Living with a Phobia“Afraid to leave my safe zone which would be my room, my house. And kind of feel helpless if, youknow, if I'm taking the bus.”“Elevators were a huge thing for me. I couldn’t take the elevators because I was claustrophobic.”“It’s mostly the idea of pain or someone else being in pain for whatever reason, is kind of unbearableto think about.”Three people. Three very different fears. One thing in common: They all suffer from phobias, a type ofanxiety disorder marked by an intense, persistent fear of a specific object or situation that poses very littleactual danger.“We can probably all think of things that we're afraid of, you know, most in this room would probablysay ‘I'm afraid of spiders or snakes or, you know, big thunderstorms’ or something like that. Forsomebody who has a genuine phobia they're often not living their lives how they want to out of fear.You know, feeling desperately like ‘I have to avoid going places, being around people or doing thingsthat make me so intensely afraid.’”There are many types of phobias. An intense fear of flying or of heights. Fear of a specific animal or insect,such as spiders, is also common. Needles and blood can trigger anxiety in some people. People with aphobia know their fear doesn’t make sense, but they can’t control it. Molly Hass says the mere thought ofseeing someone in pain makes her physically ill.“It kind of starts with I just feel very warm at first but then it starts to be where I see spots and I can'tsee anymore, and my ears ring and I can't hear. And I'm standing up, then I fall down.”Fear of closed spaces, like elevators, is another type of phobia. Annie Olivares knew she needed help as ateenager when the idea of moving into a college dormitory tower made her panic.“So, I did therapy until the end of senior year so when I got to the dorm, I could use the elevator.”José Carmona suffers from agoraphobia, an extreme fear of open or crowded spaces, using publictransportation, standing in lines, being in a place where escape seems difficult.“When I try to leave my house, sometimes it's hard. Not just to leave the house but to get out of bed.”“So, something I do like to keep is a stress ball because it lets me focus on this more than anything.And sometimes I use it when I drive because it calms me down.”Anxiety. Panic. Avoidance. All common signs of phobia, but there can be physical symptoms, too. Thesemight include: dizziness, trembling, your heart racing, difficulty breathing, sweatingeven feeling sick to your stomach.“Feels like it's spinning, like the inside of my head is spinning. It's like a weird feeling. It's not like theroom is spinning. It’s like I’m spinning. I have nausea. And sometimes there will be times where I havelike muscle spasms in my legs where I can't even control my legs. So, I need help walking.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54621A EN LivingWithAPhobia.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Living with a PhobiaNot all phobias require treatment. Sometimes just avoiding whatever makes you afraid can work. But if aphobia seriously disrupts your life, it’s time to seek help. In most cases, exposure therapy is used to treatphobias. In this type of therapy, a person is exposed to what is causing their fear in a safe, controlled setting.“Gradually helping the individual to confront those scenarios with the aim of accomplishing two thingssimultaneously: one, gradual reductions in that person's fear, you know in confrontation with thescenario. And two, learning that what the individual usually anticipates will go wrong if they encounterthe phobic situation is not in fact what happens.”Medication to help with anxiety or depression is sometimes prescribed for people with phobias, too.“The big thing that a lot of people don't realize is that medication helps you like 50 percent of it. Theother 50 percent is yourself and that's what you really have to work on.”José has found support in a social club for people with mental illness. He also keeps his bag of stressrelievers at his side wherever he goes.“Even if it doesn't go away, If I can control it, I'm fine and I can live my life. And I’m living my life rightnow. I’m able to cope with it in different ways.”Phobias can be managed, and, in some cases cured. If you experience intense fear of a situation, location, orobject and it’s interfering with your life, talk to a mental health professional.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54621A EN LivingWithAPhobia.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
