The Misconceptions of Phobias

Phobias are a well-known disorder and yet many people don’t understand them or how destructive they can be. Some chalk it up to a dramatic trait that loves to exaggerate or that they were just born with the fear installed in them. Here is a list of misconceptions you might have heard about phobias.
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Phobias and fears are the same things
​Not true at all. Someone with a fear of cats can go about their day normally. They will only feel fear once they are confronted with a cat. Individuals with Ailurophobia would take their fear to another level. Irrational responses such as nausea from just looking at a picture of a cat or hysteria can be expected. It’s constant stress and they would feel nervous just going outside their home as cats are popular pets in the UK. Their phobia could lead them to avoid their loved ones if they have a cat.
It’s easy to overcome a phobia
There are people who think because they were able to overcome a fear it should also be easy to get over a phobia. They are mistaken to think this. A phobia is a disorder and it’s advised those with a phobia don’t try to cure it on their own. If it is done wrong the phobia may get worse as a result. With the right professional help, a phobia can be cured in 1-2 sessions.
Parents pass phobias on to children through genes.
For now, genes have not been proved to be the cause of a phobia. A child isn’t guaranteed to have the same phobias as their parents, though it is possible. The reason for this, however, is that they learn the phobia from their parent. They see how their parents react to the thing or situation they have a phobia of and believe it must be dangerous.
Phobias that aren’t clinically recognised aren’t serious
New phobias are constantly being added to the list of clinically recognised phobias and many are on the waiting list. An example of this would be the fear of jewellery. Some would dismiss this phobia as it sounds ridiculous are isn’t on the official list of phobias, but this doesn’t mean it’s a joke. If a fear is disrupting and affecting their quality of life, it is a phobia despite it being unofficial. Treating these phobias as a joke only aggravates those with the phobia as they feel humiliated. If you are suffering form a phobia you shouldn’t be ashamed it can happen to anyone and you should seek out help.
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It is easy to judge and get the wrong idea of a phobia if you haven’t ever experienced having one. If you or someone you know suffers from a phobia it is important to do research and know the facts so you can decide the right way to deal with it.
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