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PHOBIAS

Phobia is present when you are frightened beyond more than the situation or object would cause. And for these situations, there may be absolutely no reason whatsoever for you to be afraid about.

It is just that your mind exaggerates the situation that you are in and portrays it in such a way that causes you to think about it in a different kind of way that makes you scare yourself. Hence developing your intense fear for that particular situation or object.

With that development of raging fear, you would most probably avoid getting into those situations that you are afraid about and stay away from the object of your fear at all costs.

TREATMENTS

Yes, like any illnesses that we may have, phobias can be treated. However, it is often a long and tedious journey to recovery. Below are a few ways to help a phobic overcome his or her fear.

1. Positive Reinforcement
   
   Imitation is the key factor to the success of a person's development in this treatment. It is obvious that people, even babies learn best when they can observe and try to imitate a model.
   
   
   
2. Systematic Desensitization
   
   This treatment encompasses three major steps.

   a) Identification
   Identifying the causes that provoke the phobia if possible, and arrange them in a hierarchical order from weakest to strongest. Write down the list and example if ther are rational reasons to provoke fear.

   b) Relaxation
   Learning deep muscle relaxation. Learn creative visualization techniques or some simple meditation techniques to relax and train the mind to create postive an peaceful thoughts.

   c) Desensitization
   In the relaxed state of mind, visualize the weakest cause from the list. If it still causes you to shudder from fear, return back to step b again, until you are able to visualize it without being fearful. Then work through the list created in step a till you are able to think of the strongest cause without any fear.

   This way of treatment however would be ideally suited for specific phobic reactions.. It is successful when being applied to a huge range of problems that humans encountered.

REFERENCES

Zimbardo Philip G., Psychology and Life 10th Edition, 1979, Scott, Foresman and Company Glenview, Illinois.

To seek the help and guidance of a psychologist can lead you to a more positive and prosperous life.

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