‘How we beat our PHOBIAS’
If you’ve ever experienced a chronic anxiety attack, then you’ll understand how distressing they can be. Your heart starts racing and you may also feel breathless, shaky and slightly nauseous. Now imagine never knowing when you’re going to feel like this, because you suffer from a phobia. ‘A phobia is an intense fear of ‘something’ such as an object, animal or situation, that would not normally worry others,’ says Patricia Furness-Smith, author of A Practical Guide To Overcoming Phobias (£6.99, Icon Books Ltd). ‘You know you’re being irrational, but you feel powerless and unable to control your negative thoughts and bodily sensations.’
‘A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes people to avoid the object or situation they fear,’ says Patricia. ‘There are many types of phobias and these can range from mild to severe. But, all phobias are annoying, limiting and frustrating, and some are exhausting and terrifying.’ It’s not clear exactly what causes phobias. They may be triggered by an incident in your past, and some people are just genetically predisposed to feel more anxious. But, all phobias can be treated and cured.
