cc licensed flickr photo shared by AlecSchueler
Whether you’re afraid to get in the water, drink milk or even sleep with the lights off at night, have no fear, you are not alone. Millions of Americans experience psychological fears that impact their daily lives. This does not mean that they have OCD or other disorders, it simply means that they may have an unresolved issue from their childhood or may need to figure out the root cause of the fear. You can deal with your psychological fear by talking about its cause or even undergoing a cutting-edge therapy such as hypnosis. If you have one of the following five psychological fears, you are one of millions of Americans and likely able to find a therapist who can help you overcome this fear.
The Fear of Spiders
Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears in humans. Arachnophobia affects humans so intensely, that they may not even be able to look at a spider without having a visceral reaction. Some people literally shut down at the sight of a spider and are unable to move. Some people feel an intense urge to vomit. Experts estimate that arachnophobia affects up to 50 percent of women and 10 percent of men.
The Fear of Heights
Have you ever traveled to the rooftop of a building with someone, only to discover that they start sweating profusely or shutting their eyes? That person likely has acrophobia, or, the fear of heights. If you feel nauseated even at the thought of going on a roller-coaster or ride just because of the sheer fact of how high you are up in the air, then you probably have this common fear.
The Fear of Social Situations
Perhaps nothing frightens you more than walking into a party and having to introduce yourself to all of the guests. Many people have a fear of social situations because they feel intimidated by other people. If you have a social phobia, then chances are that an event occurred in your past that caused you to react with a negative feeling towards humans. Abuse, the death of a loved one and bullying are common events that people who have a fear of social situations have had happen in their lives.
The Fear of Germs
If you can’t stand the thought of having unclean counter-tops or need to wash your hands every five minutes, then you may have the fear of germs. The fear of germs is a very common fear that causes people to become overly concerned about sanitation and cleanliness. You may not even be able to walk into a hospital without having severe feelings of discomfort at the thought of the millions of germs that are in the hospital.
The Fear of Snakes
Snakes may have an evil connotation in literature, but that does not mean all of them are poisonous or dangerous. In fact, gardener snakes help keep weeds out of gardens in states like Florida. Don’t try telling this to someone who has Ophidiophobia, or, the fear of snakes. A person who has the fear of snakes usually experiences more intense reactions at the sight of a snake than a person who has a fear of spiders.
When you have a psychological fear that prevents you from living your daily life, then you should seek the help of a therapist in overcoming the fear. By overcoming your fear, you will feel much more at ease in your life and like you can do the normal things that people do. You may be able to learn to appreciate having a gardener snake keep the weeds out of your garden or the spectacular view on a skyscraper building with the help of a therapist.
Lance Pittman is a clinical psychologist and guest author at bestpsychologyschoolsonline.com, a site to help prospective students find the best psychology schools.