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Phobias

Phobias. By: Morgan Allen Melanie Emack Jazz Serrano. What are phobias?. pho·bi·a –noun a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. Phobia- Greek word meaning “fear” Medical Definition:

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Phobias

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  1. Phobias By: Morgan Allen Melanie Emack Jazz Serrano

  2. What are phobias? • pho·bi·a–noun a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. • Phobia- Greek word meaning “fear” • Medical Definition: • an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject and having sometimes a logical but usually an illogical or symbolic object, class of objects, or situation

  3. General causesof phobias: • Phobias arise from a combination of external events, such as traumatic events, and internal predispositions, such as genetics • Specific phobias may be traced back to a specific triggering event • Heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry can combine with life-experiences to play a major role in the development in phobias

  4. General symptomsof phobias: • Feelings of unrest • Heart palpitations • Dizzyness • Anxiety • Dread • Panic attacks • Rapid breathing • Shortness of breath • Irregular heartbeat • Sweating • Nausea • Dry mouth • Inability to articulate words/sentences • Shaking • Unable to be rational • Loss of mental stability • Lightheadedness/Faintness

  5. Dendrophobia:Fear of trees • Origin: • Greek worddendro- meaning “tree” and Greek word phobia • Possible CAUSES: • Being in danger of being struck by a falling tree • Weight/density of the tree may impact the degree of fear experienced • Seeing shadows and picturing the tree “grabbing” you • Fear of being trapped within a strangulating environment deep within the trees

  6. Dendrophobia:continued • Treatment: • Panic treatments • Psychotherapy • Alternative treatments such as hypnosis

  7. Coulrophobia:fear of clowns • Causes: • Horror films such as Steven King’s “It,” where clowns are portrayed as murderers • Not knowing who is hidden behind the clown mask/makeup can strike fear in some people • Natural fear: young children fear what they find as unusual • Real Life Killers: John Wayne Cacey; “The Killer Clown” book • Clowns as “Boogeymen” • Southeast Asian museum: Masks entertain during religious ceremonies; mothers use for discipline. “Clowns carry away children who misbehave” • Learned behavior: Aware others are afraid, so should I be afraid? • Social status: Considered “cool” to be afraid of clowns

  8. Stop! Story time with jazz

  9. Coulrophobia:Continued • Treatment: • Gradually increase exposure • Look at pictures of clowns • Watch a performance from far away • Close encounter • Watch the transition from normal appearance to clown • Young children with mild fear can be reassured • Medication (anxiety medication, treatment for the symptoms not the fear itself} • Hypnosis

  10. Eisoptrophobia:fear of mirrors • Origin:Greek terms eis- “into,” optikos- “vision, image” • Causes: • Belief that mirrors connect to the world of supernatural • Superstitious belief that a broken mirror brings 7 years bad luck • Scary stories told to frighten as a child • Fear of seeing another person within the mirror • Fear of something coming out of the mirror

  11. Eisoptrophobia:continued • Symptoms: • Heightened senses • Muscle tension • Feeling trapped and unable to escape • Hyperventillation • Treatment: • Hypnotherapy • Self-help techniques • Exposure therapy • Support groups • Therapy sessions • Prescribed anti-anxiety medication

  12. Astraphobia:fear of thunder and lightning • Symptoms: • Seeking shelter beyond normal protection (hiding under the covers, under the bed, in the closet, etc) • Closing curtains to block out sounds of the storm • Obsession with weather forecasts or tracking weather online • Causes: • Loud noises from thunder causes fear • Fear of impending death from lightning strikes

  13. Astraphobia: continued • Treatments: • Cognitive behavioral therapy: repeat soothing messages in storm • Exposure • Heavy breathing techniques

  14. Closing statement: • People with fears should not be ridiculed, but rather respected! Do not tease them or try to debate them out of their fears!

  15. bibliography • dictionary.com • http://common-phobias.com/Dedro/phobia.html • www.phobia-fear-release.com/dedrophobia.html • www.phobia-fear-release.com/coulrophobia.html • www.charliethejugglingclown.com/coulrophobia.htm • http://www.fearofstuff.com/nature/fear-of-trees/ • http://healthmad.com/mental-health/eisoptrophobia-the-fear-of-mirrors/ • http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/astraphobia.htm

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