HS4241 DU3
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HS4241
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Medicine
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Jan 9, 2024
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Fear is a fundamental human emotion that helps us react to potential threats or dangerous
situations. Yet, for some individuals, fear can manifest in a more intense and debilitating form
known as phobia. It is essential to acknowledge that phobias go beyond the common fears we
experience daily.
According to Pridmore (2021) and Frey & Alic (2020), phobias are intense, irrational fears or
aversions toward specific objects or situations and can significantly impair one's daily
functioning due to their irrational nature, whereas typical fears relate more to an appropriate
emotional response to real or perceived threats. Additionally, Barlow & Ellard (2019) emphasize
that the primary difference between a common fear and a phobia lies in the severity and
persistence of the fear response. They noted that although many people may experience fears
related to certain triggers (e.g., fear of flying or heights), these concerns rarely interfere with
their daily functioning. In contrast, someone suffering from phobias would go to great lengths to
avoid the specific feared situation, even if their avoidance causes additional distress or limits
their overall quality of life. Moreover, Frey & Alic (2020) further underscore that the
development of phobias is often rooted in a combination of genetic factors and past experiences.
This lends them a unique intensity that differentiates them from more standard fears.
"Normal" fear is a natural response to threatening situations, while phobias are characterized by
excessive or illogical fear reactions to specific stimuli (Pridmore, 2021; Barlow & Ellard, 2019;
Frey & Alic, 2020). Furthermore, examples of a "normal" fear response, given the potential
safety risks, would include a fear of heights when atop a large building or feeling nervous while
walking in a dark alley at night. In contrast, an extreme fear of harmless spiders such
as
Pholcidae
(daddy long leg) might constitute a phobia, as the reaction is disproportionate to the
actual threat posed (Barlow & Ellard, 2019). To highlight this point, consider someone with an
exaggerated fear of dogs leading them to avoid any possible interaction with dogs, including
going to parks or family/friend's homes, whereas a person with a normal fear might still
approach dogs cautiously within those spaces.
In conclusion, phobias represent a debilitating form of fear that is markedly more intense and
persistent than the common fears experienced in everyday life. The primary distinction between
these two forms of fear lies in the severity and irrationality of the phobic response, with phobias
causing significant disruption to an individual's daily functioning. With an interplay of genetic
factors and past experiences laying the foundation for the development of phobias, it becomes
crucial to recognize their unique nature compared to rational, manageable common fears. The
exploration of various treatment options offers hope for reducing the impact of phobias on those
affected, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing this challenging mental
health issue.
References
Barton, S., Karner, C., Salih, F., Baldwin, D. S., & Edwards, S. J. (2014, August). Appendix 1,
Diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders set out in DSM-IV and ICD-10 classification
systems.
In Clinical effectiveness of interventions for treatment-resistant anxiety in older
people: a systematic review
. Health Technology Assessment, 18 (50), p
43.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK262338/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK262338.pdf
Frey, R. J., & Alic, M. (2020). Anxiety Disorders. In J. L. Longe (Ed.),
The Gale Encyclopedia
of Medicine
(6th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 466-471).
Gale.
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX7986600169/GVRL?
u=lirn17237&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=bb6d4a5b
Pridmore, S. (2021, August). Chapter 19: Fear and Anxiety. In Download of Psychiatry.
University of Tasmania. Download
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