A phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. It is a type of anxiety disorder. The 3 major types of phobia are a specific phobia (such as clowns, dogs, spiders, etc.), social anxiety disorder (formerly called "social phobia"), and agoraphobia (fear of being in public places). Oftentimes a person with a phobia either tries to avoid the thing that triggers the fear. However, avoiding your phobias can come with a variety of consequences. While there is no way to prevent a phobia from starting, treatment can reduce the negative impact that phobias or avoiding your phobias causes.
Heightened Anxiety
Avoidance of phobias can lead to heightened anxiety and fear. By avoiding the situations or objects that trigger your phobia, you may temporarily reduce anxiety in the short term. However, this avoidance can reinforce the fear response, making the phobia stronger and more difficult to overcome in the long run. In these situations, some professionals might recommend exposure therapy in order to help break the pattern of avoidance and fear.In this form of therapy, psychologists create a safe environment in which to “expose” individuals to the things they fear and avoid. The exposure to the feared objects, activities or situations in a safe environment helps reduce fear and decrease avoidance.
Limited Activities and a Restricted Lifestyle
Phobias can limit your ability to engage in certain activities or go to specific places. For example if you have agoraphobia, you may avoid going to public places. Avoiding these situations may result in a restricted lifestyle, as you may miss out on experiences or opportunities due to your fear. This can impact your personal and professional life and limit your overall quality of life. When you go out of your way to avoid triggers, it could even impact your health. For example, avoiding regular medical or dental care because you’re afraid of needles, dentists, etc. You may miss out on things that are important to you or your loved ones, which is why it’s important to seek treatment rather than use avoidance.
Social Isolation
Going off of that, phobias often involve social situations, such as fear of public speaking or fear of crowded spaces. Avoiding these situations can lead to social isolation as you may withdraw from social gatherings or events to avoid triggering your phobia. This isolation can have negative effects on your mental well-being and relationships. Recent studies have found the following health risks to social isolation:
Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.
Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Emotional Resolution with Cedric Bertelli
It's important to note that everyone's experience with phobias and their avoidance strategies may vary. If you're struggling with a phobia, it's recommended to seek professional help from a mental health professional who can provide guidance and support tailored to your specific needs. EmRes, or Emotional Resolution, connects you to the origin of a difficult emotion through your physical sensations and modulates the unwanted emotional response permanently. It teaches you to resolve unwanted emotions for good, rather than avoiding them. If you struggle with phobias and find yourself using avoidance to cope, you can learn more about EmRes with Cedric Bertelli HERE. We offer a free consultation so you can see if EmRes is right for you!