc.

Phobia remains a field with many shortcomings, but taking into account the advances that have been made, people living with this problem have no reason to be encouraging. However, despite the advances, the disagreement between the researchers involved is evident. Here also for money...

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