 |  | ||||
Phobias: Facing Your FearsBy KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant Bats, cats and rats; scary faces, open spaces. Spiders, heights and snakes; bogeymen, earthquakes. Math tests and bumblebees; space aliens, chimpanzees…People can develop phobias about anything that exists-and even what doesn't! That's right: Common fears include not only living (animate) objects and inanimate ones, but also ones that are imagined. In fact, it's your imagination that's usually responsible for these seemingly irrational fears called phobias. How do phobias develop, what are their symptoms and what should you do if you're affected?
It's natural for humans to be afraid of some things. For example, the fear of falling is instinctive (meaning you're born with it). Fears like these have a hidden purpose-the fear of falling is a very, very good thing for babies to have as they start to explore their world, because it may help to keep them out of some trouble. Other fears may develop from bad experiences. If you get badly stung by a wasp, for instance, you may start to fear all insects. Still others are culturally learned-superstitions like the possible bad luck associated with the number 13 or walking under a ladder, among others, are accepted as part of our culture. Fears, though, are usually kept under control. While they may present challenges that have to be overcome, in general we learn to deal with them and don't let them control our actions. Sometimes, though, a fear becomes so persistent or irrational, so overwhelmingly disgusting or scary, that we alter our behavior. We avoid any situation that might trigger the feeling of panic that accompanies the fear. When this happens, the fear has developed into a phobia. Phobias come in many shapes and sizes. One group, called specific phobias, refers to an irrational fears of objects, situations or events. Irrational, in this case, means that your reaction is not what people would typically expect. For instance, when most people see a kitten, they probably want to pet it. However, if you have ailurophobia (from the ancient Greek words for cat + fear), the thought of touching a cat may make your skin crawl. Ailurophobics (people suffering from fear of cats) will go out of their way to avoid any contact with these creatures. There are also social phobias-anxieties about going out in public or speaking in front of a group, for example. Agoraphobics (those who fear open spaces) may even be afraid to leave their homes because they get panic attacks-they start sweating, have trouble breathing or experience other unpleasant symptoms. In such extreme cases, just getting through the day can be a challenge. Take a look at this article published recently in The Daytona Beach News-Journal to learn how one phobic student reacted at the thought of going to school!
What can you do if you have a phobia that causes such problems for you? In many cases, people are able to work out the problem on the own. They may take small steps to confront their fears so they're not so sensitive about them. A person trying to conquer a phobia of public speaking, for example, might begin by preparing a short speech and rehearsing it alone or with trusted family members or friends, before volunteering to give the speech in front of a group. Someone who fears snakes may deliberately look at pictures of them, or visit a museum where that species is on display. It's thought, also, that talking about your fears will help you to better understand and deal with them. In some cases, phobics need professional help. They may contact a therapist to help them work out the problem, join a support group of others with similar problems or, in extreme cases, work with a professional to determine if there are medications that can help control their anxieties. You can help others by being understanding about their fears. Try to think how you would feel if you were teased about the things that scared you-you'd like people to respect your feelings so you'll probably want to do the same for them. Below is a list showing some of the many interesting names for common phobias. How many more can you think of? – Apiphobia: Fear of bees Try these interesting activities using The News-Journal 1. Use your newspaper to find an article about someone who is having trouble overcoming a challenge. Imagine that person asks you for help with the problem. What advice would you give to help him or her conquer the challenge? Write your answer in the style of a newspaper's advice columnist. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.5, LA.A.2.2.8, LA.B.1.2.1, LA.B.2.2.1, LA.B.2.2.3, LA.B.2.2.6)
2. Sometimes phobias become so deep-seated they cause people to alter their behavior. For instance, people who suffer from agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) are often afraid to leave their homes. These people have to overcome many challenges just to go outdoors. Search your newspaper for an article about a person who has successfully overcome a similar challenge. What qualities do you admire in him or her? Write your observations in your journal, or share them with a friend. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.5, LA.A.2.2.8, LA.B.2.2.1, LA.B.2.2.3, LA.B.2.2.6, SS.C.2.2.2) 3. Some people fear dogs or cats, possibly due to an unpleasant experience. Are some breeds of pets safer than others are? In your newspaper's classified section, locate and list breeds of pets up for sale or adoption. For each breed you identified, consult your public library, media center, the Internet and other available resources for information on whether or not it would make a good pet. Summarize your findings and poll your friends to see if they agree. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.4, LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.5, LA.A.2.2.8, LA.C.1.2.3, LA.C.3.2.3, LA.C.3.2.5, SC.H.1.2.4, SC.H.1.2.5, SC.H.3.2.2, SC.H.3.2.4) 4. Lots of places in your community, including schools, museums and libraries, for example offer opportunities to help you conquer shyness and other fears. Use your newspaper to check out where you can find literature, clubs, sports, cheerleading, music (band, orchestra, dance, chorus, etc.), theater, school clubs or other performances, shows or events that give you chances to interact as part of a group. The "Oh!Zone" section at www.nieworld.com has a listing from The News-Journal's Master Calendar of such activities that appeal to kids. Try to attend one of the events you located, to learn more about it. Even though you may feel shy at first, you may be surprised at how much fun you can have! If possible, consider joining the club! (Sunshine State Standards: HE.B.3.2.1, HE.B.3.2.5, HE.B.3.2.7, HE.B.3.2.8, HE.C.1.2.4, HE.C.2.2.5, MU.E.2.2.2, TH.E.1.2.1, TH.E.1.2.2, TH.E.1.2.3, TH.E.1.2.4) 5. Some fears are based upon actual experiences. For example, someone bitten by a spider may develop a fear of being bitten a second time. On the other hand, some fears, including irrational ones, develop from the imagination, because people sometimes fear what they don't understand. Understanding what you're afraid of may be a way to control your fear before it develops into a phobia. Your community offers many opportunities to learn about things that many consider frightening. First, brainstorm some objects or situations that people commonly fear. Then, use your newspaper to find museum exhibits and other public displays about one or more of the things you identified. If you came up with "insects," for instance, you might look in the paper under science museums to find educational displays about these creatures. If possible, try to visit the exhibit or exhibits you located. (Sunshine State Standards: SC.H.1.2.4, SC.H.1.2.5, SC.H.3.2.2, SC.H.3.2.4) A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org/. Check out these links to learn more Take a look at some ThinkQuest kids' presentations on the topic of fear and phobias. Entering the search word "fear" at the web site will give you lots of fun and interesting results to choose from. www.thinkquest.org
When does a fear become a phobia? What can you do to deal with your fears? Check out what some experts say. www.uwphysicians.org/hbeat/hb951024.html How many phobias can you identify? Take this friendly quiz to sharpen your skills-don't be afraid! www.infoplease.com/spot/quiz/phobias/2.html Learn more about fighting phobias and locate agencies specializing in treatment. www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/297_bump.html The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world. Visit the site and check some of them out, to see if they have recently published any articles on this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published December 10, 2001 |
Copyright © 2008 NIE WORLD (www.nieworld.com). All content copyrighted and may not be republished without permission. The News-Journal has no control over and is not responsible for content on other Web sites. Privacy Policy. |