In all human beings fear is a
universal emotion since ancient times. We can be state it as the feeling that
somewhat bad is about to take place and we are in danger. Fear is nearly at all
times is associated with some physical symptoms which disturb us greatly.
In the context of clinical psychology Phobia (an irrational and excessive fear)
is important and common form of anxiety disorder. Experts say that six of every
ten persons was fall in phobia now a day. In many cases phobia involves a fear
of endangerment. Phobia is a quite common disease especially in European, and
north and west Asian regions. It is most common mental disorder in which a
person has not explanation by the existence of real danger or risk He has no
rational cause of systematic avoidance of an object or situations which lead to
it. Phobia is actually a disabling and irrational fear. The circumstances are
quite well there is no any type of risk appears in atmosphere but the patient
feel anxiety. Phobia is heterogeneously distributed among human beings in
context of age and gender. According to psychiatrist women are much affected
than men by phobias. It is the most common mental illness among women in all age
groups and the second most common illness among men older than 25. Mostly people
of the world have single specific phobia while multiple phobias occur in less
people. A study indicates that females are nearly four times as likely as men to
have a fear of animals.
Specialist says that in various cases, people are able to identify that their
fear is illogical and therefore they should take steps to overcome their phobia.
Psychologists classify most phobias into three categories Social phobia,
Specific phobias and Agoraphobia.
When the person has a manifest and constant fear of some precise or general
social situations, like that the indignity of misbehaving in front of others,
the fear of talking to persons of authority it is called social phobia.
Agarophobia is the ridiculous fear of the agora (the place where the market was
located), simply the generalized fear of places or situations where there is a
potential obscurity or where help might not be accessible in need. It contains,
being in the middle of a crowd, traveling without company standing in queues to
leave a place, etc. Specific phobias, when there is a marked fear in the
presence, or even by expectancy to come across by a specific things and
situations, such as the fear of flying, injections, cockroaches, dogs, of seeing
blood, high places, taking a lift, driving an automobile, or staying in places,
such as tunnels or traffic jams is called specific phobia.
Specific phobias involve further four types in it. 1-The natural
environment:-fear of lightening, water, storms, etc.2-Animal:-fear of snakes,
rodents, spiders, etc.3-Medical:-fear of seeing blood, receiving injections,
visiting a doctor, etc. 4-Situational: - fear of bridges, leaving the home,
driving, etc.
Here we discuss some amazing form of phobia which can be proved very interesting
for readers.
Triskaidekaphobia is including in phobias category. Triskaidekaphobia is a
phobia which is related with the fear of the number 13. Actually in Western
culture the number 13 is usually linked with bad luck, furthermore the
indication for this phobia can be set up in some pre-Christian civilization.
Today, it is widely established among Westerns. Mostly hotels skip the 13th
floor. Many airlines neglect the 13th row in seating. Even some cities omit over
13th Street. According to some British information, there were believed to be 13
steps leading to the hangman's noose and tales spread about witches meeting in
groups of 12, with the 13th member being the Devil himself. It is perhaps the
most extensive superstition in America, possibly affecting tens of millions of
U.S.A citizens.
Their economy is much affected by fear of number thirteen; there is actual
evidence that point to some financial impacts of it. One study found that at
least $800 or $900 million dollars may be lost every Friday the 13th just
because people alter their wedding dates and other events to avoid this.
Brussels Airlines even had to modify its logo after credulous travelers condemn
strongly about the 13 dots that were used to produce the letter "B" in the
Brussels Airlines logo. They actually changed the logo to meet customer wants.
Tetra phobia (to avoid instances of the number 4). It is a superstition widely
spread in East Asian and Southeast Asian regions such as China, Taiwan,
Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Taiwanese and the South Korean
navies avoid the use of the number 4 when they assigning flag numbers to their
ships. The reason is that the Chinese word for four sounds quite similar to the
word for death. Chinese take special care to avoid incidence or reminders of the
number 4 when a family member is sick or injured. Similarly, 14, 24, 42, etc.
are also to be avoided. In these countries, four number floors are often skipped
in buildings, hotels have not a four number offices or rooms, as well as
hospitals. Table number 4, 14, 24, 42, etc. is also often absent in wedding
dinners here. In many residential complexes, building block 4, 14, 24 etc. are
replaced with block 3A, 13A, and 23A. Today’s an other types of phobia also
inquired which disturbs the non-muslims too much and that is “Islamophobia” But
they should be remember that phobia is nothing but only an irrational fear.