Beating the Fear Factor

Psychologists have listed a great number of irrational fears the TV show Fear Factor would not tackle.

That’s because dealing with one’s fears takes more than just sucking it up and keeping an eye on the prize.

Phobias can be as unusual as dextrophobia (fear of objects at the right side of the body) or ithyphallophobia (fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis).

But they can also be as common as claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) or pentheraphobia (fear of one’s mother-in-law). These phobias may seem ridiculous to many but not to psychiatrists and the phobics.

Anxiety disorder is a general term covering different forms of pathological anxieties and phobias.

A person who suffers from brief attacks of intense terror and apprehension that cause trembling and shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and feelings of impending doom or a situation that would be embarrassing is said to be afflicted by panic disorder.

A panic attack arises abruptly and peaks in 10 minutes or less, and can last for several hours. Distinguishing among different anxiety disorders is important, since accurate diagnosis is more likely to result in effective treatment and a better prognosis.

With the right mindset and tools, our anxieties, phobias and fears can get much easier over time. The choices of treatment include psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy), lifestyle changes, or pharmaceutical therapy (medications).

However, while medication may be appropriate in some cases, it certainly isn’t always the best answer, definitely not for anyone who wants to live a drug-free life.

Curing Your Anxiety and Panic, presents this anxiety advice – six steps in overcoming anxiety and panic attacks:

 Recognize that you are in fact having anxiety or panic attacks.

 Identify what triggers your attacks. You may be surprised to find out what they really are.

 Obtain an accurate diagnosis from a doctor or a qualified professional, or identify for yourself what type of Anxiety or Panic Disorder you suffer from.

 Share your feelings with someone you trust to help you such as a friend or a family member.

 Follow a few simple procedures to help you cope with an attack. The book suggests specific, rapid and reliable techniques.

 Get treatment for yourself, either through natural remedies or through medication. (Medication isn’t always a bad idea – but the trick is to know for sure whether you should be taking medication or not).

Anxieties and phobias are impossible to totally cure but these steps can help you fight your anxiety attacks and increase your self-esteem so you can get on with your life with a better sense of satisfaction.