Phobias and Fears Home Remedies

"There are as many different kinds of phobias as there are different kinds of people," says phobia expert and psychologist Jerilyn Ross.

In the classic sense, a phobia is "an irrational, involuntary, inappropriate fear reaction that generally leads to an avoidance of common everyday places, objects, or situations," says Ross.

In the real sense, though, a phobia is the fear of fear itself. "A phobia is a fear of one's own impulses," says Ross. "It's a fear of having a panic attack, feeling trapped, and losing control."

Phobias are classified into three types: simple or specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia. People with specific phobias experience a dread of certain objects, places, or situations. People with social phobias avoid public situations, like parties, because they're afraid they'll do something to embarrass themselves. Agoraphobics are victims of a complex phenomenon based on a fear of being in public places without a familiar person or an escape plan.

The onset of a phobia is generally unprovoked and rapid. "Usually, people who develop phobias do so in areas in which they had no previous fear," says Ross.

Increasing evidence suggests that phobias are caused by a combination of psychological and biological factors. First, they tend to run in families, suggesting some genetic basis. So if one of your parents had a phobia, you may be predisposed to one, but not necessarily the same one. More often than not, phobias strike people who have a history of separation anxiety and perfectionism.

People with phobias always recognize that their fear is inappropriate to the situation, says Ross. For example, if you're flying on an airplane during a thunderstorm, feeling fearful is a normal reaction. If, however, your boss tells you you'll have to take a business trip in a few weeks and you immediately start worrying about having a panic attack on the plane, that's inappropriate to the situation.

Sound like something you've experienced? If so, here's some rational advice for irrational behavior from those who deal with the problem every day.