Fear or Phobia?

“I feel terrified when I see a dog walking towards me.” “I feel paralyzed when I see dogs running around even at a distance.”

Terrified is associated with being fearful, and being fearful is nowadays interchangeably used with the term Phobia. 

Do you think there is a difference between the two, i.e. Fear and Phobia? Or do they both mean the same thing?

Well, Let’s clear out the confusion. 

Yes, Phobia and Fear have been used interchangeably, but these two words have two different concepts.

FEAR

Fear is a normal emotional response where an individual reacts to either a real or a perceived threat. You might feel a sense of discomfort, nervousness, distress, or even anxiousness when faced with scenarios that may feel threatening. Sometimes, fear can also be a good thing as it may help you avoid or be prepared for a potentially dangerous situation. These symptoms, however, do not require medical attention to be resolved.

PHOBIA

Phobias, on the other hand, are termed as the irrelevant fears that you possess of situations and objects that might not be a real threat. It is a form of anxiety disorder that can get so intense that it would disrupt normal functioning or/and your ability to perform daily tasks. Even thinking of the item could trigger symptoms of anxiety in you. 

The severity of Phobias ranges from mild to severe. And the severity that you fall into, determines the level of impairment and the type of symptoms you might face. Being able to manage symptoms caused by phobias is essential and this can be done through medical interventions. 

Examples of Situations where you might experience Fear Vs. Phobia

While there is a differentiation between these two terms, there is something that you might overlook when you are faced with it or when you see someone go through it.

This term might seem redundant but it is very real and complex. This is what is called Phobophobia or the fear of fear. Phobophobia is an extreme fear of being afraid. Individuals diagnosed with this phobia are afraid of the physical symptoms that they might face if they develop any phobia. They might feel that these symptoms might be fatal or might cause permanent impairments to their normal functioning. Their anticipation of the potential development of phobia is what becomes a phobia itself. This anticipation might be due to past traumatic experiences, family history, or other phobias that they might have had an episode of. Like any other disorder, this fear of fear affects various walks of an individual's life. They might avoid going out with friends or for any appointments as they do not want to encounter any situation that might be fearful. 

Anticipation of threats can be helpful in some situations. It helps you come up with strategies to cope and overcome challenging times. It helps you become stronger emotionally and sometimes even physically. But when this anticipation of threats goes down the other path, it can be a frightening experience. 

How do I know if I have a phobia?

Along with an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiousness, phobias can also lead to panic attacks. The onset of these symptoms might be sudden, without any warning.

Some of the symptoms might look like this;

• Getting hot flashes or chills,
• Sudden sharp pain or tightness in the chest,
• You might start to tremble,
• You might feel a choking sensation,
• Your heart rate might shoot up,
• You might start sweating profusely,
• Your mouth might run dry,
• You might hear a ringing in your ears,
• You might feel nauseous,
• You might start to feel dizzy and might even lose consciousness

The symptoms might vary from person to person. But the common factor among all of them would be an elevated sense of symptoms that normal fear can not justify. 

If you are experiencing such symptoms or if you know someone who has been experiencing these symptoms, it is best to get it checked with your healthcare provider. These symptoms are extremely overwhelming to experience and can be even more challenging to overcome alone. Help is always available. You do not need to live your life in fear or anticipation of any unwanted situation. 

As they always said, “learn to face your fears”. This learning can be provided by trained mental health experts. It will require effort and will take time, it is not an overnight process. But these efforts will set you free. 

 If you need any help in your journey of setting yourself free, contact our customer wellness managers on our toll-free number 1800-833-8747, visit us at www.transformhappily.com or reach us at [email protected]. 

Let us help you transform, happily!